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Business finance, explained without the fluff

Every article here pairs with a calculator on this site. Concept on the left, math on the right — both written by an operator, both cited to primary sources (SBA SOPs, IRS publications, Fed releases), both reviewed quarterly.

SBA & Government Programs

How SBA 7(a) Fee Schedules Actually Work

The 'fee' on an SBA 7(a) loan is actually four fees stacked. Most online calculators only count one. Here's the full breakdown — guarantee fee, ongoing fee, packaging, and prepayment — with the SBA SOP page numbers.

Updated May 1, 2026 · Pairs with /calculators/sba-7a

Startup Finance

What Is a Burn Multiple, and Why Bessemer's Threshold Matters

Burn multiple turned 'how much are you burning?' into 'how much are you burning per dollar of new revenue?' — a much more useful question. Here's the math, the tier thresholds, and where it stops applying.

Updated May 1, 2026 · Pairs with /calculators/cash-runway

Real Estate Investing

DSCR Loans for Residential Investors — What's Different from CRE

A DSCR loan on a 4-unit rental works differently from a $5M apartment-complex loan even though the formula is identical. The differences live in the thresholds, the lenders, and what the property has to prove.

Updated May 1, 2026 · Pairs with /calculators/dscr

Tax & Depreciation

Section 179 vs Bonus Depreciation — The 2026 Phase-Down Explained

Section 179 and bonus depreciation are two different rules that look similar. They stack in a specific order, the 2026 phase-down changes the math, and most online calculators get this wrong. Here's how to think about it.

Updated May 1, 2026 · Pairs with /calculators/equipment-financing

Pricing & Margins

Why Margin and Markup Are Not the Same Number

When a vendor says '50% markup,' they mean 33.3% margin. When they say '50% margin,' they mean 100% markup. The relationship is not symmetric, and most operators have it backwards.

Updated May 1, 2026 · Pairs with /calculators/gross-margin

Operating Finance

Negative Cash Conversion Cycle — Amazon's Structural Advantage

If you collect from customers before you pay suppliers, you have negative working capital — and your business is literally being financed by everyone else's float. Amazon does it. Costco does it. Apple does it. Here's how.

Updated May 1, 2026 · Pairs with /calculators/working-capital