Business Loan Calculator — SBA, Bank & Alternative Lender Comparison with Amortization

Business Loan Calculator SBA · Bank · MCA

Compare SBA loans, bank term loans, and merchant cash advances — true APR, monthly payment, total cost

What is this? Business loans look simple on paper but the real cost varies enormously. SBA loans have upfront guarantee fees, merchant cash advances charge huge effective rates, and "6%" bank loans often come with thousands in junk fees. This calculator reveals the TRUE cost — including fees, MCA holdbacks, and APR — so you can compare apples to apples.

Who it's for: Small business owners comparing financing offers, startups applying for SBA 7(a) loans, or anyone evaluating a merchant cash advance (MCA). If you've received multiple loan offers, use this to find out which one actually costs the least.

Your Loan Offer

Lender Name

Loan Amount ($)

Interest Rate (%) APR or factor rate

Loan Term

Origination Fee (%)

Additional Fees ($) application, legal, guarantee

SBA 7(a) note: SBA charges a 2% guarantee fee on loans over $150K (1% for loans $150K or less). Add this to "Additional Fees".

Compare to Another Offer (optional)

Lender Name

Loan Amount ($)

Interest / Factor Rate (%)

Term

Origination Fee (%)

Holdback Rate (%) MCA daily/weekly holdback

Business Impact

Your Gross Profit Margin (%) revenue - COGS

Monthly Revenue ($)

Break-even analysis: Shows how much monthly revenue you need to cover the loan payment, and what % of your revenue goes to loan costs.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Metric	Bank Term Loan	MCA

Loan 1 — Full Breakdown

Monthly Payment

—

True APR

—

Total Interest

—

All-In Cost

—

fees + interest

Break-Even Revenue

—

min monthly revenue

Revenue to Loan Cost

—

% of monthly revenue

Loan 1 — Amortization Schedule

Year	Principal	Interest	Balance	Cum. Interest

Looking for SBA financing? SmartBiz SBA Loans — 6.5-9% APR, pre-screened lenders. Funding Circle — 4.99-30.99% APR, bank alternative.

Estimates only. True APR varies by lender. SBA fees include 2% guarantee fee. Consult a lender or CPA before borrowing.

Get Funded. Fast.

Business loans from 1,000+ lenders. Match once, compare everywhere.

Lendio — Business Loan Marketplace →

$75 per funded loan through FlexOffers — SBA, term loans, lines of credit, invoice factoring

Bankrate Business Loans →

Per-lead through CJ Affiliate — compare rates from top lenders

Funding Circle →

Per-funded-loan through FlexOffers — established business loans $25K–$500K

Tool	Best For	Affiliate Rate
Lendio ⭐⭐⭐	Any business loan	$75/loan (Flex)
Funding Circle	Established businesses	Per-loan (Flex)
Bankrate	Rate comparisons	Per-lead
SmartBiz	SBA loans	Per-lead

We may earn a commission if you click above. Calculator is free to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a business loan?

Online lenders: 1-5 days for approval. Banks: 2-6 weeks. SBA loans: 30-90 days. Prepare 2 years of tax returns, bank statements, and financial statements before applying to speed the process.

What credit score do I need for a business loan?

Banks: 680+ for traditional loans. Online lenders: 580-640 for some products. SBA 7(a): 640+ typically. Higher scores get better rates. Your personal credit score often matters for small business loans.

What's the difference between SBA and traditional loans?

SBA loans are government-backed (reducing risk to lenders, enabling longer terms and lower rates). SBA 7(a) is most common: up to $5M, 10-year term for working capital, 25-year for real estate. Traditional bank loans have faster approval but stricter requirements.

What are the main types of business loans?

Term loans (fixed amount, fixed payments), Lines of credit (draw as needed, pay interest only on drawn amount), SBA loans (government-backed), Invoice factoring (sell receivables), Merchant cash advances (repay from daily sales). Each has different costs and qualification requirements.