The term is a price lever, not a formality
Stretching a loan from five years to seven drops the monthly payment and quietly raises the total interest by thousands — lenders lead with the payment because it's the number that feels like the price. It isn't. The price is total interest plus fees, and the term is the biggest dial on it that you control. Pick the shortest term whose payment your worst realistic month can carry, not your best one.
Comparing more than one offer?
The Business Loan Comparison Workbook (Pro) lines up to five offers side by side — real APR, total cost, amortization, and the cash-flow impact of each payment schedule — plus a lender-package checklist. One-time $29, Excel & LibreOffice, no macros.
Get the Workbook — $29 Try the true cost calculatorEducational tool — not financial advice. Verify every figure against your actual loan documents.