Glossary · The loan itself
Maturity term(Term / maturity)
In short
This is the total length of time, in years, over which you're required to repay a loan. A longer maturity term generally means lower monthly payments.
What it means in a deal
For SBA 7(a) loans, the maximum maturity term is typically 10 years for business acquisition loans and 25 years if real estate is included. A longer term reduces your monthly debt service, improving your cash flow after debt service and DSCR. Negotiate the longest possible term to maximize financial flexibility.
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 Maturity term
- What steps should a lender take if a borrower with a 7(a) loan requests an extension of the loan maturity date?
- When can a lender approve a short-term deferment or modification of a 7(a) loan's payment terms without prior SBA consent?
- Can an SBA 7(a) loan finance tenant improvements on leased property if the lease term matches the loan term?
- If I am buying a business that leases its property, can I get a longer loan term if the lease is long-term?
- What is the typical repayment term for working capital only?
- What happens if the seller terminates the purchase agreement mid-process?
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.
See which SBA lenders would fund your deal
Tell us the business, the price, and where you are — we'll point you to the lenders most likely to approve a 7(a) like yours and flag what trips up approval.
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.