Why These Exist
Business Loan Jargon Is Confusing on Purpose
Most business loan offers are designed to be hard to compare. One lender quotes a factor rate, another quotes APR, a third quotes a “cost of capital percentage.” Some bury origination fees in the fine print, others roll them into the rate. We see business owners every week who accepted an offer without understanding the total repayment amount — sometimes overpaying significantly on their financing.
These tools and guides exist because we got tired of watching business owners overpay for funding they didn't fully understand. Each calculator shows you the real numbers — total cost, payment amount, cost per dollar borrowed. Each guide explains a specific topic in plain English with real dollar examples. No theory, no filler.
Think of this page as your pre-application homework. Use the calculators to understand what different products actually cost. Read the guides to know what lenders are looking for. Then when you're ready, pre-qualify in 60 seconds and compare real offers from 70+ lenders.
Loan Cost Calculator
Calculate the true cost of any business loan — total repayment, weekly or monthly payments, and APR equivalent. Compare factor rates and terms across 7 loan products.
Use Calculator →Equipment Financing Calculator
Estimate monthly payments, total cost, and Section 179 tax savings for equipment purchases from $10K to $5M.
Use Calculator →Line of Credit Calculator
Compare the cost of a revolving line of credit vs a lump sum working capital loan for your specific draw amount and usage period.
Use Calculator →What Can I Qualify For?
Enter your monthly revenue, time in business, and industry to see your estimated approval range and recommended products.
Use Calculator →Commercial Funding Calculator
Model funding packages from $500K to $10M. SBA, commercial real estate, equipment, and multi-product packages with combined debt service.
Use Calculator →Commercial Capital Stacking Explorer
See how multiple funding products stack together for commercial projects over $500K. SBA, commercial real estate, equipment, and working capital combined into one strategic package.
Explore Capital Stacking →How to Read a Business Loan Offer
Understand factor rates vs APR, origination fees, prepayment penalties, and the red flags that cost business owners thousands.
Read Guide →Pre-Application Checklist
Everything lenders look at — and the documents to have ready — before you submit your first application.
Read Guide →The Business Owner's Guide to Funding
All 10 loan products explained side by side. Comparison tables, qualification requirements, and which product fits which situation.
Read Guide →The Contractor's Funding Playbook
Capital strategies for construction businesses. Equipment financing, invoice factoring, split funding, and Section 179 tax strategies.
Read Guide →Best Places to Get a Small Business Loan: 2026 Guide
Where revenue-focused businesses actually get funded in 2026. Six modern funding paths compared with honest tradeoffs, speed, and size ranges.
Read Guide →The Commercial Funding Guide ($1M to $20M+)
Capital stacking, SBA 504, commercial real estate, and equipment portfolios. The 4-pillar underwriting model and the 6 products that build every commercial structure.
Read Guide →The SBA 504 Strategy Guide — Who Actually Qualifies, and How to Use It at Scale
How owner-operators actually use 504 — owner-occupied real estate, heavy equipment, the refinance program, and the 50/40/10 stack on real $5M math. Where 504 wins, where it loses, and how to close in 30 days.
Read Guide →Commercial Financing Overview
Capital stacking explained. How we combine SBA, commercial real estate, equipment, and working capital into custom packages from $500K to $20M+.
Read Guide →All 12 Loan Products
Every funding product available through Basecamp's 70+ lender network. Comparison tables, qualification requirements, and use cases for each.
Read Guide →Our Process
How Basecamp Funding Works
Most business owners apply to one bank, wait 2–6 weeks, and either get approved at whatever rate the bank offers or get declined with no alternatives. We do it differently. When you pre-qualify with Basecamp Funding, your single application goes to a network of 70+ lending partners who compete for your business. More competition means better rates, more options, and faster funding.
We match you with the right products based on your actual business profile — monthly revenue, time in business, industry, and how you plan to use the capital. Not every product fits every business. A restaurant owner with steady daily revenue might benefit from revenue-based financing, while a contractor waiting on receivables might need invoice factoring. We present all your options with full transparency — rates, terms, fees, and total cost — so you can make an informed decision.
Pre-qualification takes 60 seconds, uses a soft credit pull (no impact on your score), and requires no documents upfront. If you like an offer and want to move forward, a funding specialist walks you through the next steps. Many products fund the same day or within 48 hours. See the full process on our How It Works page, or explore loan products to learn about specific options.
Glossary
Common Funding Terms Explained
Plain-English definitions for the terms you'll see on every loan offer, term sheet, and application.
Factor Rate
A multiplier applied to your loan amount to determine total repayment. Your total repayment equals the loan amount multiplied by the factor rate — fixed regardless of how quickly you pay it back. Common on working capital loans, merchant cash advances, and revenue-based financing. Unlike APR, factor rates do not decrease if you repay early.
APR (Annual Percentage Rate)
The annualized cost of borrowing, including interest and fees. Used on equipment financing, SBA loans, and term loans. APR accounts for compounding — the faster you repay, the less total interest you pay.
Cost of Capital
The total amount you pay above the original loan amount. Your cost of capital is the difference between what you borrow and what you repay in total, including all interest and fees. This is the single most important number to compare across offers.
Origination Fee
An upfront fee charged by the lender for processing the loan, typically 1–5% of the loan amount. When deducted from your funding amount, you receive less than the loan amount but still repay the full balance plus interest. Always ask whether the fee is added to your balance or subtracted from your proceeds.
UCC Filing (Uniform Commercial Code)
A public notice that a lender has a security interest in your business assets. Common on working capital and term loans. It does not mean the lender owns your assets — it establishes their priority if you default.
Personal Guarantee
A promise that you personally will repay the loan if your business cannot. Most business loans under $500K require a personal guarantee. SBA loans always require one from any owner with 20%+ ownership.
Soft Pull vs Hard Pull
A soft pull checks your credit without affecting your score. Pre-qualification uses a soft pull. A hard pull (which can lower your score 5–10 points temporarily) only happens when you formally apply with a specific lender.
Daily ACH / Split Withholding
Automatic daily debits from your business checking account to repay a loan. Common on working capital and MCA products. Split withholding deducts a percentage of daily credit card sales instead of a fixed amount.
Stacking
Combining multiple business loans to reach the total capital a business needs. When done through a coordinated lending network, all participating lenders are aware of each position and structure the combined payments to fit the borrower's cash flow. Your funding specialist manages this process to make sure the total obligation is sustainable and every lender is fully informed.
Renewal
After repaying 50–70% of an existing loan, some lenders offer a renewal — a new loan that pays off the remaining balance and provides additional capital. Renewals are common on working capital products and can be a cost-effective way to access more funding.
Business Line of Credit
A revolving credit facility that lets you draw funds as needed up to a maximum limit. You only pay interest on what you draw, not the full limit. Similar to a credit card but for business operations, with lower rates and higher limits.
Invoice Factoring
Selling your unpaid invoices to a factoring company at a discount in exchange for immediate cash. A factoring company typically advances a percentage of the invoice value within 24 hours and charges a fee based on when the customer pays. Different from a loan because you're selling an asset, not borrowing against it.
FAQ