SBA 7(a) Q&A
Short answer
Yes, reasonable and necessary professional fees paid by the buyer prior to closing, such as legal and accounting fees related to the acquisition, can sometimes be counted towards the equity injection.
Eligible project costs that can be financed by the SBA loan can also be paid for by the buyer's equity injection. This includes reasonable and customary professional fees (legal, accounting, valuation, due diligence) directly related to the acquisition. These expenses must be documented and paid from the buyer's verifiable personal funds.
A buyer pays $10,000 in legal fees and $5,000 in accounting fees before closing a $500,000 business acquisition. If the total equity required is $50,000, these $15,000 in fees can count towards the buyer's equity.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
7(a) Loan Program — Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility
U.S. Small Business Administration · Official SBA source
SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
Last checked 2026-06-13. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 · SBA sources checked through 2026-06-13. DealRoom analysis of public SBA 7(a) lending records (FY2020–present). Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against the official sources above before relying on it for a live deal. Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision.
More on what counts toward the 10%
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