Glossary · Your money in the deal
Qualified Retirement Plan
In short
An employer-sponsored retirement plan, like a 401(k), 403(b), or pension, that meets specific IRS requirements for tax-deferred growth. These funds can sometimes be used to finance a business.
What it means in a deal
Funds from your Qualified Retirement Plan can be a significant source for your equity injection. If you're considering using these funds, explore options like a Rollover as Business Startup Plan (ROBS) or a direct withdrawal (which usually incurs penalties). Discuss the implications with your financial advisor and lender, as the SBA has specific seasoning of funds requirements.
Related terms
Common questions about Qualified Retirement Plan
- Can funds from a retirement account, like a 401(k), be used for my equity injection if rolled into a new C-corp via a ROBS plan?
- What documentation proves U.S. citizenship or Qualified Alien status for owners?
- Can a Qualified Alien without permanent residency obtain an SBA 7(a) loan?
- Can I get pre-qualified for an SBA 7(a) loan before identifying a specific business to acquire?
- What specific documentation is required to verify citizenship or qualified non-citizen status for 7(a) loan applicants?
- If I use retirement account funds for equity, what are the rules?
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.
Figure out your down payment and equity injection
Tell us your purchase price and how you're funding the down payment — we'll sanity-check the equity injection and show what lenders will actually accept.
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.