Are Shareholders Liable for a Default on an SBA Loan?
Explore shareholder liability for SBA loan defaults. Learn about ownership thresholds, guarantees, and safeguarding your investment in a complex financial landscape.
Understand SBA loan default, its implications and how to tackle it, with the help of expert legal services offered by Protect Law Group in this insightful guide.

Perhaps you’re currently dealing with financial problems within your business and are fearing the prospect of defaulting on an SBA loan. Let’s take a thorough look at what this entails.
Protect Law Group primarily offers expert legal services that specialize in addressing your SBA and Treasury debt issues. Catering to small business owners and federal debtors throughout the United States, they provide a wide range of services to aid in resolving SBA loans and debt intricacies. These services include:
Protect Law Group attorneys have the permissions conferred by the Agency Practice Act to represent federal debtors across the country. Their jurisdictions cover the SBA, the SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals, the Treasury Department, and the Bureau of Fiscal Service. The attorneys are responsible for conducting initial case evaluations and diagnosing your case issues. They also take up the role of educators explaining your options and help in implementing an effective plan designed to resolve your SBA loan problems.
These attorneys follow a strict ethical code and leverage cutting-edge technologies to provide you with relevant information about your case in a cost-effective manner.
Protect Law Group offers a variety of services related to SBA loans:
Their aim is to manage your SBA debt in such a way that it causes minimal harm to your business or personal asset base while also avoiding foreclosure, bankruptcy, and other negative outcomes of loan default.
Protect Law Group makes several offerings to their clients, including:
What sets Protect Law Group apart from others in the industry includes their team of educated attorneys who have mastered the six key principles necessary to resolve your SBA loan problems, and a customer experience that surpasses expectations.
If you borrow money from the Small Business Administration (SBA), the expectation is for you to repay the full amount. Failure to do so results in the SBA declaring your loan to be in default, which could potentially trigger severe repercussions such as foreclosure, bankruptcy, or seizure of personal assets.
So, if you are currently facing an SBA loan default or carrying a heavy burden of SBA debt, Protect Law Group can help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them for a case evaluation. Remember, the first step towards resolving a problem is acknowledging its existence and seeking help.
Here are 10 relevant FAQs based on common search queries related to SBA loan defaults:
1. What happens if I default on my SBA loan?
When you default on an SBA loan, the lender may demand immediate payment, seize collateral, and the SBA may pursue legal action to recover the debt through personal assets.
2. How long before an SBA loan goes into default?
An SBA loan typically goes into default after 60 days of missed payments, though specific terms may vary by lender.
3. Can I negotiate an SBA loan default settlement?
Yes, borrowers can negotiate an “Offer in Compromise” with the SBA to settle the debt for less than the full amount owed.
4. Will SBA loan default affect my personal credit?
Yes, an SBA loan default will significantly impact your personal credit score since these loans typically require personal guarantees.
5. Can the SBA garnish wages for defaulted loans?
Yes, the SBA has the authority to garnish wages and can collect up to 15% of disposable income through Treasury Offset Program.
6. What assets can the SBA seize in a default?
The SBA can seize business assets, personal property, and bank accounts that were listed as collateral or covered under the personal guarantee.
7. How can I prevent SBA loan default?
Prevention strategies include maintaining open communication with lenders, requesting payment modifications, and seeking professional financial advice early.
8. Is bankruptcy an option for SBA loan default?
While bankruptcy is possible, SBA loans are typically more difficult to discharge than conventional loans, and personal guarantees may still apply.
9. Can I get another SBA loan after defaulting?
Generally, defaulting on an SBA loan makes you ineligible for future SBA loans unless the default is fully resolved.
10. What is an SBA Offer in Compromise (OIC)?
An OIC is a formal proposal to the SBA to settle the debt for less than the full amount owed, typically requiring proof of financial hardship.

Our firm successfully facilitated the SBA settlement of a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) where borrower received an SBA disaster loan of $150,000, but due to the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the business was unable to recover.
Despite the borrower’s efforts to maintain operations, shutdowns and restrictions significantly reduced the customer base and revenue, making continued operations unsustainable. After a thorough business closure review, we negotiated with the SBA, securing a resolution where the borrower paid only $6,015 to release the collateral, with no further financial liability for the owner/officer.
This case demonstrates how businesses affected by the pandemic can navigate SBA loan settlements effectively. If your business is struggling with an SBA EIDL loan, we specialize in SBA Offer in Compromise (SBA OIC) solutions to help close outstanding debts while minimizing financial burden.

Small business sole proprietor obtained an SBA COVID-EIDL loan for $500,000. Client defaulted causing SBA to charge-off the loan, accelerate the balance and refer the debt to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service for aggressive collection. Treasury added $180,000 in collection fees totaling $680,000+. Client tried to negotiate with Treasury but was only offered a 3-year or 10-year repayment plan. Client hired the Firm to represent before the SBA, Treasury and a Private Collection Agency. After securing government records through discovery and reviewing them, we filed an Appeals Petition with the SBA Office of Hearings & Appeals (OHA) court challenging the SBA's referral of the debt to Treasury citing a host of purported violations. The Firm was able to negotiate a reinstatement and recall of the loan back to the SBA, participation in the Hardship Accommodation Plan, termination of Treasury's enforced collection and removal of the statutory collection fees.

Clients personally guaranteed an SBA 504 loan balance of $337,000. The Third Party Lender had obtained a Judgment against the clients. We represented clients before the SBA and negotiated an SBA OIC that was accepted for $30,000.