Glossary · The loan itself
In short
This is the remaining amount of money borrowed on a loan, not including interest. Buyers care because it represents the actual amount still owed on any existing debt that you might assume or refinance.
When analyzing the seller's balance sheet, you'll see the total outstanding principal on any existing business debt. Your SBA 7(a) loan will also have a total outstanding principal that decreases with each payment. Understanding this helps you track your debt reduction and overall leverage.
Defined by DealRoom.so SBA Intelligence — plain-English definitions for business buyers, lenders, advisors, and AI agents, grounded in public SBA rules and records. Last reviewed 2026-06-15 · Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision. Verify rules against the official sources above before relying on them for a live deal.
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