SBA LOAN PROBLEMS: DO SMALL BUSINESS LOANS HELP?
We provide people who are facing an SBA loan default with solutions. We analyze SBA loan problems and provide solutions such as an SBA offer in compromise.
You don't want to think about what might happen when disaster strikes. After all, your business is doing well.
But when a natural disaster like Hurricane Harvey strikes, there may be a fallout in your business that's outside of your control.
Here, we're breaking down SBA disaster loans, how they work, and how they can help your business after a disaster.
SBA Disaster Loans
First, let's cover the basics. What are disaster loans?
Provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration, disaster loans are special funds designated for the relief of businesses and homeowners in designated disaster areas following a flood, storm, fire, drought, or similar disasters.
Basically, it's funding earmarked specifically for businesses that do not have the means to remain operational as a result of a natural disaster.
Since the needs of a business following a natural disaster are diverse, the uses of a disaster loan are equally diverse.
These loans are designated to promote business continuity. As such, they can be used for any of the following:
Economic injury is for businesses that did not sustain physical damage but, because of the natural disaster, their business continuity is disrupted.
There's also a specific subset of economic injury recovery for military reservists, which is for businesses with employees who were called to active duty because of a disaster and whose operations are disrupted by their absence.
To be clear: disaster loans are for the express purpose of recovery after a disaster. Returning to the status quo, if you will. The loans cannot be used to expand your facilities or operations, though you may be eligible to receive additional funds for improvements that reduce your future risk.
With this in mind, there are a variety of SBA disaster loans depending on what you need to accomplish. The types of disaster loans include:
These are all long-term, low-interest loans. Most of them are available in amounts up to $2 million and are designated by specific uses.
With that in mind, who can qualify for one of these loans?
As a rule, any business that has incurred physical or economic damage could potentially qualify for a loan.
Even if your business has an insurance policy that you're waiting to find out about, the SBA still recommends that you apply for a loan. But keep in mind that if your insurance disbursement and the loan both come through, you'll have to apply the disbursement to the loan you receive.
In addition, if you have available credit elsewhere, you are still eligible to apply for a loan. However, because of this external credit, the SBA may grant you a loan at a higher interest rate.
So, if you know that you need help from a disaster loan, and you know that your business stands a good chance of qualifying, how do you apply for a disaster loan?
The first step is to go to the US Small Business Administration website. Once you're there, you first need to find out if you're in a declared disaster area (even if your business did suffer from a disaster, if you're not in a declared disaster zone, you won't qualify).
To do this, simply search declared disaster areas.
If your business is in a declared disaster area, you can return to the homepage and click on "Apply for Assistance."
While you can apply by mail, the fastest way to receive a decision is by applying online.
You'll need to have access to the following information:
Once you have this information, you can start the three-part process:
Once the SBA receives your signed loan closing documents, the initial disbursement of $25,000 for physical or economic damage will be made. You'll also be assigned a caseworker to make sure you meet the loan conditions and to schedule future disbursements.
Now, with all of that in mind, let's talk about what kinds of interest and repayment rates you can get on a disaster loan.
In accordance with SBA rules, participating lenders set their interest rates based on the prime rate plus a markup.
So, if your loan is more than $50,000 and the term is shorter than seven years, your rate will be based on the prime rate with a maximum markup of 2.25%. As of December last year, the maximum rate for a loan like this was 6.75%.
If your loan is more than $50,000 but the term is seven years or longer, then the maximum markup is 2.75%. Last year, the maximum rates for loans like this were around 7.25%.
Now, because you're getting an SBA loan and not a loan through a private lender, you'll get a longer repayment period. The exact term depends on what the loan will be used for.
For daily operations loans, you'll have seven years. For new equipment purchases, you'll have ten years, and for real estate, you can have up to 25 years.
In general, the longer the repayment term, the lower the interest rate and the lower your regular payments will be.
If you have defaulted on an SBA disaster loan you will need assertive and experienced legal counsel when dealing with the federal government.
The good news is that you don't have to go through this frightening time alone. An SBA loan lawyer can help you manage these treacherous waters.
Take a look at our available services, or get in touch today to see what we can do for you.
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
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
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.
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.
Clients obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for $324,000 to buy a small business and its facility. The business and real estate had an appraisal value of $318,000 at the time of purchase. The business ultimately failed but the participating lender abandoned the business equipment and real estate collateral even though it had valid security liens. As a result, the lender recouped nearly nothing from the pledged collateral, leaving the business owners liable for the deficiency balance. The SBA paid the lender the 7(a) guaranty money and was assigned ownership of the debt, including the right to collect. However, the clients never received the SBA Official 60-Day Notice and were denied the opportunity to negotiate an Offer in Compromise (OIC) or a Workout directly with the SBA before being transferred to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service, which added an additional $80,000 in collection fees. Treasury garnished and offset the clients' wages, federal salary and social security benefits. When the clients tried to negotiate with Treasury by themselves, they were offered an unaffordable repayment plan which would have caused severe financial hardship. Clients subsequently hired the Firm to litigate an Appeals Petition before the SBA Office & Hearings Appeals (OHA) challenging the legal enforceability and amount of the debt. The Firm successfully negotiated a term OIC that was approved by the SBA Office of General Counsel, saving the clients approximately $205,000.
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.
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