Commercial Loan Agreement

It is made between a borrower and a lender for a business loan 
 

Author: Andy Yan
Andy Yan
Andy Yan
Investment Banking | Corporate Development

Before deciding to pursue his MBA, Andy previously spent two years at Credit Suisse in Investment Banking, primarily working on M&A and IPO transactions. Prior to joining Credit Suisse, Andy was a Business Analyst Intern for Capital One and worked as an associate for Cambridge Realty Capital Companies.

Andy graduated from University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Statistics and is currently an MBA candidate at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business with a concentration in Analytical Finance.

Reviewed By: Austin Anderson
Austin Anderson
Austin Anderson
Consulting | Data Analysis

Austin has been working with Ernst & Young for over four years, starting as a senior consultant before being promoted to a manager. At EY, he focuses on strategy, process and operations improvement, and business transformation consulting services focused on health provider, payer, and public health organizations. Austin specializes in the health industry but supports clients across multiple industries.

Austin has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration in Strategy, Management and Organization, both from the University of Michigan.

Last Updated:November 11, 2023

What is a Commercial Loan Agreement?

When a loan is given for business purposes, a commercial loan agreement is made between a borrower and a lender.

Every time a significant sum of money is borrowed, a person or organization must sign a loan agreement. The lender will provide the funds if the borrower accepts all loan conditions, including the predetermined interest rate and set payback dates.

An interest rate is charged on loans. The interest is a fee that the borrower must pay in addition to the principal (the amount borrowed) in exchange for the loan.

Traditional consumer and commercial loans are different in several respects.

Typically, lenders prefer to negotiate with borrowers using their agreement format. Standard (boilerplate) clauses make up a large portion of a draft loan agreement, and banks may be hesitant to modify these terms.

However, certain provisions in a loan agreement are unique to the transaction. Therefore, they might need to be modified to reflect the particulars of a financing arrangement accurately.

parties involved in a commercial loan agreement

Following are the objectives and roles that each party aims to fulfill through a loan agreement:

The borrower's objective:

  • Ensure that money will be accessible when required.
  • Acquire financing with the most favorable conditions feasible (e.g., the lowest interest rate possible).
  • Arrange for the loan to be repaid over a timeframe that won't strain the firm excessively.
  • Verify that it can adhere to all other conditions of the loan arrangement (e.g., financial covenants) in the normal course of its operations.

The lender's objective:

  • Specify the circumstances under which the borrower will be required to make payments under the loan arrangement.
  • Ensure that they are allowed to keep an eye on the borrower's finances and, if required, take corrective action if the borrower has significant financial problems.
  • Give itself access to further remedies or a legally enforceable claim to its money if the borrower defaults.

An interest rate is charged on loans. The interest is a fee that the borrower must pay in addition to the principal (the amount borrowed) in exchange for the right to take out a loan.

How does a Commercial Loan Agreement work?

For commercial loans, a business is essentially always the borrower. The lender and the borrower are the two parties involved in the agreement.

To borrow money under a commercial loan arrangement, the borrower must pay a predetermined amount of interest that is expressly stated in the loan's conditions. Additionally, there are times when the borrower must make payments toward the loan's principal.

The most frequent causes for requesting a commercial loan are start-ups seeking growth or existing businesses seeking expansion.

The main lesson to be learned from this is that lenders that give commercial loans give the borrower a sizable sum of money and run significant risks if the start-up doesn't succeed or the growth doesn't bring in additional revenue for the firm.

Loans for businesses may be secured or unsecured. The main distinction between the two is that the lender can lessen the risk of the loan they are offering.

Secured Commercial Loan

To obtain this type of loan, the borrower must have a piece of collateral. It can be anything from office buildings to vehicles to machinery. The size and value of the collateral will factor into the principal loan amount allowed.

When the borrowers cannot repay the loan, the lenders can seize any assets put up as collateral. This might result in the lender getting a poor deal; however, they are still getting something back.

This type of loan has many benefits. It is easier to get, the lenders have less risk, and the interest rate is lower.

Unsecured Commercial Loan

Unsecured commercial loans are more challenging since, as their name implies, the lender has no security. In addition, there is no requirement for collateral; therefore, if the borrower defaults, the lender will have few options for recouping its losses.

Unsecured business loans normally demand the applicant to be financially sound, have a high credit score, and have a history of repaying obligations on time. To qualify for an unsecured loan, borrowers may have to meet extra standards.

Additionally, because the lender is taking on a far larger risk, interest rates for unsecured loans are significantly higher.

Researched and authored by Huy Phan | LinkedIn

Reviewed and edited by James Fazeli-Sinaki | LinkedIn

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