All guides

Interest rate is the price of the principal, while APR adds fees and timing. See a worked example and learn how to compare business loans on a like-for-like basis.

A guide to the fees that raise the real cost of a business loan, including origination, closing, guarantee and prepayment charges, with a worked cost example.

Learn how factor rates work, how to convert them to an approximate APR, and why merchant cash advances and short-term loans can cost far more than term loans.

Compare fixed and variable rate business loans, see a payment shock example, and learn when each structure fits, including caps, floors and hedging basics.

Business loan rates depend on a benchmark rate, a lender margin and your risk profile. Learn the factors that move your rate and how to improve your offer.

If your business loan application was denied, learn how to read the adverse action notice, fix the cause, reapply wisely and find alternative financing.

What lenders check before approving a business loan, including credit score, time in business, cash flow, debt ratios and collateral, plus how to prepare.

Understand how business loan terms, amortization, interest-only periods, balloon payments and payment frequency change your cost, with a 5-year vs 10-year comparison.

Gather the right paperwork before you apply for a business loan, from tax returns and financial statements to bank statements, debt schedules and collateral records.

Learn how lenders size a business loan using debt service coverage ratio, revenue multiples and collateral, with a step-by-step calculation you can repeat.

Compare banks, online lenders and credit unions on cost, speed, requirements and flexibility so you can pick the lender type that fits your business and timeline.

Explore alternatives to a traditional business term loan, including credit lines, equipment financing, invoice factoring, microloans, grants and internal fixes, with trade-offs.

A step-by-step method to compare business loan offers by total repayment, APR, fees, payment schedule and risk, with a worked three-offer scorecard.

Use break-even analysis to decide whether a business loan will pay for itself, with formulas, a worked equipment example and a pessimistic stress test.

Learn the formula behind a business loan payment calculator, how to read an amortization schedule and how to run what-if scenarios on rate, term and fees.

Compare SBA 7(a) and 504 loans with conventional bank loans on rate caps, terms, down payments, fees, paperwork and who each option suits best.