Repayment comfort calculator

Why work in dollars, not rates

Two business loans with similar headline pricing can cost very different amounts once establishment fees, monthly account fees, broker fees and early repayment charges are added in. Some lenders quote a factor or a fixed fee rather than an annual rate at all. The figure that tells the truth is the total cost in dollars: everything you'll pay, minus everything you receive.

That's what this calculator uses. Divide the total you'll repay (less any balloon) by the number of repayments and you have a repayment you can test against your actual cash flow. It's how a careful owner compares two offers side by side, and it keeps the conversation on what matters to your bank balance.

How to read the comfort meter

If you enter your spare cash in an average month, the calculator shows what share of it the repayment would use, converted to a monthly equivalent so weekly and fortnightly options compare fairly. Our rule of thumb for planning:

Share of spare cash	What it usually means
Under 30%	Comfortable. There's room for a slow month or an unexpected bill.
30% to 50%	Workable but tight. Check the quiet months, and think about a longer term or a smaller amount.
Over 50%	Stretched. One bad month could make repayments hard. Rethink the structure before you sign.

These bands are a practical guide, not a lender's test. Lenders run their own serviceability numbers, and lender types differ. Online lenders often collect daily or weekly, which suits steady card takings but can bite a business paid in lumps. Banks typically assess on annual financials. Property-secured private lenders focus more on the security and the exit than on monthly servicing. Our lender directory explains how each type looks at affordability.

Weekly, fortnightly or monthly?

Match the repayment rhythm to the way money arrives. A café or retailer with daily takings may be fine with weekly debits. A trade business paid by progress claims every month is usually safer with monthly repayments that land just after the claims are paid. Ask a lender which frequencies it offers before you compare quotes, because changing the rhythm can matter as much as changing the amount.

Ready to test real numbers?

The calculator works best with an actual quote. If you don't have one yet, tell us what you need and a lending specialist will come back with options sized to your cash flow. Asking doesn't involve a credit check, your enquiry isn't passed around a crowd of lenders, and accurate answers on the form help us get the structure right first go.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the calculator ask for total cost instead of an interest rate?

Because the total dollar cost is what actually leaves your business, and it captures fees as well as interest. Lenders in Australia quote business finance in many different ways — daily, weekly, with or without establishment fees — and a single dollar figure cuts through all of it. Ask any lender for the total amount you'll repay and subtract what you borrow.

Where do I find the total cost of finance?

Your letter of offer or quote should show the total amount repayable or the scheduled repayments. Add up every scheduled repayment plus any fees not included in them, then subtract the amount you actually receive. If a lender won't give you a total dollar figure in writing, ask why.

What counts as spare cash each month?

The money left in an average month after paying wages, rent, suppliers, tax instalments, super and existing loan repayments, but before paying yourself anything extra. Your bank statements over six to twelve months are the most honest guide. If income swings with the seasons, use a quiet month rather than the average.

Is a result under the comfortable line a guarantee I can afford the loan?

No. It's a planning aid. Lenders run their own serviceability tests, and a single bad quarter can change the picture. Treat the comfort bands as a rule of thumb for how much breathing room the repayment leaves you.

Does a balloon make the loan cheaper?

No. A balloon, or residual, lowers the regular repayment by leaving a lump sum to be paid at the end. The total you repay is the same or higher. It can suit equipment that will be sold or traded at the end of the term, as long as you plan for that final payment.