# sweat equity

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/sweat-equity
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An investment of labour, typically by the owner and often his or her family, usually in a small business or personal residence that increases the value of the business or residence.

## Examples

- They built their business using sweat equity instead of bank loans.
- By painting and repairing the house themselves, the couple added significant sweat equity to their first home.
- The startup founders invested years of sweat equity into the project, hoping their hard work would eventually yield a substantial return when the company went public.

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