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Glossary · Reading the business

Capital gain

In short

A capital gain is the profit you make from selling an asset (like a business) for more than you paid for it. This is a primary driver for sellers and a potential future benefit for you as a buyer.

What it means in a deal

When you eventually sell the business, the difference between your purchase price and the selling price will likely be a capital gain. Understanding how capital gains are taxed is crucial for your long-term investment strategy. For sellers, maximizing capital gain is often a key motivation, impacting deal structure.

Common questions about Capital gain

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Defined by CapBench 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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