Business Loan Terminology You Should Know

Small business loans can be a great way to get your business started or help it grow. However, there are a lot of different types of loans available, and it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. In this article, we will discuss some of the most common business loan terminologies you need to be aware of so you can make an informed decision.? Let’s get started!

What is Loan Terminology?

Business loan terminology can be confusing for small business owners. Business loan terminology is a set of words and phrases used in the lending and borrowing of money. The most common terms in a business loan agreement are principal, interest, maturity, and amortization.

What are Four Business Loan Types?

Small business owners have many options when it comes to small business lending. Here are four main types of business loans:

• Term loans. These small business loan programs are typically for larger sums of money and have a repayment period of one to five years with an interest rate that’s usually fixed.
• SBA loans. These government-backed loans are available through the Small Business Administration (SBA) and have repayment terms of seven to 25 years.
• Invoice factoring. This type of small business loan uses your outstanding invoices as collateral. The lender gives you a portion of the invoice value upfront and the rest when your customer pays the invoice.
• Microloans. These loans are for smaller amounts of money, usually less than $50,000. They typically have shorter repayment terms than other types of loans.

Business Loan Glossary

A

Alternative lenders

These are lenders that are not traditional banks or financial institutions that offer alternative lending options like merchant cash advances. They may be online lenders, peer-to-peer lenders, or even family and friends.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

The Annual Percentage Rate or APR is the annual rate charged for borrowing, expressed as a percentage of the business loan amount. It includes the interest rate on the loan balance and other associated charges.

Amortization

The process of repaying a business loan in periodic installments. The installment payment includes principal and interest.

B

Balloon Payment

A balloon payment is a lump sum payment you make at the end of your business loan term. This type of payment is typically used when your loan has a shorter term than the amount of time it takes for your business to earn enough money to pay off the loan.

Bank Loans

A bank loan is a loan that is issued by a traditional bank or financial institution.

Borrower

The person or business who is borrowing money or taking out a business loan.

Borrower’s Monthly Payment

The periodic loan payment the borrower makes to the lender. Loan payments usually include interest and principal.

Bridge Loan

Bridge loans are short-term loans used to bridge the gap between the time a business needs money and the time it can get its hands on long-term financing. These loans are typically for six months or less.

Business Credit Cards

Business credit cards can be a great way to finance your business. They offer a variety of benefits, such as cashback rewards, travel rewards, and 0% APR introductory rates.

Business Line of Credit

A Business line of credit is a type of loan that provides your business with a set amount of money that can be used for any purpose. With a business line of credit, you can withdraw funds up to a limit set by the lender.

Business Loan Term

A business loan term is the amount of time for which a loan is valid. Generally, the loan term is less than the amount of time it takes for your business to earn enough money to pay off the loan.

Business Plan

A business plan is a document that outlines a company’s goals and how it plans to achieve them. It typically includes information about the company’s products and services, marketing strategy, financial forecast, and management team.

Business Loan Terms & Rates

The business loan term and rate refer to the specific details of the loan agreement. Typical business loan terms vary based on many factors but usually include the interest rate, repayment period, and any other associated charges.

C

Capital

Capital refers to the funds a business uses to start or grow its operations. It can be in the form of cash, equipment, inventory, or real estate.

Cash Flow

Cash flow is the movement of money in and out of a business. It can be used to measure a company’s financial health and performance.

Cognovit Note

A cognovit note allows the lender to take legal action against the borrower if they default on the loan. This type of note is typically used when the borrower is high-risk.

Co-borrower

A co-borrower is a person or business that cosigns a loan with the borrower. This means that they are equally responsible for repaying the loan.

Collateral

Collateral is an asset, such as property or equipment, that you use to secure a loan. If you default on your loan, the lender can seize the collateral and sell it to repay the debt.

Cosigner

A cosigner is someone who agrees to sign your loan with you. This person is typically a friend or family member who has good credit and is willing to help you get approved for the loan.

