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Business Loan Calculator

Use this free business loan calculator to find your monthly payment, total interest, and total cost — plus a full amortization schedule. Enter your loan amount, interest rate, and term to see exactly what financing will cost your business.

$
%
$
$2,076
Monthly Payment
$24,560
Total Interest
$124,560
Total Cost
60 mo
Payoff Time
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How to Use This Business Loan Calculator

  • Loan Amount — the principal you are borrowing.
  • Annual Interest Rate — the loan\'s annual rate (APR).
  • Loan Term — the repayment period in years.
  • Extra Monthly Payment — optional; see how paying extra cuts your interest and payoff time.

Click Show Amortization Schedule for a month-by-month breakdown, or Download CSV to open it in Excel or Google Sheets.

What Is a Business Loan & Amortization?

A business loan is financing you repay over time in fixed installments. Each payment is split between interest (the cost of borrowing) and principal (paying down the balance). Early in the loan, most of each payment goes to interest; later, more goes to principal. This process is called amortization, and the schedule shows exactly how it plays out month by month.

Understanding amortization matters because the headline interest rate does not tell you the full cost. A lower monthly payment from a longer term can mean dramatically more total interest. Seeing the full schedule — and testing extra payments — lets you make a financing decision based on true total cost, not just the monthly number a lender quotes.

Loan Payment Formula

Monthly Payment = P × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)^−n)

where P = principal, r = monthly rate (annual ÷ 12), n = number of months

Example Calculation

A $100,000 loan at 9% over 5 years (60 months):

  • Monthly payment ≈ $2,076
  • Total interest ≈ $24,560
  • Total cost = $100,000 + $24,560 ≈ $124,560

Adding even a small extra monthly payment can cut both the total interest and the payoff time — try it above.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on the monthly payment. A longer term lowers the payment but raises total interest, often by a lot.
  • Ignoring fees. Origination fees and closing costs raise the true cost beyond the interest rate.
  • Confusing APR and interest rate. APR includes some fees and is the better comparison number.
  • Borrowing more than cash flow supports. Check the payment against your real monthly cash flow before signing.
  • Overlooking prepayment penalties. Some loans charge you for paying early — confirm before planning extra payments.

Business Loans for Small Business & Startups

Taking on debt is one of the highest-stakes financial decisions a small business makes. The right loan funds growth that more than covers its cost; the wrong one strains cash flow for years. The deciding question is not just "can we afford the payment?" but "will what we do with this money earn more than the loan costs?" — which ties directly to ROI and cash flow planning.

A fractional CFO helps you answer that: modeling the loan against your cash flow, comparing financing options, and making sure the debt actually advances the business. If you are weighing a loan or line of credit, a short call can save you from an expensive mistake — or confirm a smart move.

Need help interpreting these numbers?

Our Ex-PwC Chartered Accountants help US startups and small businesses turn calculations like this into real financial strategy — pricing, cash flow, fundraising, and growth decisions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is a business loan monthly payment calculated?
It uses the amortization formula: principal times the monthly rate, divided by one minus (one plus the monthly rate) to the power of negative number-of-months. This calculator does it instantly and shows the full schedule.
What is an amortization schedule?
An amortization schedule is a month-by-month table showing how each payment splits between principal and interest, and how the balance falls to zero. It reveals the true total interest cost of the loan.
Does paying extra reduce total interest?
Yes. Extra payments go straight to principal, which reduces the balance faster and cuts both total interest and the payoff time. Enter an extra payment above to see the effect — just confirm your loan has no prepayment penalty.
What is the difference between APR and interest rate?
The interest rate is the cost of borrowing the principal. APR includes the interest rate plus certain fees, so it reflects the loan's true annual cost and is the better number for comparing offers.
Should my business take a loan?
Only if the return on what you do with the money reliably exceeds the loan's total cost, and your cash flow comfortably covers the payments. Modeling this against your finances — something a fractional CFO does routinely — is the safest way to decide.

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