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SBA Loan Default News: The Worst Franchises

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.

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SBA Loan Default News: The Worst Franchises

We provide individuals who are facing an SBA loan default with solutions. We will analyze your SBA loan problems and advise you on potential solutions such as an SBA offer in compromise.

Dealing with the idea that you might be facing an SBA loan default can be terrifying. The SBA attorneys in our office are skilled at helping clients understand all the facets of their situation. We will advise you as to the potential for an SBA offer in compromise. You should never face your SBA loan problems alone. It is important to retain the services of an attorney who can help you through this difficult time in your life. Please contact us for a free initial consultation.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Quiznos, Cold Stone Creamery, Planet Beach Franchising and Huntington Learning Centers Inc. ranked among the 10 worst franchise brands in terms of Small Business Administration loan defaults.

The 10 worst performing franchisees saw their SBA loans defaulted on at a rate more than twice as high as SBA borrowers of all other chains in the past decade.

In other terms, the top 10 worst performing brands have contributed to 21% of all franchise-loan charge-offs by the SBA.

The 7(a) loan-guarantee program is the SBA's most popular loan program by far. It was set up six decades ago to help borrowers who can't qualify for traditional loans obtain funding to start or expand franchises and other small businesses.

Based on the Journal's analysis, charge-offs on SBA 7(a) loans have been declining. Last  year, 8,100 such loans were charged off for a total of $705 million, down from nearly $2 billion charged off in 2010.

Quiznos franchisees charged off more money than any other franchise during the past decade. Its franchisees accumulated $38 million in unpaid loans and had a default rate of 30% from 2004 through 2013.  The franchisor filed for bankruptcy in March of this year.

Others, such as Planet Beach Franchising Corp., said that franchisees were hurt by the 10% tax the feds placed on tanning services in 2010 to help pay for ObamaCare.  The Journal determined that Planet Beach franchisees has a 41% default rate.

Who were the  best performers in the ranking? They included  Jimmy John's, Little Caesar's Pizza and Days Inn, which all had default rates of 2% or less.

Below is the list of worst performing franchises, according to the Wall St. Journal:

If you are facing an SBA loan default, call our offices at 1-888-756-9969 for a FREE initial consultation.

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.

$150,000 SBA 7A LOAN - NEGOTIATED WORKOUT AGREEMENT

$150,000 SBA 7A LOAN - NEGOTIATED WORKOUT AGREEMENT

The client personally guaranteed an SBA 7(a) loan for $150,000. His business revenue decreased significantly causing default and an accelerated balance of $143,000. The client received the SBA's Official 60-day notice with the debt scheduled for referral to the Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service for aggressive collection in less than 26 days. We were hired to represent him, respond to the SBA's Official 60-day notice, and prevent enforced collection by the Treasury and the Department of Justice. We successfully negotiated a structured workout with an extended maturity date that included a reduction of the 14% interest rate and removal of substantial collection fees (30% of the loan balance), effectively saving the client over $242,000.

$750,000 SBA 7A LOAN – NEGOTIATED WORKOUT AGREEMENT

$750,000 SBA 7A LOAN – NEGOTIATED WORKOUT AGREEMENT

Client’s small business obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for $750,000.  She and her husband signed personal guarantees exposing all of their non-exempt income and assets. With just 18 months left on the maturity date and payment on the remaining balance, the Great Recession of 2008 hit, which ultimately caused the business to fail and default on the loan terms. The 7(a) lender accelerated and sent a demand for full payment of the remaining loan balance.  The SBA lender’s note allowed for a default interest rate of about 7% per year. In response to the lender's aggressive collection action, Client's husband filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in an attempt to protect against their personal assets. However, his bankruptcy discharge did not relieve the Client's personal guarantee liability for the SBA debt. The SBA lender opted to pursue the SBA 7(a) Guaranty and subsequently assigned the loan and the right to enforce collection against the Client to the SBA. The Client then received the SBA Official 60-Day Notice. After conducting a Case Evaluation with her, she then hired the Firm to respond and negotiate on her behalf with just 34 days left before the impending referral to Treasury. The Client wanted to dispute the SBA’s alleged debt balance as stated in the 60-Day Notice by claiming the 7(a) lender failed to liquidate business collateral in a commercially reasonable manner - which if done properly - proceeds would have paid back the entire debt balance.  However, due to time constraints, waivers contained in the SBA loan instruments, including the fact the Client was not able to inspect the SBA's records for investigation purposes before the remaining deadline, Client agreed to submit a Structured Workout for the alleged balance in response to the Official 60-Day Notice as she was not eligible for an Offer in Compromise (OIC) because of equity in non-exempt income and assets. After back and forth negotiations, the SBA Loan Specialist approved the Workout proposal, reducing the Client's purported liability by nearly $142,142.27 in accrued interest, and statutory collection fees. Without the Firm's intervention and subsequent approval of the Workout proposal, the Client's debt amount (with accrued interest, Treasury's statutory collection fee and Treasury's interest based on the Current Value of Funds Rate (CVFR) would have been nearly $291,030.

$298,000 SBA 7A LOAN - NEGOTIATED WORKOUT AGREEMENT

$298,000 SBA 7A LOAN - NEGOTIATED WORKOUT AGREEMENT

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.

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