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Do You Have To Pay Back a Business Loan if the Business Fails?

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Do You Have To Pay Back a Business Loan if the Business Fails?

When you start a business, the last thing on your mind is that it will fail! After all, you’ve put in so much time and effort to help it succeed. However, not all businesses are successful, but nearly every business must take out loans. But what happens to those loans if the business fails, and what does SBA loan default entail?

Here at Protect Law Group, our SBA debt attorneys are here to help you find realistic solutions to your SBA loan debt. We want you to resolve your debt problems, and we also know that navigating the US Treasury Debt Collection process can be challenging. Learn more about paying back an SBA loan after a business fails, and if you owe more than $30,000 and you’d like to schedule a consultation with one of our SBA debt attorneys, contact us today. 

What Does Defaulting on a Loan Mean?

Business loan default can be overwhelming, but what exactly does default mean? If you’ve missed one payment, that doesn’t necessarily mean you are defaulting on your loan. Most lenders define default loans as missing two to three payments, and they will then report you to a credit agency, which will record any further missed payments. 

Ultimately, each small business lender considers loan default at different points, and you’ll need to look at your loan agreement to determine what that point is for your particular small business loan. If your loan defaults, they will reach out to you and ask why you have missed your payments or offer options for creating a more realistic payment schedule. Ideally, you should be able to get back on track, but if your business has failed, that will make it much more difficult. 

What Happens if You Default on a Business Loan?

Like any loan, the more payments you miss, the more aggressive collections practices your lender will attempt. Those practices will also change depending on the amount you own or how long you have been missing payments. 

If your loan is backed by collateral, like your business equipment, the lender may take that equipment to recoup some of the money you owe. If your business has failed, you may be able to cover the amount of money you owe by selling off your assets, since you no longer need them to run your business.

A Personal Guarentee

If you have made a personal guarantee on your business loan, then the stakes are even higher. A personal guarantee means that you personally are responsible for repaying the loan, even if your business has failed and cannot pay back the loan. Depending on the situation, your lender can come after your personal assets rather than just the business assets. 

What Happens if I Default on an SBA Loan?

An SBA loan has a different process than other types of business loans, and the lender will submit a claim to the Small Business Administration after collecting the collateral associated with the loan. The SBA will pay the lender for the portion of the loan that they have guaranteed, and then contact you to create a plan for repaying your debt with the SBA directly. The SBA guarantees up to 75% to 85% of business loans, and You may be able to negotiate a smaller payment, and our SBA lawyers can help make that possible. 

Contact an SBA Debt Attorney at Protect Law Group

If your business has failed and you are feeling overwhelmed by debt, our debt attorneys are here to help. We can provide you with realistic solutions to SBA loan problems and get you back on track. We look forward to working with you and helping you through this stressful period! 

Why Hire Us to Help You with Your Treasury or SBA Debt Problems?

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Millions of Dollars in SBA Debts Resolved via Offer in Compromise and Negotiated Repayment Agreements without our Clients filing for Bankruptcy or Facing Home Foreclosure

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Millions of Dollars in Treasury Debts Defended Against via AWG Hearings, Treasury Offset Program Resolution, Cross-servicing Disputes, Private Collection Agency Representation, Compromise Offers and Negotiated Repayment Agreements

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Our Attorneys are Authorized by the Agency Practice Act to Represent Federal Debtors Nationwide before the SBA, The SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals, the Treasury Department, and the Bureau of Fiscal Service.

$430,000 SBA 7A LOAN - NEGOTIATED WORKOUT AGREEMENT

$430,000 SBA 7A LOAN - NEGOTIATED WORKOUT AGREEMENT

Clients' 7(a) loan was referred to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service for enforced collection in 2015. They not only personally guaranteed the loan, but also pledged their primary residence as additional collateral.  One of the clients filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy thinking that it would discharge the SBA 7(a) lien encumbering their home. They later discovered that they were mistakenly advised. The Firm was subsequently hired to review their case and defend against a series of collection actions. Eventually, we were able to negotiate a structured workout for $180,000 directly with the SBA, saving them approximately $250,000 (by reducing the default interest rate and removing Treasury's substantial collection fees) and from possible foreclosure.

$140,000 SBA 7(a) LOAN – PERSONAL GUARANTY LIABILITY | NEGOTIATED 50% SETTLEMENT

$140,000 SBA 7(a) LOAN – PERSONAL GUARANTY LIABILITY | NEGOTIATED 50% SETTLEMENT

Our firm successfully resolved an SBA 7(a) loan default in the amount of $140,000 on behalf of a husband-and-wife guarantor pair. The business had closed following a prolonged decline in revenue, leaving the borrowers personally liable for the remaining balance.

After conducting a comprehensive financial analysis and preparing a detailed SBA Offer in Compromise (SBA OIC) package, we negotiated directly with the SBA and the lender to achieve a settlement for $70,000 — just 50% of the outstanding balance. This settlement released the borrowers from further personal liability and allowed them to move forward without the threat of enforced collection.

$300,000 SBA 7A LOAN - SBA OIC TERM SETTLEMENT

$300,000 SBA 7A LOAN - SBA OIC TERM SETTLEMENT

Clients personally guaranteed SBA 7(a) loan balance of over $300,000.  Clients also pledged their homes as additional collateral.  SBA OIC accepted $87,000 with the full lien release against the home.

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