Glossary · Doing the deal
Deal Structure
In short
This refers to how an acquisition is legally and financially arranged, including what is being bought (assets or stock), the financing mix, and payment terms. It dictates the entire transaction.
What it means in a deal
Your Deal Structure defines whether you're doing an Asset Purchase or a Stock Purchase, the amount of your Equity Injection, any Seller Note, and how the 7(a) loan is integrated. This structure has significant implications for taxes, liabilities, and the lender's willingness to fund, so work closely with your attorney and M&A advisor.
Related terms
Common questions about Deal Structure
- What are the common deal-killing issues during underwriting of an SBA 7(a) acquisition loan?
- If the seller refuses to provide a standby note for their portion, does that kill the deal?
- If the business I'm buying has a temporary decline in revenue during due diligence, will it kill the deal?
- How does the purchase agreement structure affect an SBA partner buyout?
- If the business I'm buying has a temporary decline in revenue during the due diligence period, will it kill the deal?
- Can I change my business structure after getting an SBA 7(a) loan?
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.