Glossary · Doing the deal
Consulting Fee
In short
This is the payment for professional advice or services from an expert. In an acquisition, it often covers M&A advisors, business brokers, or other specialists.
What it means in a deal
Consulting fees related to the acquisition are typically considered Soft Costs and can be included in the Total Project Costs for SBA financing. Ensure these fees are reasonable and properly documented as part of your Use of Proceeds.
Official sources
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration · SBA Standard Operating Procedure
Last checked 2026-06-15. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Related terms
Common questions about Consulting Fee
- Does a full standby seller note prevent the seller from receiving any consulting fees from the business post-acquisition?
- Are there any other lender-specific fees beyond the SBA guaranty fee and ongoing servicing fee?
- Can the lender charge application fees or underwriting fees in addition to the SBA guaranty fee?
- Are there annual servicing fees or other recurring charges beyond the SBA servicing fee?
- Can the lender charge an additional "packaging fee" on top of the SBA fees?
- Can a seller's post-closing consulting agreement influence the standby status of their seller note?
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.
Line up financing while you're under LOI
Tell us the business, the price, and your timeline — we'll match you with lenders who close deals like yours and flag anything that stalls the process.
Free · No documents · Usually same-day
Backed by data on 1,000+ SBA lenders and 300,000+ funded deals. Your details go only to lending partners you ask to be matched with — never sold to advertisers.