Cost-to-income ratio calculator

How to use it

Enter your figures above — the result updates instantly and nothing leaves your browser. Results are illustrative, not a quote or credit decision.

How to interpret the result

A cost-to-income figure is only meaningful next to something to compare it against — your own trend over recent periods, or the norm for your sector. A ratio that has been drifting upward over successive periods usually says more than a single snapshot, since it points to costs growing faster than income even if both are moving in the same direction. Treat the result as a starting point for a conversation about where the underlying pressure is coming from, not as a verdict in itself.

It also helps to look at what sits inside 'operating costs'. A ratio that moves because of a one-off item, such as a large repair or a relocation cost, tells a different story to one that moves because of a structural change like a permanent rise in staffing or rent. Separating temporary from recurring costs before drawing conclusions avoids reacting to noise.

Limitations and good practice

This calculator gives an instant illustration based on the two figures entered, and it cannot capture context a lender or an accountant would normally ask about — seasonality, one-off costs, or how income is recognised in your accounts. It is a screening tool, not a substitute for management accounts or professional advice, and it does not reflect any assessment Creditcorp or another lender would carry out on an actual application, as noted in the FAQs above.

Good practice is to recalculate the ratio on a consistent basis each period (same cost categories, same income definition) so movements reflect real change rather than a shift in how the numbers were built. Reviewing it alongside a related measure such as the wage cost ratio or debt service coverage ratio gives a fuller picture of where efficiency pressure is actually sitting.