How To Avoid SBA Loan Defaults
Discover strategies to prevent SBA loan defaults, safeguard your business, and secure professional guidance for effective debt management and resolution.
Discover how to mitigate SBA loan defaults using CARES Act provisions. Learn about deferral, forgiveness options, and legal strategies for financial resilience.

Have you ever found yourself grappling with the complexities of an SBA loan while concerns about defaults keep you awake at night? Navigating the labyrinth of legal and financial intricacies around Small Business Administration (SBA) loans can be daunting, especially in the face of potential defaults. Given the profound impact that such defaults may have on your business and personal financial stability, it’s crucial to be well-informed about the available avenues for resolution and the protective measures in place under specific legislative provisions such as the CARES Act.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, includes several provisions aimed at aiding small businesses overwhelmed by financial challenges. Though primarily designed to provide relief in uncertain times, certain CARES Act provisions can directly benefit businesses facing difficulties with SBA Loan Defaults.
Under the CARES Act, mechanisms were introduced that might ease the pressures associated with loan repayment and provide opportunities for restructuring your financial obligations. These include deferments and forgiveness programs, crucial if you are facing operational challenges or significant reductions in revenue.
By leveraging these provisions, borrowers have the opportunity to renegotiate the terms of their loans or even resolve certain debts for less than what is owed. Taking advantage of such modifications requires a thorough understanding of your eligibility and the application processes involved.
Understanding your legal rights and options can mean the difference between overcoming financial obstacles and succumbing to them. At this juncture, consulting with legal experts familiar with both SBA regulations and CARES Act provisions becomes essential.
Protect Law Group focuses specifically on representing business owners in SBA and treasury debt challenges, offering robust support mechanisms to manage and resolve financial distress related to SBA loan defaults. Their legal expertise is critical in:
A strategic approach to handling SBA loan defaults under the CARES Act may involve settlement negotiations or structured repayment plans. With this in mind, Protect Law Group extends various services designed to facilitate these objectives.
For those unable to meet their SBA obligations, an Offer in Compromise presents a viable route to negotiate debt reduction. This allows eligible businesses to settle their loans for a fraction of the owed amount, provided they can substantiate their inability to pay the full sum.
A structured workout plan acts as a second lifeline, altering the repayment framework to better align with your current financial capacity.
When debts are transferred to the Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service, challenges might escalate, necessitating legal intervention.
To combat administrative offsets or cross-servicing actions by the Treasury, filing a Petition for Dispute Resolution with competent authorities is imperative. This ensures debt reviews adhere to procedural fair-play, preventing unwarranted asset seizures or income penalties.
Selecting the right legal representation can significantly affect the outcome of your debt resolution process. Protect Law Group’s credentials include:
Choosing a firm like Protect Law Group means being supported by seasoned negotiators skilled in dealing with SBA intricacies, yielding peace of mind amid the financial turbulence associated with loan defaults.
The CARES Act stands as a pivotal element in providing relief options for SBA loan defaults. However, capitalizing on its benefits requires astute navigation bolstered by legal expertise. Protect Law Group equips businesses with the necessary legal strategies to manage and potentially dissolve financial liabilities stemming from SBA loans, fostering an environment for rebuilding with minimal setbacks.
By understanding the options before you and actively seeking expert guidance, you can take decisive steps towards regaining financial stability, securing your enterprise’s future, and ensuring that fear of defaults no longer necessitates sleepless nights.

Clients obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for their small business in the amount of $298,000. They pledged their primary residence and personal guarantees as direct collateral for the loan. The business failed, the lender was paid the 7(a) guaranty money and the debt was assigned to the SBA. Clients received the Official 60-Day Notice giving them a couple of options to resolve the debt balance directly with the SBA before referral to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service. The risk of referral to Treasury would add nearly $95,000 to the SBA principal loan balance. With the default interest rate at 7.5%, the amount of money to pay toward interest was projected at $198,600. Clients hired the Firm with only 4 days left to respond to the 60-Day due process notice. Because the clients were not eligible for an Offer in Compromise (OIC) due to the significant equity in their home and the SBA lien encumbering it, the Firm Attorneys proposed a Structured Workout to resolve the SBA debt. After back and forth negotiations, the SBA Loan Specialist assigned to the case approved the Workout terms which prevented potential foreclosure of their home, but also saved the clients approximately $294,000 over the agreed-upon Workout term with a waiver of all contractual and statutory administrative fees, collection costs, penalties, and interest.

Small business and guarantors obtained an SBA COVID-EIDL loan for $1,000,000. Clients defaulted causing SBA to charge-off the loan, accelerate the balance and refer the debt to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service for collection. Treasury added nearly $500,000 in collection fees totaling $1,500,000. Clients were served with the SBA's Official 60-Day Notice and exercised the Repayment option by applying for the SBA’s Hardship Accommodation Plan. However, their application was summarily rejected by the SBA without providing any meaningful reasons. Clients hired the Firm to represent them against the SBA, Treasury and a Private Collection Agency. After securing government records through discovery, we filed an Appeals Petition with the SBA Office of Hearings & Appeals (OHA) court challenging the SBA's referral of the debt to Treasury. During litigation and before the OHA court issued a final Decision and Order, the Firm successfully negotiated a reinstatement and recall of the loan back to the SBA, a modification of the original repayment terms, termination of Treasury's enforced collection and removal of the statutory collection fees.

Our firm successfully resolved an SBA 7a loan in the original amount of $364,000 for a New Jersey-based borrower. The client filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy but the mortgage on his real estate securing the loan remained in place. The available equity amounted to $263,470 and the deficiency equaled $317,886.
We gathered the pertinent documentation and prepared a comprehensive collateral analysis. We negotiated directly with the SBA, obtaining a full release of the mortgage for $80,000.