Editorial Standards
Last Reviewed: September 30, 2026
On this page
- What we publish
- How we research
- How we evaluate financing choices
- Rates, examples and calculators
- Editorial independence and commercial relationships
- Who creates and reviews content
- How we keep pages current and correct errors
- Use of AI and outside contributions
ShopRates publishes information to help people understand financing choices and ask better questions before they commit. This page explains how we research and review our guides, how we handle examples and provider relationships, and how to report an error.
What we publish
Our content covers business loans, lines of credit, SBA options, equipment and receivables financing, merchant cash advances, real estate investor financing, and home lending topics where offered on the site. An educational page describes how a product commonly works and what to compare. It is not a provider’s offer, a promise of approval or individualized legal, tax or financial advice.
We aim to answer the question behind each page: what the financing does, when it may fit, what it costs, how repayment works, what can go wrong, and which alternatives deserve comparison. We do not invent lender criteria, rates, approval odds or funding times to fill a page.
How we research
For program rules and public requirements, we start with the agency or primary source that administers or publishes them. For a provider’s product terms, we use that provider’s current written materials and verify when they were checked. For legal or regulatory developments, we distinguish a statute or rule from guidance, a proposed change or a court decision. We identify the date when a time sensitive claim was last verified and link to useful original sources where possible.
We separate confirmed facts from general examples and interpretation. We do not copy another site’s comparison table or infer a universal range from a single provider. When information is uncertain or depends on the written agreement, we say so. External sources can change or move; a source link does not mean the source endorses ShopRates.
How we evaluate financing choices
We describe financing in terms a visitor can compare: cash received, fees and other charges, total repayment, payment frequency, term or collection period, collateral, guaranties and consequences of missed payments. Product comparisons explain where structures differ. A merchant cash advance, line of credit, lease and amortizing loan should not be compared using one headline factor rate as though they were identical interest products. We do not call one option “best” for every applicant.
When a page names a provider or displays a recommendation, we explain the selection criteria that actually apply to that placement and disclose any material commercial relationship near the claim. Our Referral Disclosure explains how ShopRates may earn compensation and how participating providers may appear.
Rates, examples and calculators
Financing illustrations use stated assumptions and are labeled as examples. A calculation should show its input amounts, rate or fee basis, repayment timing and what costs it includes or excludes. We check arithmetic, rounding and the meaning of a result before publication. The Business Loan Calculator explains its formulas and limitations on its own page. Its results are estimates, not offers. A provider’s written terms control a real transaction.
Rate and fee references can change. We do not call a rate “current” unless it was verified for a stated date and context. We avoid implying that every applicant can qualify for an advertised figure. Where a provider supplies a sponsored offer, we label it clearly and do not present a paid rate as an objective market benchmark.
Editorial independence and commercial relationships
ShopRates may be compensated when visitors are referred to or engage with participating providers. Compensation can affect the providers available through the site and may affect placement if that is part of the actual program. We disclose those relationships to visitors.
Editorial staff retain final control of educational explanations and corrections. Providers may supply factual product information and point out errors, but partner payments do not buy a favorable analysis, hide costs or remove a relevant limitation. Paid placements are marked as advertising or sponsored content at the point where they appear. Commercial staff may review conversion clarity but cannot override a documented factual or compliance correction.
Who creates and reviews content
Each substantive finance guide has a named responsible editor and a reviewer assigned to verify its key claims. Material about legal requirements, taxes, mortgage licensing, privacy or communications consent receives qualified subject matter or legal review appropriate to the topic. The public byline and “Reviewed by” field identify real people and roles only when they performed the work. A team byline is used when an individual byline would be inaccurate.
Before a new page goes live, the editor checks source links, definitions, calculations, internal links, CTAs, disclosures, accessibility and search metadata. The publisher records the approval and last substantive review date. Cosmetic updates alone do not justify changing an editorial review date to make old information look new.
How we keep pages current and correct errors
We prioritize review when programs, rules, lender terms, product availability or our own process changes. Time sensitive pages receive a scheduled review frequency based on risk and traffic; evergreen explanations are revisited when the underlying facts change.
If we find a material error, we correct the page, check related pages and record what changed internally. When the error could affect a reader’s decision, we add a visible correction note with the date and substance of the change. Minor spelling or layout fixes may be made without a public note.
To flag a possible error, use contact form and include the page URL and the claim you question. We review reports and may ask for a supporting source.
Use of AI and outside contributions
Tools may assist with research organization, drafting, proofreading or formatting, but an assigned human editor remains responsible for checking factual claims and the final page. We do not publish invented quotes, fabricated experiences, unverified rates or fictional expert reviews. If contributors or providers supply content, we check factual claims and disclose material sponsorship or control.
Questions and related policies
Read our Referral Disclosure for provider compensation, Website Disclaimer for the limits of site information, Privacy Policy for data practices, and Accessibility Statement for help using the site. For a real financing decision, obtain the provider’s written offer and compare its terms with other options.
For questions about an article or a correction, contact apply@shoprates.com