So…
Do you need help getting out of business debt?
Maybe you should file for bankruptcy.
…then again…
…maybe that’s not such a hot idea, right?
Is it better to hire a company to restructure your business debt?
Here’s the deal:
If your business is struggling because of too much debt…
There may be a solution.
Let’s talk about the problems though.
Business debt is like cooking with salt.
It’s totally necessary…
..but too much will make you gag.
Let’s face it:
Growing a small business entirely out of cash flow is pretty dang tough.
After business bankruptcy… you’re in the penalty box.
I’ve had folks say, “well it was only Chapter 13…”
Chapter whatever…
…you’ve got 7 years (minimum) of the business version of leprosy.
That means you’ll only qualify for the very worst (read: most expensive) types of financing.
When people with a prior bankruptcy (business or personal) apply for any sort of small business loan…
There’s often a disconnect –
That’s a polite way of saying that they’re pissed.
Some complaints we’ve heard from people with a recent BK:
Oh, and my personal favorite:
“I think you guys are using the bankruptcy as an excuse to scam me into a high interest rate. I’m going to complain about you to my friends and on social media.”
Using the bk as an excuse?!?!
So…
It doesn’t matter which way you whine at any finance, lending, leasing company or bank.
A bankruptcy is like a flashing beacon on your forehead.
It means…
…not long ago…
…anyone who lent you money got hosed.
That’s why if you’re approved for any sort of loan or lease after a liquidation event
(and… that’s a really big if…)
Yeah.
The terms will stink.
It’s more than just not being able to borrow money later though…
Bankruptcy is a very long and involved process.
It also usually requires lawyers… which means it’s very expensive.
Another issue is loss of control… a court appointed trustee takes over.
Business debt resolution can be a negative on your business credit report.
Many business lending institutions use indicators like the D&B Paydex Score or the Delinquency Predictor Score to decide whether to lend you money or not.
Most small business lenders don’t even bother reporting to D&B though.
(Unless its a bank or credit card company...)
As far as personal credit…
…unless the lender wins a judgment against you (personally)…
…there’s no way for them to even report to personal credit bureaus.
Many lenders will refuse your business or charge higher rates if you’ve requested business debt forgiveness.
However, here’s the impact of debt forgiveness or mitigation versus bankruptcy:
It’s not automatic.
Here’s what I mean:
Virtually all business lending companies have “underwriting guidelines.”
If an applicant does (or doesn’t) meet certain criteria, loans are approved or declined.
Most lenders’ underwriting standards list any kind of bankruptcy as an automatic decline.
Did you know…
Most manuals I have seen don’t bother to mention business restructuring other than bankruptcy.
That means it’s a gray area.
Gray area means “subject to human interpretation.”
Human interpretation means it could be easily missed…
…or explained away…
Here’s the deal:
You shouldn’t assume you can eliminate business debt with zero repurcussions.
But BK means you’re wearing that leper hat for 7 years no matter what.
Life may be easier if you can negotiate with your creditors.
It totally depends.
Does your business have a plan to work its way out?
Do you want to stay in business?
Is your business actually sustainable?
If you actually want to stay in business…
Debt restructuring is the best way to make an immediate impact on your business cash flow.
Remember too, if you plan to stay in business… you can lose customers by filing for bankruptcy.
A BK is very public. All your creditors are automatically notified, and often that means your clients or customers are notified as well.
Of course, if it’s time to close shop… just liquidate and move on.
Nolo.com has a list of bankruptcy attorneys by state.
If you plan to stay in business though, you might want to consider debt mitigation first.
It really depends.
Many of the firms that help you reduce business debt are also bankruptcy lawyers.
That means it could get pretty expensive.
In fact, one of the biggest issues with debt settlements for business is that the high upfront fees can make you more broke before you see any relief.
We partner with a company that can help you reduce or eliminate business debt that has minimal upfront costs.
(Hundreds, not thousands of dollars).
In fact, if they were to take you on as a client, they’d take a bath if they didn’t help. That’s because the vast majority of their compensation is based on, and paid, after successfully reducing your debt.
This is the only firm I know of that will help you out of business debt while taking virtually all of their compensation based on success.
More importantly, these guys can give you the breathing room you need to nurse your business back to health.
In many cases they can negotiate a forbearance period.
That means either zero or minimal payments for a period of months so that you can get your business back on solid footing.
If you’re considering restructuring your company debt… I recommend giving them a try.
Rob Misheloff: May 25, 2022 11:22:17 AM
3D printing is a big industry. The market for 3D printing worldwide was $13.84 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at 20% annually through 2030. ...
Rob Misheloff: Sep 23, 2021 1:37:13 PM
Did you buy equipment for your business in 2022? Did you know you may be able to write the entire purchase off immediately? (There’s still time...
Rob Misheloff: Oct 26, 2020 10:01:43 AM
Doing business in a pandemic... … really sucks for (most) businesses. In 2020, almost every business’ plans changed. Maybe you went from growing your...