Credit Bureaus

Credit bureaus are organizations that collect and maintain information about a person’s credit history. This information is used to create a credit report, which is a document that shows a person’s creditworthiness.

Credit History

Credit history is a record of a person’s or business’ credit transactions and credit score. This information is used to create a credit report, which is a document that shows creditworthiness.

Credit Limit

A credit limit is the maximum amount of money a business can borrow with its credit card. It is important to stay within your credit limit, as going over it can damage your credit score.

Credit Line

A credit line is a type of loan that provides your business with a set amount of money that can be used for any purpose. It’s similar to a business credit card, but with a lower interest rate.

Credit Report

A credit report is a document that shows a person’s or business’ credit history. It includes information about the person’s or business’ credit transactions and credit score.

Credit Score

Your credit score is a number that represents your creditworthiness. It is used by lenders to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for a loan.

D

Debt Instruments

Debt instruments are financial tools that businesses can use to borrow money. This includes things like business loans, lines of credit, and credit cards.

Debt-to-Income Ratio

A debt-to-income ratio is a calculation that shows how much debt a business has compared to its income. This number is used to measure a company’s financial health and risk.

Default

Default occurs when you fail to make payments on your loan according to the terms agreed upon. This can result in damage to your credit score, and the lender may take legal action against you.

E

Existing Loan

An existing loan is a loan that has already been approved and is currently in use.

Equipment Financing

Equipment financing is a type of loan that provides businesses with the funds they need to purchase equipment. This type of loan is typically used to finance large purchases, such as vehicles or industrial equipment.

Equity

Equity is the portion of a business’ ownership that is funded with the owner’s own money. It’s used as collateral for a business loan, and the lender can seize it if the borrower defaults on the loan.

F

Fair Market Value

Fair market value is the price that a buyer and seller agree upon when they are both acting in good faith. This price is typically used to assess the worth of a business or its assets.

FICO

FICO is a credit scoring system that uses a person’s credit history to determine their creditworthiness. It is used by lenders to determine whether or not to approve a loan.

Fixed Interest Rate

A fixed interest rate is a type of loan in which the interest rate does not change over the life of the loan. This means that the borrower knows exactly what they will be paying each month.

G

Grace Period

A grace period is a time during which a borrower is allowed to make payments on their loan without being penalized.

Gross Income

Gross income is the total amount of money a business makes before any deductions are taken out. This number is used to calculate a business’ debt obligations, which are the payments it must make on its outstanding loans.

H

Hard Credit Check

A hard credit check is a type of credit check that is used to determine a person’s or business’ creditworthiness. This type of check is more rigorous than a soft credit check, and it can result in a lower credit score.

I

Interest Payments

Interest payments are the fees that a business pays to a lender to borrow money. These payments are typically calculated as a percentage of the loan amount and must be paid monthly.

Invoice Financing

Invoice financing is a type of loan that provides businesses with the funds they need to pay their suppliers. This can be used to finance large purchases, such as inventory or equipment.

L

Loan Agreement

This document outlines the terms and conditions of the loan, including the interest rate, the repayment schedule, and any penalties for defaulting on the loan. This can vary from a mortgage loan, a personal loan, a student loan, and a business loan.

Loan Amount

A loan amount is the total amount of money that a business borrows from a lender.

Loan Commitment

A loan commitment outlines the same terms and conditions as a loan agreement but is a more formal document that is typically used to secure financing.

Loan Documents

Loan documents are the paperwork that is used to secure a loan from a lender. This paperwork typically includes the loan agreement, the commitment letter, and any other relevant documents.

Loan Principal

The loan principal is the amount of money that is borrowed by a business. This number helps calculate the payments that a business must make on its loans monthly.

Loan to Value

Loan to value (LTV) is the ratio of a loan amount to the value of the assets that are being used as collateral for the loan. This number is used by lenders to determine the risk involved in lending money to a business.

