Breakout Capital believes it is every lender’s responsibility to ensure that small business borrowers are provided with sufficient cost information to adequately compare financing alternatives. Remember that APR is just one of many ways to measure cost and may be most effective when comparing financing products of similar expected duration. The most relevant cost metric to focus on when comparing across alternatives depends primarily on your specific circumstance and objectives. In addition to disclosing APR and other relevant cost metrics associated with a loan offer, your lender should explain how it makes sense based on your company’s financial profile and objectives. And remember, upfront costs are not the only things you need to understand; ask about any penalties or discounts if you pay the loan off early or whether you incur any fees, double dipping of interest or interest acceleration to which you may be subject if you access additional capital with your lender.