How to get free debt advice for your business

Try these information resources for advice and guidance around business debt.

If your business is having difficulties due to debt, there are resources available to you and organisations you can contact who may be able to help.

Be aware that although some organisations may offer free advice, their aim is to sign you, as a debtor, up to an individual, partnership or company voluntary arrangement. Such organisations may receive a commission from this and so their advice isn't always impartial.

Independent advice

As your first port of call, it makes sense to contact the following:

Business Debtline

This is a debt advice charity for businesses in Great Britain, run by the Money Advice Trust, that provides businesses with free and independent advice on dealing with debt over the phone and online.

Advice NI

This is a government-funded charity that provides advice to smaller businesses in Northern Ireland.

StepChange

This independent debt charity offers expert advice and free debt management to help tackle debts.

Your bank

If you own a business and pay a fee for your banking, you should be able to speak to a relationship manager at your bank about your options for:

• managing business debts
• consolidating debt
• further borrowing

You might also be able to approach other banks to discuss consolidating and refinancing your business debt.

HMRC

Contrary to popular opinion, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) can be a useful source of advice when dealing with tax arrears.

Local help

Local councils provide advice on their websites about managing business rates, as well as setting out details of their process for debt recovery. They will also provide information to keep businesses up-to-date about business rates relief and exemptions.

There are also many regional finance and support schemes for businesses, with free business advice and loans specific to a wide variety of industry sectors.

Free forums

There are a number of business chat forums in which you can contact other smaller businesses and post any questions you might have. Here are two:

• UK Business Forums
• Business Advice Forum

Industry bodies

If you belong to an industry body or professional organisation, they may be able to supply resources and/or guidance for dealing with debt. If they have nothing to provide, why not ask them to develop such a resource?

Dealing with stress

Living with business debt and tackling the issues that come with it can be incredibly stressful. Learn more about managing stress