Important Things You Need To Know Before Filing For Bankruptcy

Published on: 13 February 2021 Last Updated on: 26 December 2024

The aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic saw a string of businesses file for bankruptcy. The United States saw many B2B businesses including, FTK Worldwide (Jewellers), Contact Transport (Logistics and Supply), and others opt for the bankruptcy route.

Legal experts are of the opinion that no two bankruptcy cases are the same. They differ in terms of their exposure, risks, legalities, and the court judgment. Even if two companies file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7, their judgments and orders can be different.

In this article, we speak to a leading bankruptcy Birmingham law firm that specializes in these issues. we ask them about some important things businesses and their owners need to keep in mind before filing for bankruptcy.

List of Important Things you need to know before Filing for Bankruptcy

1. Chapters 7 and Chapter 13 are Important for Individuals and Businesses

Legal experts suggest that solopreneur ventures and sole proprietorships that are individual-centric should go for filing bankruptcy under Chapter 7. This puts a stay to debt and credit obligations and allows individuals to even retain control over their property.

Businesses that are well-established should opt for Chapter 11. This helps in keeping the business entity alive and allows for a payment restructuring plan that works to ensure complete repayment over a period of three to five years.

2. Hiring Legal Help is of High Importance

It is important to understand that individuals or businesses looking to file for bankruptcy should always avail of expert legal help. If you are trying to use Google to do all the paperwork, you might get into serious trouble in the near future.

Bankruptcy laws are incredibly complex and technical. In particular, Chapter 7 allows liquidation of debt to take care of financial obligations and absolve the individual from repayment. All collection attempts must stop. Subsequently, a bankruptcy trustee collects non-exempt valuable assets and sells them to pay off debt. The law discharges eligible debts, such as credit card loans, medical bills, and old utility bills. So, you need an experienced bankruptcy attorney to help you fend off the debtors, and work with the courts and the banking institutions. At the end of the day, you do not want criminal proceedings to be initiated by any of the parties.

You can hire an expert in your area, such as a Florida Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer. A bankruptcy lawyer’s job is to help you overcome debt, so they’ll guide you through the process by offering advice or assisting you in filing for bankruptcy protection.

3. Bankruptcy does not mean All Debts go away

If you were under the impression that bankruptcy is going to help you walk away scot-free think again. Legally, the following are some areas where bankruptcy will not be able to help you-

Alimony Payments
Student Loans
Taxes on Luxury Items
Taxes
Child Support Payments

All the above-mentioned areas and payments are not something that the court can give you relief from. If you miss your payments or taxes, new legal cases can be brought up against you in a court of law. The punishment and legal repercussions for the same will be different.

For this reason, it’s a must to talk to an experienced attorney and a personal financial advisor who can help you determine other options for addressing these problems. Social workers and community leaders can also help. The government and private sectors offer programs for citizens needing financial and social support services. They’ll help you get through difficult times, so don’t hesitate to consult them.

4. Your Credit Score will get Affected Post-Bankruptcy

According to leading legal experts, ten years is the period where your credit score will carry the blemish of your bankruptcy declaration. If you are looking to get loans or credit during the period, the same might get very difficult. You need to be prepared to address the credit score.

Some lending companies may offer you a personal loan. But the interest rates are high. You can take the risk to recover gradually from poor credit standing. However, you’ll have to make sure that you pay your loan on time.

Fortunately, there are some professional services that have come up in recent years that can help you improve your credit score within a short period of time. If you want to get back in the game, you can always avail of such services.

5. Bankruptcy can help you give Yourself a Fresh Start in Life and Business-

It can be stated that most businesses that suffered because of the pandemic did so for no fault of their own. In such instances, legal experts suggest that bankruptcy can be a sound tactical and strategic decision that can be taken by businesses and individuals.

Banks, lending institutions, and even the judges that will be hearing the case are already aware of the drastic and negative economic fallouts of the pandemic. In fact, there have been cases, where the banks have discussed with lenders and worked out a positive restructuring plan to help individuals and businesses affected by the pandemic.

The Bottom Line

Filing for bankruptcy can probably the single hardest decision you would have to take in your entire life. However, rather than make the decision an emotional one, it is best to exercise reason and proper judgment and take help from an experienced legal attorney to find your way.

