A safe rule of thumb: keep total debt payments to a manageable share of revenue. Enter your average monthly revenue and current monthly debt payments to see an estimated affordable payment and a rough funding amount.
Key takeaways
- Keep total debt service to a comfortable share of revenue (often 10-15%).
- Subtract existing payments to find new capacity.
- Affordability is a ceiling, not a target.
- Borrow to a return, not to a limit.
- From $10,000, FICO 500+ considered.
How to use it
Set the percentage of revenue you're comfortable committing to debt (10-15% is a common comfort zone). The calculator subtracts your existing payments and estimates the new payment — and a rough funding amount — you could support.
Example
For example, at $60,000/month revenue with a 15% comfort cap, that's $9,000 available for debt. If you already pay $2,000, roughly $7,000/month is available for new funding — supporting a meaningful advance or loan depending on term and rate.
Borrow to a return, not a limit
Affordability is a ceiling, not a target. Borrow what funds a move that earns more than it costs — an order you can fill, equipment that lifts capacity, a gap you'll recover. Match the amount to the return.
Frequently asked questions
Is the funding amount exact?
No — it's a rough planning figure. Actual approval depends on term, rate, and the funder's underwriting of your deposits.
What percentage should I use?
Many owners stay near 10-15% of revenue for total debt service, but thinner-margin businesses should go lower.
Does existing debt hurt approval?
It's a factor, but revenue-based funders focus on cash flow and deposit consistency; you can often still qualify with existing obligations.
