◆ ClearValue editorial analysis

The numbers behind this analysis

The interest rate you plug into this calculator matters more than the loan amount for most small businesses: the Federal Reserve's H.15 release put the Prime rate at 6.75% as of September 2026, and the SBA caps 7(a) lender pricing at Prime plus a spread that runs from 3.0% (loans over $350,000) up to 6.5% (loans of $50,000 or less) — putting most SBA-guaranteed 7(a) loans in roughly the 9.75%–13.25% range right now, well below typical term-loan or MCA pricing for the same amount.

That guarantee moves real volume: the SBA backed 77,600 7(a) loans and 6,750 504 loans in fiscal year 2025 — a combined 84,400 loans worth $44.8 billion — so the SBA-rate scenario this calculator can model reflects an actual, high-volume federal program, not a theoretical best case.

Primary sources: Federal Reserve — H.15 Selected Interest Rates release · U.S. Small Business Administration — 7(a) loan terms & conditions · U.S. Small Business Administration — FY2025 lending results

Analysis by the ClearValue Editorial Team, applying our published scoring methodology.

This analysis combines cited public data (Federal Reserve, FDIC, FTC, CFPB, SBA/USDA, NAIC, ICI, BLS) with ClearValue's own cost math and category comparison — it is not proprietary ClearValue portfolio data. Rates, APYs, fees, and program terms move; figures carry an as-of date and you should verify current numbers at the linked primary sources and with the provider before deciding. Educational information, not financial, legal, or tax advice.