... IN EFFECT, PAYS PART OF THE INTEREST, AND THIS LOWERS THE COST OF DEBT RELATIVE TO THE COST OF EQUITY, MAKING DEBT FINANCING MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN EQUITY FINANCING. PUT ANOTHER WAY, SINCE INTEREST ... factors that influence capital structure decisions.• Distinguish between a firm’s business risk and its financial risk.• Explain how operating leverage contributes to a firm’s business risk ... use of financial leverage, since interest is deducted from EBIT. At high debt levels, however, firms lose business, employees worry, and operations are not continuous because of financing difficulties....