Skip to main content

Glossary · The loan itself

Secondary source of repayment

In short

Beyond the business's cash flow, this is another way the loan can be repaid, typically through collateral or a personal guarantee. It's the lender's backup plan.

What it means in a deal

While the primary source of repayment for an SBA loan is the business's cash flow, lenders also evaluate secondary sources. This primarily includes the liquidation value of collateral and the borrower's personal guarantee. A strong secondary source can mitigate risk for the lender if the business's cash flow deteriorates.

Official sources

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.

Common questions about Secondary source of repayment

← Browse all glossary terms

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.

Scroll