What a business loan costs, by amount
Monthly payment, the cash flow you need to qualify, and what the SBA's loan-level data shows for every common loan size from $10,000 to $5 million.
The most common question borrowers ask is not which product to use — it is what a specific amount will cost each month, and whether they can get it. These pages answer both, using real approval data for each size range rather than an illustrative example.
| Amount | Monthly payment | Term | Median rate | Share of 7(a) loans | Charge-off rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $134 | 10 yrs | 11.50% | 2.2% | 10.0% |
| $25,000 | $334 | 10 yrs | 11.49% | 12.9% | 8.5% |
| $50,000 | $668 | 10 yrs | 10.75% | 14.0% | 7.3% |
| $100,000 | $1,335 | 10 yrs | 10.50% | 22.0% | 8.3% |
| $250,000 | $3,338 | 10 yrs | 10.24% | 18.6% | 6.8% |
| $500,000 | $6,677 | 10 yrs | 9.75% | 13.4% | 5.2% |
| $1 million | $9,264 | 25 yrs | 9.50% | 8.4% | 4.4% |
| $2 million | $18,528 | 25 yrs | 9.25% | 6.2% | 3.6% |
| $5 million | $46,319 | 25 yrs | 9.00% | 2.3% | 3.0% |
$10,000 business loan
About $134 a month over 10 years. 2.2% of SBA 7(a) approvals are this size.
$25,000 business loan
About $334 a month over 10 years. 12.9% of SBA 7(a) approvals are this size.
$50,000 business loan
About $668 a month over 10 years. 14.0% of SBA 7(a) approvals are this size.
$100,000 business loan
About $1,335 a month over 10 years. 22.0% of SBA 7(a) approvals are this size.
$250,000 business loan
About $3,338 a month over 10 years. 18.6% of SBA 7(a) approvals are this size.
$500,000 business loan
About $6,677 a month over 10 years. 13.4% of SBA 7(a) approvals are this size.
$1 million business loan
About $9,264 a month over 25 years. 8.4% of SBA 7(a) approvals are this size.
$2 million business loan
About $18,528 a month over 25 years. 6.2% of SBA 7(a) approvals are this size.
$5 million business loan
About $46,319 a month over 25 years. 2.3% of SBA 7(a) approvals are this size.
Before you pick a number
Borrowing more than your cash flow supports is the most common cause of a decline, and borrowing less than you need means going back for a second facility at worse terms. Build a thirteen-week cash forecast, find the deepest point, add about 20%, then test the payment against 1.25x coverage with the affordability calculator.