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5 Perks of Having QuickBooks Pro for Your Business

QuickBooks main function is to simplify accounting in various aspects of a business. Intuit has released various versions of QuickBooks, so that different enterprise can select different versions of QuickBooks for their needs and requirements. QuickBooks Pro is one of the versions of QuickBooks software about which we are going to talk about today. This QuickBooks version is specifically designed for small companies. The features provided by QuickBooks can handle all the accounting functions including accounts receivable, accounts payable, credit card management, and financial reporting. The software is available for $219.95 in the US, this is great because earlier it used to cost $299.95 and now it is even more value for money. Cash Management- The software perfectly manages the cash flow and budget for small businesses. You can input the due dates for different kind of payments and the billing information can be added along with that. You can get printed checks directly through your QuickBooks software. For future audits you don’t have to manually record any transaction because all transactions are recorded automatically, this eliminates the need for paperwork. Expense Billing- In any type of business there various miscellaneous expenses like small purchases, meals, business travels, etc. These expenses may or may not be included in the client’s total bill, but because of their small amounts, they are disregarded and in the end, it is billed to the client only. In QuickBooks, you can maintain such record of all the expense and later go to them at the time of the billing. This will save some of the expenses for the clients and they won’t be any quarrel and even if there is, you would have a complete record which you show them. You can directly manage payrolls and taxes from the software itself. Invoices- Wouldn’t it be great, if the software does work and saves up a whole lot of labor and that too without any error that may happen in the case of human involvement? Well, QuickBooks does exactly that, it automatically tracks the sales and creates receipts and invoices any time you want, like if you have to send an invoice to the customer. The type of feature is very helpful if someone is buying the QuickBooks for retail business. You can even subscribe to QuickBooks checkbook solution, this provides with the ability to scan and deposit the checks into the program without manually entering the data. Reporting- Through QuickBooks, you can create various types of financial reports. These include yearly incomes, trends, expenses, and other documents. You can even create an excel sheet, in case you have to send the data to the client. Simple user interface- This one is obvious, the QuickBooks software makes every accounting activities very easy to complete and even does some of the work for you. There are various tutorials also on YouTube and on Intuit’s website, with their help you can explore all the useful set of features that QuickBooks provide. Planning- QuickBooks is advance planning too also for adding accounting data and also for planning your sales data, bills and other long term operations which your company performs. QuickBooks Pro can even produce tailored reports for your clients, managers, etc. which can provide you an informed view for your future planning decisions. Business Positions- with the QuickBooks Pro, you can generate a complete report of your company’s profit and loss with the profit and loss statement. You can also find out your top customer list at the end of the financial year and even after 6 months. Read More: How To Get Product Ideas For Your Ecommerce Business How To Get Low Cost Life Insurance For Seniors 10 Tips To Design The Perfect Business Card What You Need To Be A Successful Entrepreneur

Major financial problems that can affect a new business

For a new business just fresh out of the concept stage, there’s a lot of excitement ahead. However, there are often troubles on the horizon, and these tend to revolve around money issues. Finance streams may be in place when the business is first created, for example, but they can quickly dry up as time goes on. It’s expensive to hire staff, and this can often push a firm well into the problem zone. Here are some ways that new businesses can get around these problems. No finance streams : When a new business first launches, it’s usually the case that there’s some form of finance behind it – at least for a short time. The entrepreneur themselves might be financing it from savings, for example, while there may also be an investor. The long-term plan is usually to have incoming cash replace this stream once it dries out – but revenues and profits don’t come overnight, and in fact, they often don’t materialize for a long time. Instead of relying on external finance providers, it often makes sense for a new business to be “bootstrapped”. Bootstrapping essentially means cutting down costs until you reach a stage where you have the funds to raise them back up. Instead of hiring an office space, for example, why not knuckle down and work hard in your spare room until you have enough – or almost enough – sustainable income to pay for a desk somewhere? It may be tough doing this sort of thing at first, but it could be the difference between business survival and failure. Staffing costs : In a bygone age of manufacturing and industry, the main cost that businesses faced was equipment. This also tended to be where companies made cutbacks when times were hard, either by downsizing their factories, leasing out their equipment or something similar. However, for many modern American businesses, the main cost is staff. Staff members are, in general, expensive. Some, such as coders and executives, command high salaries that can quickly drain a firm’s budget. Even when a person is hired on a lower salary, there are plenty of extra considerations to take into account, which can make the hire expensive: from the additional insurance premium that a firm might need to pay on their office space to the additional computer and desk space that the staff member might need, the costs can mount up. It makes sense for many firms to hire contractors instead of as they come with far fewer financial responsibilities for the firm – and the arrangement gives both parties the flexibility to move on if needed. With umbrella companies available to manage the tax side of contractor pay, there’s no need to worry about the effect that it might have on your HR or accounting departments either. Running a new business is exhilarating in some ways, but it also comes with its problems. Finance is almost always the big one – and from large staffing costs to dried-up finance streams, there’s a lot that can go wrong. However, by focusing on finance methods such as bootstrapping and choosing contractors instead of employed workers, there are ways that you can get that profit and loss sheet under control and move towards a more sustainable financial future for your business. Read Also : Invest In A New Car, Without A Financial Liability Debunking 7 Notorious Bankruptcy Myths

What Is the Best Tax Software to Be Using in 2019?

