What's Your True Cost of Loan Processing?

Loan processing costs go far beyond your processor's salary. The true cost includes payroll taxes, health insurance, workers' compensation, paid time off, technology licenses, equipment, ongoing training, and the opportunity cost of your own management time. When you add it all up, most brokers discover they're spending 40-60% more on processing than they realized.

This calculator breaks down every component of your processing costs and compares three models side by side: keeping your in-house processor, outsourcing to a third-party processing company, and borrower-paid processing where the fee is disclosed on the Loan Estimate and paid at closing. Enter your numbers below to see a personalized comparison.

Start by selecting your current setup — whether you have an in-house processor, already outsource, or are exploring options. Then enter your monthly loan volume, average loan size range, and your processor's salary if applicable. The calculator factors in all the hidden costs that most brokers overlook: employer payroll taxes (7.65%), benefits, workers' comp insurance, PTO accrual, software licenses, hardware, continuing education, and the time you spend managing your processor instead of originating.

Once you hit calculate, you'll see a side-by-side breakdown of your cost per file under each model. The borrower-paid column shows what happens when the processing fee moves off your P&L entirely — disclosed in Section B of the Loan Estimate as a bona fide third-party charge. This fee does not count against the 3% QM cap when processing is performed by a genuine third-party company like Bright.