How much SBA loan can your business carry? Free DSCR loan sizer

How big a loan can your cash flow carry?

Lenders size a loan backwards from cash flow. Enter your numbers and see the largest loan a coverage floor such as 1.25x supports, how the loan you want measures up (business and global DSCR), the cash you must bring, how much cash flow could fall before you miss the floor, and how term, rate and a soft year change the answer.

Planning arithmetic on your own numbers and stated assumptions. Not a lender decision.

1. Business cash flow

Net income from your tax return or P&L ($/yr)

Interest expense ($/yr)

Depreciation and amortisation ($/yr)

One-off or non-cash add-backs ($/yr)

Owner pay adjustment to a market wage ($/yr, negative lowers cash flow)

Maintenance capital spending ($/yr)

Existing business loan payments ($/yr)

Cash flow available = net income + interest + depreciation + add-backs + owner pay adjustment − maintenance capex. Use the owner pay adjustment when you pay yourself less (or more) than a manager would cost.

2. Your household (for global coverage)

Other household income ($/yr)

Household living expenses ($/yr)

Personal debt payments: mortgage, cars, cards ($/yr)

3. The loan

Lender's minimum coverage (x)

Interest rate (%)

Term (years)

Upfront guaranty and packaging fees (% of loan)

Loan you want ($)

Total project cost ($)

Required owner equity injection (%)

Questions people ask

How much SBA loan can I qualify for?

Lenders work backwards from cash flow. Cash available for debt service, divided by the minimum coverage ratio (commonly 1.25x), minus the payments you already make, is the most new yearly payment the business can carry. The calculator turns that payment into a loan amount at your rate and term.

What is DSCR and what do SBA lenders want?

Debt service coverage ratio is yearly cash flow divided by yearly loan payments. Many SBA lenders look for about 1.25x, and some also look at a global ratio that counts your household income and personal debts. Each lender sets its own floor, so type in the one you were quoted.

Does the SBA guaranty fee change how much I can borrow?

The fee comes out of, or is added to, the loan, so it lowers the cash you actually receive rather than the payment you can afford. The calculator shows net proceeds after the fee you enter. Fee schedules change by year and loan size; check your lender's current one.

Is this a loan offer or financial advice?

No. It is arithmetic on the numbers you type in. It is not a lender's decision, a credit offer, or advice, and it cannot see credit score, collateral, industry, time in business or any SBA eligibility rule.

Not decided

Whether you are eligible for any SBA program, credit score, collateral, personal guarantees, industry and time in business, the lender's own cash-flow adjustments, current SBA fee schedules and rate caps, variable rates, balloons or interest-only periods, tax, and whether a lender will approve you. The defaults are placeholders, not a quote.

Buying a franchise? The franchise unit economics calculator shows payback, break-even sales and the cash cushion for one unit. Comparing offers you already hold? See the business loan offer comparator. Buying a business? See the small business acquisition calculator.