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Business Loan Calculator

Estimate monthly debt service for a business loan and see how interest plus origination fees affect your total borrowing cost.

Reviewed byJulian Germanfor EveryCalcMethodology
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%
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Monthly payment

$3,150.28

Total interest

$39,016.75

Origination fee

$3,000.00

Total cost

$192,016.75

Editorial noteReviewed by Julian German - Updated August 2026

EveryCalc calculators are designed for fast, practical estimates with transparent inputs and no required account. We use plain formulas, visible assumptions, and related tools so visitors can check the result from more than one angle.

Results are informational only. For financial, tax, legal, medical, construction, or other high-impact decisions, verify the output against primary sources or a qualified professional.

Learn more about our review process on the EveryCalc methodology page.

Calculation notes and example

Business term-loan payment and cost model

Monthly payment uses the fixed-rate amortization formula from loan amount, annual interest rate divided by 12, and term in months. Total interest equals all scheduled payments minus principal. Origination fee equals loan amount multiplied by the entered fee percentage. Net proceeds assumes that fee is withheld from the funded amount, while total cost equals scheduled principal and interest plus the fee. The model does not calculate APR or include closing, guarantee, packaging, legal, maintenance, or prepayment charges.

Debt service and net-proceeds example

A $150,000 business term loan at 11% for 60 months has a modeled payment of about $3,261 and roughly $45,700 of interest. A 2% origination fee adds $3,000, reduces modeled net proceeds to $147,000, and raises total borrowing outflow to about $198,700. Compare the payment with conservative free cash flow, not gross revenue or a single strong month.

Compare structure as well as price

  • Confirm whether the fee is withheld, financed, or paid in cash; the calculator assumes it is withheld but not financed.
  • Fixed monthly amortization does not represent variable-rate loans, daily-debit products, lines of credit, balloons, seasonal schedules, or merchant cash advances.
  • Match term to asset life and stress-test debt service after owner compensation, taxes, working capital, and maintenance spending.

Useful companion tools: SBA 7(a) Loan Calculator, APR Calculator, Debt Payoff Calculator, and Cash-on-Cash Return Calculator.

How to interpret the business loan result

Best use

Use the result as a planning number for comparing payments, rates, returns, tax reserves, or cash-flow choices before you request a quote or make a commitment.

Cross-check

Compare the answer with the contract, lender estimate, tax form, brokerage statement, payroll record, or invoice that will control the real-world outcome.

Watch for

Do not rely on a single optimistic rate, return, or fee assumption. Money pages work best when you run low, base, and high cases and keep professional advice separate from the estimate.

This page belongs to the Finance calculator library, so the answer should be read in the context of the decision you are modeling rather than as a universal rule.

Before relying on this business loan estimate

Most calculator mistakes come from the inputs, not the arithmetic. Use this short audit before you reuse the answer in a spreadsheet, quote, application, or important conversation.

Confirm source numbers

Match balances, rates, fees, taxes, income, and payment dates against the lender quote, payroll record, tax form, statement, invoice, or contract.

Separate cash flow from total cost

A lower monthly payment can still cost more over time if fees, interest, taxes, or a longer term are hidden in the structure.

Run conservative cases

Test at least one higher-cost or lower-return case before using the output for a purchase, refinance, investment, loan, or tax decision.

Rerun this page when the rate, price, term, fee, tax rule, income, expense, or expected holding period changes.

Sources used for this calculator

These primary or official references help define the rules, terminology, safety checks, or source documents behind this estimate. Source links were checked in July 2026. They do not turn the calculator output into a quote, appraisal, tax determination, or professional opinion.

  • Types of 7(a) loans

    U.S. Small Business Administration

    Lists current 7(a) program types, loan amounts, guaranty levels, rate rules, and program-specific terms.

How to Use

  1. Enter the total amount you plan to borrow for working capital, equipment, expansion, or another business need. Start with the actual funded amount rather than the target project budget if they differ.
  2. Add the interest rate and term in months from the lender quote. Small changes in rate or term can materially shift monthly debt service and total interest.
  3. Include the origination fee percentage if the lender charges one. Fees reduce the net cash you receive even though you still repay the full loan balance.
  4. Review the monthly payment first to see whether it fits your expected cash flow in slower months, not just peak revenue periods.
  5. Use the total interest plus fee view to compare competing loan offers. A lower payment can still be the more expensive option if it stretches the term too far.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as an origination fee?

An origination fee is an upfront lender charge, usually expressed as a percentage of the amount borrowed. It does not reduce the stated principal you owe, but it does increase the all-in cost of getting the financing.

Why can a lower monthly payment still be a worse loan?

A lower payment often comes from extending the repayment term. That can help short-term cash flow, but it may raise the total interest paid enough to make the loan more expensive overall.

Can I use this for SBA, term, or equipment loans?

Yes, as a general estimate for fixed-rate installment loans with monthly amortization. It is less suitable for merchant cash advances, variable-rate debt, or structures with balloon payments and irregular fees.

What should I compare besides payment?

Focus on payment, total interest, fees, and the net amount of cash that actually lands in the business. For operating decisions, it also helps to compare the payment against expected gross margin or monthly free cash flow.

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