SBA 7(a) Q&A
Short answer
Yes, a gift from an immediate family member can be used for your SBA 7(a) down payment, provided it is properly documented.
Gift funds from an immediate family member (spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent) can count as equity injection if accompanied by a gift letter explicitly stating that the funds are a gift, with no expectation of repayment, and are from the donor's own verifiable resources.
Your parents gift you $30,000 for the down payment on a $300,000 business purchase. You would provide a signed gift letter from them and bank statements proving the funds came from their account.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
SBA Form 1919 - Borrower Information Form
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 gift/investor funds
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This page answers “Can I use funds from a gift from a family member for my SBA 7(a) down payment?” for SBA 7(a) business buyers — a short answer, the detail, and official sources — from DealRoom.so SBA Intelligence. It is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and DealRoom is not a lender.
Source: DealRoom.so SBA Intelligence, based on public SBA, lender, franchise, FDIC, and related records. DealRoom is not a lender and does not guarantee financing.
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