If you fail to file your taxes correctly, the IRS can fine you a penalty up to 20% of the amount you owe. Taxes are a complete nightmare for many people especially if you can't pay them. And the last thing you want to deal with is owing even more money to the government. That's why the emergence of tax software has helped so many people. It helps you make sense of the confusing terminology, perform calculations, and break the process down into easy steps. But what is the best tax software and how does it help simplify everything? This article covers everything you need to know. The Criteria for Best Tax Software: Everyone is different and the tax software available now tends to be tailored to different audiences with bank products and other solutions available. For example, a family of four with a house and one income earner will have a fairly straightforward process. But what about someone who is self-employed or a small business owner? In these cases, some companies offer tiered pricing models that can quickly become expensive. When asking questions like "Why would anyone use a bank product?" or "Is this service right for me?" it's important to consider the following. Ease of Use: There's no point paying for a system that is just as confusing as the tax forms themselves. Check out reviews from other people to see what their experiences with the company were. Or watch a 'how to' video for a preview of the software. Are Your Taxes Complicated: Between deductibles, donations, and multiple sources of income, taxes can get complex very quickly. If you're unsure what you qualify for and what options are available to you then tax software may be the way to go. Look at State Tax Prices: Some tax software companies include state tax in their services free of charge. Others ask for a fee and class it as an additional service. Be sure to look into the costs behind each one to be sure. With that said, here are the best online tax filing options out there. TurboTax: Known for its simplicity and ease of use, TurboTax has many features and designs to help you file without a headache. The use a simple step by step process that puts questions in laymen's terms and does the hard work and calculations for you. They even offer a W-2 scanner where upload a photo of your form and it automatically sorts the information on your tax forms. They have a free option for getting your taxes ready to file. But can charge past $100 if you want more premium services like a tax specialist to talk to. Tax Act: Similar to TurboTax, TaxAct offers a sliding scale of costs for users depending on the level of service they want. Their layout makes it easy to input data and offers free state tax returns for simple forms. If you're a homeowner or business owner however, then you will have to pay a fee for state taxes. If you are unhappy with the service you've received from other tax software companies, TaxAct makes it easy to import your old information over to them. H&R Block: Known for their stand-out customer support, H&R Block takes the uncertainty out of the equation with tax specialists on call and online. It has a similar model and pricing structure to the previous companies but also offers up to $3000 of interest-free loans to anyone entitled to federal tax refunds. Shop Around: Knowing what the best tax software is for you takes time and research. This list helped narrow things down but you should still look into each company in more detail to see what will work best for you. Check out our other finance articles for more tips and advice. Read Also: 6 Tips On How To Pay Off Your Tax Debt All You Must Know About Construction Business Management Software 8 Reasons Why Your Company Should Get A Vendor Management Software

Important Things You Need To Know Before Filing For Bankruptcy

List of Important Things you need to know before Filing for Bankruptcy

1. Chapters 7 and Chapter 13 are Important for Individuals and Businesses

2. Hiring Legal Help is of High Importance

3. Bankruptcy does not mean All Debts go away

4. Your Credit Score will get Affected Post-Bankruptcy

5. Bankruptcy can help you give Yourself a Fresh Start in Life and Business-

The Bottom Line

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Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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5 Perks of Having QuickBooks Pro for Your Business

Major financial problems that can affect a new business

What Is the Best Tax Software to Be Using in 2019?

Important Things You Need To Know Before Filing For Bankruptcy

List of Important Things you need to know before Filing for Bankruptcy

1. Chapters 7 and Chapter 13 are Important for Individuals and Businesses

2. Hiring Legal Help is of High Importance

3. Bankruptcy does not mean All Debts go away

4. Your Credit Score will get Affected Post-Bankruptcy

5. Bankruptcy can help you give Yourself a Fresh Start in Life and Business-

The Bottom Line

Share this Article

Want your Startup Revenue to Skyrocket? Here is what You Should Do

What Investors Should Know about Investment in Gold and Silver Assets

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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Popular

Follow Us

Recent

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