7 Ways To Get Out Of Business Debt
Business debt refers to the financial obligations that a company owes to external parties, typically in the form of loans, credit lines, or bonds. It is a common practice for businesses to use debt as a means to finance their operations, invest in growth opportunities, or manage cash flow fluctuations. However, managing business debt effectively is crucial, as it can impact a company’s financial health and long-term sustainability.
What’s A Healthy Level Of Business Debt?
How To Get Out Of Business Debt
Getting a business out of debt is a fundamental challenge that many companies face. When a business is burdened by debt, it can affect its financial stability and growth potential. Here are seven ways to get out of debt.
1. Increase Your Revenue
To pay off your debts, you need money, and to get more money, you must make more from your business. One way to do this is by using clever tricks to boost your business’s income. You can create special deals or give out coupons to get people interested in buying more from your business. However, don’t go too overboard with discounts, as it can hurt your ability to make more money. You can also consider raising your prices if your profit margins are low. This might make a few customers hesitant, but if you show them the value in your products or services, many will be willing to pay the higher prices. Another way to increase your revenue is by selling off excess items if you have too much in stock. This might mean you won’t have as much to sell later, but if you have a lot of extra stuff lying around, it’s worth considering.
2. Get Customers To Pay Sooner
When you send your customers an invoice, there’s a delay between when they buy something and when they actually give you the money. To speed up the process and get your cash sooner, you need your customers to pay up faster. One way to do this is by making your payment terms shorter. If you used to give customers 90 days to pay, you could cut that down to 45 days for future sales. The longer you wait for payment, the longer it takes to get your money. Some customers may take their sweet time to pay, so think about the longest time you’re okay with waiting. You can also increase your chances of getting paid faster by tracking down customers who are late in paying you. Look through your records for unpaid bills, and reach out to those customers to remind them. You might even need to send them reminder letters. If all else fails, you could consider hiring a collection agency to help collect the money. Yes, you’ll have to pay the agency, but you’ll still get a portion of the money you’re owed.
3. Cut Your Costs
If you have a small business debt, you’re probably being very careful about what you spend money on, only choosing what’s absolutely necessary. However, if you have a lot of debt and it’s causing you real trouble, you might need to cut back even more. When times are tough, you should really think about what you truly need. Take a close look at your expenses and see if there’s anything you can get rid of to save money. Even things you thought were essential might not be as necessary as you think. There are two ways to cut your business spending. You can make lots of small cuts, like reducing how much you spend on decorating your business. Or, you can make one big cut, like getting rid of a rarely-used truck from your fleet. Depending on how much debt you have, you might need to do a bit of both to make things better.
4. Prioritize Your Debt
To break free from business debt, it’s crucial to decide which debts to tackle first. Start by identifying the debts that could have severe consequences, potentially leading to more debt and even harming your business. Think about the debts that could damage your relationships with the people you do business with, like vendors. If you don’t pay these debts, you might lose the chance to buy from them in the future. Take a look at the interest rates and penalties on your debts. Pay off the ones with high interest rates and penalties before the rest. Also, consider if there’s any valuable stuff you could lose if you don’t pay your loans. For example, a bank can take your vehicle if you don’t pay up. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to prioritizing your debt. You need to think about all these factors to figure out which debts to pay off first.
5. Negotiate Better Terms
Getting out of debt is easier when you negotiate better terms. You can ask for things like lower interest rates, smaller minimum payments, and more time to pay. Creditors don’t want your business to go bust. If it does, they won’t get their money. So, they’d rather work with you. They might agree to get less money or wait a bit longer, but something is better than nothing.
6. Get Help From Friends And Family
Your friends and family can be a source of help with your business debt. They might be ready to step in and pay off what you owe, and then you can pay them back. Borrowing from someone you know can be a good move. They often understand your situation and are more flexible than a regular lender. Your friend or family member might charge you a small interest rate, or maybe none at all. They could also let you pay back what you owe in smaller amounts over a longer time. They might even let you adjust your payments, like paying a little more one month and a bit less the next.
7. Settle Your Debt
Settling debts for less than the full amount owed, often referred to as debt settlement, can offer several advantages to individuals or businesses struggling with overwhelming financial obligations. One of the primary pros of debt settlement is the potential for significant savings. Creditors may be willing to accept a reduced lump sum payment, typically a fraction of the total debt, to settle the account. This can provide much-needed relief, allowing the debtor to resolve their financial issues more quickly and at a lower cost. Additionally, debt settlement can lead to the avoidance of bankruptcy, which can have long-lasting negative consequences on one’s credit and financial future.
In Need Of Business Debt Relief?
CuraDebt has a commercial debt counseling program and has been helping individuals and small businesses settle their debts for over 21 years nationwide making the company and team one of the oldest and most experienced in the industry. Contact us toll free today for a free consultation. 1-877-504-0981. Take advantage of learning how we may be able to assist you. Not only do we handle individual and business debt relief, we also offer tax relief.
Have you defaulted on your Merchant Cash Advance Loan or are you at risk of defaulting? We may be able to help.