How to use payment and break-even calculators, compare lender types and weigh alternatives to a term loan.
Numbers settle most borrowing decisions. This section shows how to run a loan payment calculation properly, how to compare banks, online lenders and credit unions on the criteria that matter, how to test whether borrowing pays for itself, and which alternatives to a term loan deserve a look.
Each guide links to a calculator on this site so you can try your own figures. The tools use standard amortization math and show their assumptions, but they cannot see your lender's actual fee schedule or compounding rules, so treat results as a planning estimate and confirm against the lender's disclosures.
If you are early in the process, start with the calculator guide, then read the lender comparison, and finish with the break-even guide to decide whether the loan should happen at all.
Calculators and Product Comparison
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.
Calculators and Product Comparison
Explore alternatives to a traditional business term loan, including credit lines, equipment financing, invoice factoring, microloans, grants and internal fixes, with trade-offs.
Calculators and Product Comparison
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.
Calculators and Product Comparison
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.
Calculators and Product Comparison
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.
Calculators and Product Comparison
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.
