Skip to main content

Glossary · People and paperwork

USPTO(U.S. Patent and Trademark Office)

In short

This federal agency grants patents to inventors and registers trademarks for products and services. It's where you check if the business's intellectual property is protected.

What it means in a deal

During Due diligence, research the USPTO database to verify the ownership and status of any patents or trademarks critical to the business. Ensure these Intangible asset are properly assigned to the buying entity in the deal, securing your rights to them.

← 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.

Know what you'll need before you apply

Tell us about the deal and who's buying — we'll flag the guaranty, eligibility, and paperwork issues that slow SBA approval before they cost you time.

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