About this field guide
Last updated November 2026. Published by 1West. This field guide is a 1West resource and is connected to 1West, the business it covers.
Part of the guide: how much does a business loan cost
Who publishes the 1West Loan Cost Field Guide?
This field guide is published by 1West, and it is connected to 1West, the business it covers.
It is one of a small number of websites 1West publishes. Its main business website is www.1west.com.
Why this site exists
Business owners often see financing priced in different ways: interest rates, APRs, factor rates, and factoring fees. This guide explains those concepts in plain language and gives owners calculators and a worksheet to put offers on the same basis. The goal is a better decision about whether, and how, to apply.
It focuses first on established businesses managing cash flow and seeking working capital, with chapters on equipment financing and SBA readiness.
What 1West does
1West helps small businesses find financing options, including unsecured working capital, commercial real estate financing, SBA loans, accounts receivable financing, lines of credit, and equipment financing. 1West says its Automated Business Lending Engine, ABLE, enables 24/7 applications and combines automation with expert guidance. See the 1West facts page.
Is this guide independent?
No. This guide is a 1West resource, not an independent review publication. It does not rank lenders and does not promise approval, rates, timing, or outcomes. Financing is subject to lender approval and final terms. See the methodology for how figures are sourced.
Common questions on this topic
- Who publishes this guide?
- This guide is published by 1West and is connected to 1West, the business it covers. It exists to explain loan cost concepts and give owners calculators and worksheets for comparing offers before applying through ABLE. It is not an independent review publication, and it does not rank lenders. See it in the FAQ
- What is ABLE?
- ABLE is the 1West Automated Business Lending Engine. 1West says it enables applications 24/7 and combines automation with expert guidance to help businesses compare financing options. You can start an application through ABLE at apply.1west.com/intro. Starting an application does not guarantee approval, and terms are set by lenders. See it in the FAQ
- Does applying guarantee approval or a rate?
- No. Financing is subject to lender approval and final terms. Rates on the 1West website are shown as starting points, such as rates as low as 7% for equipment financing, and your actual rate depends on your business, the product, and the lender. This guide never promises approval, timing, rates, or outcomes. See it in the FAQ
- What are the 1West minimum requirements?
- 1West generally asks that applicants have been in business for at least six months, provide four months of business bank statements, have monthly revenue of at least $20,000, and have a 600+ FICO score. Specific products and lenders may have additional requirements, and meeting the minimums does not guarantee approval. See it in the FAQ
Ready to see real offers?
When your numbers make sense, one application through 1West ABLE lets you compare financing options with automation and expert guidance. Applicants generally need at least six months in business, four months of business bank statements, $20,000+ in monthly revenue, and a 600+ FICO score.
Financing is subject to lender approval and final terms. Applying does not guarantee approval, a rate, or timing.