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Reviewed by
Chris Andersen
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Reviewed by Chris Andersen

Chris became an Insolvency Practitioner in 2014 and is currently regulated by the IPA.

He is experienced in contentious insolvency with excellent analytical skills and strong knowledge of both general and technical insolvency matters.

Meet Our Experts
12th April 2024

Businesses have a smaller variety of charities than consumers when it comes to debt. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a wide range of resources available for support.

Debt-Charities-Support-Organisations-for-Businesses

Below are a range of places where you can seek free debt advice, which include national charities, HM & Revenue themselves, and a few useful business forums where you can find helpful responses from other business owners.

Most insolvency practitioners will also offer free advice, and we spend a lot of time helping business owners with early-stage questions about creditor pressure, threatening letters, bailiff action, or HMRC arrears.

Business Debt Organisations and Support in the UK

Business Debtline

Business Debtline helps self-employed and small businesses with debt. They offer fact sheets and template letters that can be used for a range of debt situations, along with guidance from webchat and email.

They can offer:

  • Guides, fact sheets, budgeting tools and sample letters to help you write to your creditors
  • Advice from expert debt advisers who are supportive and trained to a high standard
  • Support that means over 50% of the businesses they speak to continue to trade

Visit Business Debtline website

HMRC

While HMRC are a huge organisation and the UK’s largest creditor, they want businesses to thrive and will always offer support if they, and when they feel you are being genuine and honest with them.

The Gov.UK website has information for those who are having problems paying tax, including the Time to Pay instalment scheme. To get Time to Pay your tax you should:

  • Be a UK citizen
  • Have been actively trading for a minimum of six months
  • Not having an existing time to pay arrangement
  • Be able to demonstrate your ability to repay what you owe them within the agreed timeframe, usually no more than 12 months.

Visit HMRC’ Business Support Page

Your Bank

Your Bank

Because more businesses are under pressure, banks are offering greater support if you have financial problems and are finding it hard to deal with loan repayments for example.

If you pay a fee for business banking, you should make contact to see what help could be available such as debt consolidation or further borrowing.

Most banks offer:

  • A 30-day repayment window if you need it
  • Repayment plans
  • Budget Planner software
  • Dedicated support lines where you can discuss your situation

UK Business Forums

Covers a wide range of business topics including around insolvency and liquidation. Forums are aimed at small businesses and sole traders.

The site offers:

  • The UK’s biggest community for small business owners
  • The ability to create, comment and send messages to other business owners
  • It’s a safe and supportive community where questions can be asked, and answers/help/advice/similar experiences can be shared.

Visit UK Business Forums website

Business Advice Forums

Aimed at those starting or managing a small business and includes forums on debt issues.

Business Advice Forums offers:

  • An international business and webmaster community.
  • Advice, knowledge and support to set up, manage and grow your small business – whether that be a traditional business, home based business or online website business.
  • A forum that is free to join and new members are always welcome

Visit Business Advice Forum