what is debt service 
debt service refers to the money required to cover the payment of interest and principal on a loan or other debt for a particular time period the term can apply both to individual debts such as a home mortgage or student loan and corporate or government debt such as business loans and debt based securities such as bonds the ability to service debt is a key factor when a person applies for a loan or a company needs to raise additional capital to operate its business to service a debt means to make the necessary payments on it zoe hansen investopedia