SBA Loan Calculator: Estimate Payments on 7(a), 504 Loans
Use our calculator to estimate the total costs of an SBA loan.
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Government-backed SBA loans offer low interest rates and long repayment terms, which can make them a great way to fund your business. The best small-business loan for you is typically the one with the most favorable rates and terms that you can qualify for — which depends on how long you’ve been in business, your credit score, your revenue and other factors.
As you compare different options, estimate the total financing costs to make sure that you can afford to take on potential new debt.
How to use the SBA loan calculator
1. Enter your information
Enter the following elements into our calculator to determine the cost of an SBA loan.
Loan type
Choose from three options:
- SBA 7(a) loan. This is the most common type of SBA loan. SBA 7(a) loans can be used for working capital, business expansion, debt consolidation or buying real estate or equipment. These loans are issued by financial institutions, usually banks.
- SBA Express loan. SBA Express loans are SBA 7(a) loans of up to $500,000 that can be approved more quickly than standard 7(a) loans. Export Express loans, which are also available in amounts up to $500,000, are designed exclusively for export businesses.
- SBA 504 loan. SBA 504 loans have very long terms — up to 25 years — and can be used to finance real estate or equipment purchases. They are funded by Certified Development Companies (CDCs) and financial institutions. You’ll need to put at least 10% down.
» MORE: Can you have multiple SBA loans?
💬 From a lending expert: Making SBA loans easy
SBA loans are a great funding source, but they’re not always easy to get. Our specialized SBA lending team has helped business owners secure $578 million in federally backed loans.
Our expert guidance can help you get SBA funds faster and more easily. Getting started is as easy as clicking the button below.
— Mike Ross, NerdWallet Business Loans Team Lead
Loan amount
Although loan amounts vary, each SBA loan type is subject to a maximum funding limit. SBA 7(a) loans are available up to $5 million, SBA Express loans are available up to $500,000 and SBA 504 loans are available up to $5.5 million.
Loan term
Maximum repayment terms are based on how you plan to use the loan. For SBA 7(a) and Express loans, the maximum repayment terms are up to 25 years for real estate, 10 years for equipment and 10 years for working capital or inventory loans. For 504 loans, on the other hand, repayment terms are 10, 20 or 25 years, depending on what you’re using the loan for.
Interest rate
You and your SBA lender will negotiate your interest rate, so you may need to work with an estimated interest rate to use our SBA loan calculator. SBA loan rates for 7(a) loans (including Express loans) are calculated based on the daily prime rate plus a lender spread. 7(a) loan interest rates can be either fixed or variable. This calculator assumes a fixed rate. For SBA 504 loans, interest rates are based on the market rate for five- and 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds. Rates are fixed for the life of the loan
Fees
Within this calculator, we’ve accounted for one of the most common fees, the SBA guarantee fee. However, there are some additional fees that may affect the cost of your SBA loan.
- Lender guarantee fee. If an SBA 7(a) loan has a term of 12 months or longer, the lender is required to pay an upfront guarantee fee, which is a percentage of the loan amount that varies depending on the size of the loan. The lender can pass this guarantee fee onto the borrower, either adding it to your loan balance or as a separate charge after your loan disbursement.
- Annual service fee. Lenders also have to pay the SBA an annual service fee, which is a small percentage of the outstanding balance of the loan, on loans greater than $500,000. This fee cannot be passed onto the borrower.
It’s important to note that this calculator does not include some fee costs that vary from lender to lender. Your lender can charge service and packaging fees, filing and recording fees, and late payment fees. It can also seek approval from the SBA to charge additional fees if a loan will require an extraordinary amount of work to administer.
Down payment
SBA 504 loans require a down payment, so you’ll be asked to choose a payment amount. Because you pay this amount up front, you don’t need to finance it, and it doesn’t count toward your loan total.
2. Calculate your results
Once you’ve added the above variables, click “calculate” and the calculator will automatically generate your monthly payment, total payments, total interest and amortization schedule. Feel free to play around with the numbers to explore different scenarios.
- Monthly payment. This is the amount you’ll owe your lender each month. It includes payment toward your principal, interest and guarantee fee (if applicable).
- Total payments. This is the total amount you will pay back over the life of the loan. It includes the amount you borrowed, plus interest and guarantee fee (if applicable).
- Total interest paid. This is the total amount you will pay your lender in interest. Repaying your loan early can help you save on interest — as long as your lender doesn’t charge prepayment penalties. The SBA also charges prepayment penalties if you prepay within the first three years of your loan term, if the total loan term is 15 years or longer.
- Amortization schedule. This represents how much of each monthly payment will go toward your principal and how much will be spent on interest. Over time, your monthly payment will remain the same, but your interest payments will get smaller and more of your payment will go toward your principal.
How to qualify for an SBA loan
SBA loan requirements can vary depending on the lender you’re working with and which loan program you’re applying for.
All SBA loans require the following, though:
- You must be a for-profit business.
- You must have invested your own time and money, or another form of equity, into your business.
- You have to explain what you plan to use the funds for and why you need the financing.
- You must be a small business. The SBA’s definition of “small business” depends on your annual revenue or number of employees and varies depending on your industry
. You can see the SBA’s business size definitions here.
Is an SBA loan right for me?
SBA loans can be one of the most affordable small-business financing options. These loans tend to have long repayment terms, competitive interest rates and can be used for a wide variety of purposes.
Although SBA loans can be difficult to qualify for, they’re a good option for established businesses with good credit. If you’re considering one of these products, you’ll want to use an SBA loan calculator to estimate potential costs to see if you can afford to take on new debt.
As you explore different solutions, it’s important to keep in mind that loan features — amounts, repayment terms, interest rates and fees — vary based on your lender and qualifications, so you’ll want to compare several options to find the best deal for your business.
Learn more about SBA loans:
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- 1. U.S. Small Business Administration. 504 loans. Accessed Feb 18, 2025.
- 2. U.S. Small Business Administration. Table of size standards. Accessed Feb 18, 2025.