M

Merchant Cash Advance

A merchant cash advance (MCA) is a type of loan that provides businesses with quick and easy access to funds they need to pay their suppliers. A merchant cash advance provides businesses with an alternative financing option.

Monthly Payments

Monthly payments are the fees that a business pays to a lender to borrow money.

N

Net Income

Net income is the amount of money that a business earns after all expenses have been paid. This number is used to determine the profitability of a business.

Non-Recourse Loans

A non-recourse loan is a type of loan that is not secured by any collateral. This means that if the borrower defaults on the loan, the lender cannot seize any of the borrower’s assets.

Net Worth

Net worth is the total value of a person’s or business’ assets minus the total value of its liabilities. This number is used to determine the financial health and ability to repay outstanding loans.

O

Origination Fee

An origination fee is a fee that is charged by a lender when a business takes out a loan. This fee is typically a percentage of the loan amount and is paid upfront.

P

Personal Guarantee

A personal guarantee is a document that is signed by the owner of a business to guarantee that they will repay their loan. This document is typically used to secure financing from a lender.

Personal Loan

A personal loan is a type of loan that is taken out by an individual for personal, non-business use.

Pre-Payment Penalty

A pre-payment penalty is a fee that is charged by a lender when a business pays off its loan early.

Prime Rate

The prime rate is the interest rate that is offered to the most credit-worthy borrowers. This rate is typically used as a benchmark to set the interest rates for other types of loans.

Principal and Interest

The principal is the amount of money that is borrowed by a business. The interest is the fee that a business pays to a lender to borrow money.

Principal Balance

The principal balance is the amount of money that is still owed on a business loan. This number is used to calculate the monthly payments that a business must make on its outstanding loans.

Promissory Note

A promissory note is a document that is used to secure a loan from a lender. This document usually includes the loan agreement, the commitment letter, as well as any other relevant documents.

R

Recourse Loans

A recourse loan is a type of loan that is secured by collateral. This means that if the borrower defaults on their loan, the lender can seize any of the borrower’s assets.

Refinance Transaction

A refinance transaction is the process of obtaining a new loan to pay off an existing loan. This process can be used to secure a lower interest rate or to consolidate multiple loans into one.

Repayment Period

A repayment period is the amount of time that a business has to repay its loan. This period is typically calculated as several months or years and must be paid back in regular installments.

Repayment Terms

Repayment terms are the specific details of how a business must repay its loan. This includes the amount of time that the loan must be repaid and the amount of each monthly payment.

Revolving Credit

Revolving credit is a type of loan that allows businesses to borrow money up to a certain limit and repay it over time. This type of loan can be used for a variety of purposes, such as working capital or inventory.

S

Secured Loan

A secured loan is a type of loan that is secured by collateral. So if the borrower defaults on their loan, the lender can seize assets from the borrower.

Short-Term Business loans

Short-term business loans are a type of loan that is used to finance a business’ short-term needs. This type of loan is typically repaid over months or years.

Small Business Loan

A small business loan is intended for business purposes only and the interest rate is typically lower than for personal loans.

Soft Credit Check

This is a type of credit check that does not affect credit score. It’s used to assess an individual’s or business’ creditworthiness without impacting credit score.

T

Term Length

Term length is the number of months or years of a loan. This determines the number of monthly payments and the total amount of interest paid over the life of the loan.

Title Insurance Company

A title insurance company is a business that provides insurance to lenders in case there is a problem with the title of a property. This can help protect the lender’s investment in case there are any legal issues with the property.

U

Unsecured Loan

Unsecured loans are a type of loan in which the borrower does not provide any collateral to the lender. An unsecured loan typically has a higher interest rate than a secured one, since there’s a greater risk for the lender.

V

Variable Interest Rate

A variable interest rate can change over the life of a loan. This type of rate is typically tied to an index, such as the U.S. Prime Rate, and will go up or down depending on the fluctuations of that index.

Image: Depositphotos

This article, "Business Loan Terminology You Should Know" was first published on Small Business Trends