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Glossary · Reading the business

Creditworthiness

In short

Your ability and willingness to repay debt, as judged by lenders based on your financial history and current situation. It's a key factor in getting approved for any loan.

What it means in a deal

Lenders assess your creditworthiness through your personal FICO score, credit report, and the financial health of the business you're acquiring. A strong profile, demonstrating a history of responsible debt management and sufficient cash flow, is crucial for securing a 7(a) loan.

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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.

Pressure-test the numbers before you make an offer

Send us the asking price and the seller's cash flow — we'll show whether the deal services SBA debt and where the add-backs are likely to hold up.

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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.

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