Cash-flow consulting

It is a working review of the money coming into and going out of the business, and of what its debt payments leave behind. The point is a plan built on real numbers rather than hope.

For a business under debt pressure, those numbers answer the first question in any negotiation: how much can the business actually pay, and when? The SBA makes the same basic point, that accounting for revenue and expenses (SBA, opens in a new tab) is what keeps a business running smoothly.

You bring the records, and the review works through them with you. Recent bank statements, sales reports and the paperwork for each debt are usually enough to start.

Because an offer the business cannot keep is worse than no offer. A payment plan that fails can revive the full claim, and a lump sum you cannot fund wastes time the business may not have.

Clear numbers also help with funders and lenders. A request for smaller debits or a pause is easier to support with bank statements that show what the business really takes in. Many merchant cash advance contracts let you ask for an adjustment based on actual sales, so these records matter.

None of this creates money. It shows where the money is going, so you can decide what to change, what to negotiate and what to stop.

It will not replace your accountant or bookkeeper, prepare tax returns or give tax advice. It is not legal advice about a contract or a lawsuit. It is not a loan, and on its own it does not lower what the business owes.

It also cannot promise that any funder or lender will accept a plan, because each one decides for itself. If a plan does lead to forgiven debt, remember that forgiven debt can be taxable (IRS, opens in a new tab).

Yes, and you should know about them. The SBA and its resource partners, including SCORE mentors and Small Business Development Centers, offer free or low-cost counseling (SBA, opens in a new tab) on running and financing a business.

Your accountant is another good first call, especially on taxes. Both are a good fit if you want general coaching. If you need someone to negotiate with funders and lenders on the business's behalf, that is where business debt relief from Clear Financial Company comes in.