Entrepreneurs often plow through the most difficult of obstacles and won’t let anything stop them. Some won’t even let bankruptcy slow them down. Henry Ford, Walt Disney and Milton Hershey are just a few examples of business owners who failed terribly before they succeeded.
What if you are recovering from personal or business bankruptcy and find you need financing; are you out of options? Not necessarily.
Because lenders want your business, there are probably options for you, regardless of your credit history. You can check with Nav to see what loans are best for your needs and credit profile. For now, here are three ways lenders may view bankruptcy.
What Are Your Credit Scores?
Many lenders that offer small business financing check business credit scores, personal credit scores of the owners, or both. Minimum credit score requirements are not unusual but they do vary widely among lenders. Some will accept personal credit scores in the 500s but most are looking for scores of at least 640— 680 or higher, and a few require scores of at least 700.
Bankruptcy has a serious negative impact on credit scores. But it is possible to rebuild credit even after with a bankruptcy on your personal credit report. There are a variety of tools entrepreneurs can use to work on their credit, including credit builder loans and secured credit cards.
Is It Over?
At other times, lenders may simply want to determine the status of any bankruptcy that appears on credit reports. Most small business financing options require that your bankruptcy be behind you; in other words, it must be discharged (completed).
Open bankruptcies (which have not been discharged) can create problems for lenders because of the court’s involvement in the disposition of assets to creditors. Once a bankruptcy is discharged, that discharge should be noted on your credit reports. If that update doesn’t occur within a month or so of the discharge, you can file a dispute with the credit bureau. (It should happen automatically but mistakes do sometimes occur.)
If you are still in the midst of bankruptcy it may be difficult to get financing. If you do find a lender willing to work with you, talk to your bankruptcy attorney to make sure it will not jeopardize your case.
Is It Old History?
Lenders may also look at when the bankruptcy was discharged as an indicator of how long ago it happened.
By law, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies may appear on personal credit reports for up to ten years from the filing date, though consumer credit reporting agencies will voluntarily stop reporting Chapter 13 bankruptcies seven years after the filing date.
There is no time limit that business bankruptcies can be reported, though Experian removes bankruptcy from commercial credit histories after nine years and nine months. As a bankruptcy becomes older, it can have less impact on credit scores especially if other credit references are strong.
“Some lenders require the bankruptcy to be discharged or dismissed prior to applying for financing,” explains Ben Westerman, manager, credit & lending at Nav. Generally, he says most lenders will be OK with a bankruptcy that’s more than five years old, as long as the business is well established and personal credit has been re-established.
This article was originally written on July 25, 2018.
I never filed a bankruptcy personally or for any of my businesses. How do I get this removed ASAP?
Where are you seeing it? If you are a Nav customer please reach out to customer support for instructions on how to dispute it.
Seems as if you are trying to sabotage businesses. I do not have a bankruptcy as well. Take my information off your page instantly. I’m sure your attorney will hear from mine.
I’m sorry to hear this but Nav is not a credit bureau. We show you the information the major commercial credit bureaus such as Dun & Bradstreet or Experian are showing about the business. We can’t remove anything from their credit reports but if you reach out to customer support they will be happy to share details on how to dispute that with the bureau reporting it.
I have never filled for bankruptcy personal or business
I’m not sure what your question is David. Did you see this on your credit reports? Business or personal? If you have a Nav account please reach out to our customer support team for information on how to dispute it.
I HAVE NEVER HAD A BANKRUPTCY ON MY BUSINESS ACCT . I AM NOW A LLC WITH A NEW EIN AND LLC AND NEW DUNS HOW DO IFIX THIS
If this is showing in your Nav account please reach out to customer support for assistance.
I never filed bankruptcy personally or for my business how do this get removed
Mr. Johnson – is this on your Nav account? If so please reach out to our customer support team at support@nav.com.
I do not have a bankruptcy. this is 100% incorrsct I need this fixed what do I do?
Cardell – if your business credit report is listing an inaccurate bankruptcy you’ll need to dispute it with the business credit bureau reporting it. If you need dispute instructions and have a Nav account feel free to reach out to Nav’s customer support team.
I have never had a bankruptcy in my life personally or business in fact I just started this week applying for my duns number as I have no business credit established why is it saying my business has a bankruptcy
It’s possible your business is mixed up with another. You can dispute it.
no bankruptcy.
please correct.
John – is this on your business credit reports? If you have a Nav account please contact customer service for information on how to dispute it with the credit reporting agencies reporting the error.
I have a business that’s closed but it’s linked to my Nav account how can I remove it?
I’m not certain I understand your question.
If you closed your business, that won’t remove it from the credit reporting agencies that have information about your business. Each bureau has its own policies in terms of how long they will continue to report information after a business has closed.
If I didn’t understand your question, feel free to reach out to our customer support team.
That buisnuiss Transportation with knowledge inc is not mine can you take it off my frofile or credit
Sergio – If you have a Nav account please reach out to customer support for help.
I filed a personal bankruptcy but it’s showing on my business credit. Is there a way to have it removed?
If your bankruptcy is strictly personal and no business debts were involved then you should be able to dispute it and request that it be removed from your business credit.
…information is not mine.
Melissa, I didn’t publish your full comment since it has information about your business credit. It sounds like you believe there is incorrect information on your business credit reports. If you have a Nav account please reach out to Nav customer service through your account. They can direct you on how to request a correction.