Powered by iSmallBizCredit Business Loan Calculator Definitions Loan Amount The loan amount should be easy for you to spot — it’s the total amount the lender is offering to your business. Interest Rate The interest rate is the percentage that will be charged on the amount of money you borrow from the lender. You may have heard “APR” and “interest rate” used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing. The APR looks at the entirety of the loan cost, including fees. That’s why it’s so important to use a business loan calculator to find out your APR — it helps you examine loan terms with different fees to make an apples to apples comparison and get the lowest-cost option that’s best for you. Origination & Application Fees An origination fee is charged by the lender as an upfront cost of processing, underwriting and issuing the loan. Application fees help cover the cost a lender incurs to check your personal and/or business credit, do a background check, etc. Loan