Can I Settle Business Credit Card Debt? What You Need to Know

Can I Settle Business Credit Card Debt? What You Need to Know

If you run a small business, chances are you’ve taken on some credit card debt to help cover expenses. But what happens when that debt becomes unmanageable? Can you settle business credit card debt like you can personal credit card debt?The short answer is yes, you can settle business credit card debt. However, the process is a bit more complex for business debt. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about settling business credit card debt, including:

• The pros and cons of settling business credit card debt
• Steps to take before attempting settlement
• How the settlement process works
• Tips for getting the best settlement deal
• Alternatives if settlement doesn’t work

We’ll also discuss some specific laws and regulations related to business debt settlement to help you make the most informed decision.

Pros and Cons of Settling Business Credit Card Debt

Settling credit card debt can help relieve financial pressure on small businesses. However, it also comes with drawbacks you need to consider.

Potential Benefits

• Get debt relief: Settlements let you pay off debt for less than you owe, often 40-60% less. This frees up cash flow.
• Avoid bankruptcy: For some businesses, settlement is better than the high legal fees and reputation damage of bankruptcy.
• Stop accruing interest: When you settle, the credit card company stops charging interest on the settled amount.

Potential Drawbacks

• Tax consequences: The IRS may count forgiven debt from settlement as taxable income.
• Credit damage: Settled accounts appear as “settled for less” on your business credit reports for 7 years. This can hurt your score.
• Collections: Your accounts will likely go to collections during settlement negotiations, also damaging your business credit.
• No guarantees: Creditors are not obligated to accept settlement offers, although many will.

So in short – debt settlement can help struggling businesses avoid bankruptcy, but not without some credit damage and tax headaches. Make sure the pros outweigh the cons for your situation.

Take These Steps Before Settling Business Debt

Settling business credit card debt is challenging. Going into it fully prepared gives you the best chance of success.

Step 1: Review Business Finances

Get a clear picture of your financial standing, including:

• Assets/liabilities
• Income/expenses
• Total business debt owed
• Payment history on accounts

This helps you plan a settlement strategy and determine what settlement deals you can afford.

Step 2: Research State Laws

Debt settlement regulations vary by state. For example, Texas requires debt settlement companies to be bonded and licensed. Research your state’s specific laws before proceeding.

Step 3: Seek Tax Advice

Consult a tax professional to discuss possible tax liabilities from settling debt. They can also help you plan for the tax burden.

Step 4: Prioritize Accounts

Rank your debts by factors like:

• Interest rates
• Available settlement deals
• Impact on business operations

This lets you focus energy on settling the most problematic accounts first.With the foundation laid, let’s look at how business debt settlements work.

How Does Business Credit Card Debt Settlement Work?

The settlement process for business debt follows roughly the same steps as personal debt settlement:

1. Stop Paying

You first stop making payments on the accounts you want to settle. This signals the credit card companies that you can’t pay. As discussed above, this will likely send the accounts into collections.

2. Receive Settlement Offer

Once in collections, the credit card company may extend a settlement offer. This will likely be for 40-60% of the total amount owed. The collector has incentive to settle so they recoup part of the debt.

Key Point: You can also initiate settlement talks without waiting for the collector’s offer. More negotiating tips below.

3. Negotiate Terms

Don’t accept the first settlement offer. Try to negotiate a deal in your affordability range. Be realistic – creditors won’t accept extremely low offers. Get any agreed terms in writing before paying.

4. Pay Lump Sum

Once you secure written terms, pay the settlement amount as a lump sum by the agreed deadline. Avoid installment plans, as missing payments could nullify the settlement.And with that, the account is settled and closed! But first…

Tips to Negotiate the Best Settlement Deal

Now let’s talk strategy. Follow these tips to help negotiate the lowest possible settlement:

• Research typical deals: Know the typical settlement rates for your industry. This helps make realistic offers. Medical debt tends to settle around 20-30% while credit cards settle from 40-60% .
• Use cash deals: Offering a lump cash payment makes creditors more likely to give a discount compared to installment plans.
• Gather documentation: Provide financial records like tax returns and profit/loss statements to show inability to pay in full.
• Go through debt collectors: Collections agencies are more motivated to settle than original creditors. But watch out for shady collectors who break consumer protection laws.
• Try debt consolidation: Combining all business debts into one new loan means just one payment. However, you must qualify for the new loan.

The most important thing is making realistic, affordable offers backed up by evidence. Now let’s look at alternatives if settlement fails.

What If Business Credit Card Settlement Fails?

Settlement is tricky – there’s no guarantee creditors will accept an offer. If you exhaust settlement options, here are two alternatives to consider:

Debt Management Plans

Debt management plans let you repay debt through one consolidated payment per month. The credit counselor then distributes payments to your creditors. This also lowers interest rates. There are fees for enrollment.Debt management won’t reduce principal like settlements, but can help handle payments. Be sure to use reputable, ethical credit counseling agencies.

Business Bankruptcy

Declaring Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy stops collections and wipes eligible business debt. However, bankruptcy severely damages credit and carries many legal complexities.Most business owners consider bankruptcy only as an absolute last resort, but it is an option if settlements and debt management plans fail.

Key Takeaways

Settling small business credit card debt can help struggling companies avoid bankruptcy and get relief from high interest payments. However, the hit to your business credit score and potential tax implications mean it’s not the right choice for everyone.Carefully weigh the pros and cons for your specific situation before attempting settlement. And be sure to take preparatory steps like reviewing finances, researching state laws, seeking tax advice, and prioritizing accounts.With reasonable settlement offers backed by documentation, many creditors will agree to discount business credit card debt by 40-60%. This takes skillful negotiation and persistence.If settlement fails after multiple attempts, debt management plans and business bankruptcy remain as last-resort options. Most business owners will want to avoid bankruptcy if at all possible due to the legal complexity and reputation damage.In the end, every business faces unique challenges, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach. But understanding the ins and outs of settling credit card debt gives struggling business owners a fighting chance at financial freedom.