Practical support for sole traders, company directors and partnerships: negotiate HMRC Time to Pay, handle suppliers & collectors, and (where suitable) roll personal debts into one affordable plan (DMP · IVA · DRO).
✅ Start Free CheckIf cash is tight and creditors are circling, you’re not alone. We support sole traders, limited company directors and partnerships with practical steps to manage business debt—from HMRC tax arrears and supplier pressure to bounced DDs, overdrafts and cards. We keep things clear, calm and realistic so you can focus on running the business and protecting your household.
This guide covers triaging priorities, negotiating with HMRC and suppliers, dealing with collectors, and—where appropriate—consolidating personal liabilities (e.g., credit cards, loans, overdrafts) into one affordable plan or a formal route. We’ll also point to key reads like Tax/HMRC Debt, utilities, and Compare Solutions.
Start Free CheckPrefer to read first? See Compare Solutions and our plain-English guide to Breathing Space.
You are personally liable for the business’s debts. That means trade suppliers, HMRC VAT/PAYE/Self Assessment, cards and overdrafts all sit with you. We focus on your household essentials first (council tax, rent / mortgage, utilities) and then build an affordable plan for everything else—often via a DMP or, where suitable, an IVA or DRO (eligibility applies).
Company debts may be separate—but personal guarantees, director’s loans and personal borrowing blur the lines. We help you ringfence the household, address personal liabilities through consumer solutions (e.g., DMP/IVA), and coordinate with specialist advisers for company options if needed.
Liability depends on your structure. We’ll help map who owes what, then propose a pragmatic route for each partner while safeguarding essentials.
Protect your home budget, stabilise the business cashflow, and communicate early with creditors. That’s the path to calm.
See My OptionsBefore negotiating with creditors, we stabilise the “must pay” items to avoid spirals and penalties.
Covering essentials prevents enforcement and keeps trading possible. Once stable, we address the rest through a realistic plan—one creditors can accept and you can keep.
Protect EssentialsHMRC debt escalates quickly but is negotiable when you present facts. We’ll help you prepare a budget and a Time to Pay-style proposal based on affordability and seasonality. (HMRC confirms you can set up instalments in many cases, or contact them for TTP if you can’t do it online.)
Engaging before penalties and enforcement build gives you more options. See our page on Tax/HMRC Debt for foundations.
Stay calm; document everything. We’ll help you respond promptly, propose terms you can actually meet, and map contingencies if income is variable.
Arrange TTP HelpPersonal borrowing often props up the business. We separate the two and fix each side properly.
Credit cards, loans, overdrafts, catalogues, store cards and BNPL like Klarna. One affordable DMP installment can free headroom for HMRC and suppliers; a formal IVA or DRO may fit in some cases (eligibility applies).
If you’ve guaranteed a business loan, overdraft or supplier account, liability may follow you personally. We’ll include PG exposure in your plan so nothing is missed.
Clarity and consistency. Creditors see a defensible budget; you get fewer calls and more control.
Combine DebtsInformal, flexible, and built around cashflow. Many consumer creditors freeze or reduce interest/charges. Good for sole traders with variable income and mixed personal debts.
Formal and legally binding. One affordable monthly contribution for a set term; remaining eligible unsecured debt may be written off at completion. Provides strong protection from most creditor action and can suit higher debt levels.
For low income/low assets. Strict criteria, but powerful where it fits. We’ll check eligibility and implications.
See Compare Solutions for quick differences, then ask for a tailored recommendation based on your numbers and goals.
Get AdviceWe’ll help route all contact through your plan, reduce pressure, and avoid short-term promises that break next month. Start with our guides: What is debt collection? and Stop Debt Collectors.
For consumer-side exposure you may see: Lowell, Cabot, Moorcroft, Advantis, Link Financial, Capquest, Wescot, Resolvecall, Hoist, Robinson Way, Fredrickson, Moriarty Law, Drydensfairfax, and PRA Group.
Always back proposals with a written budget and keep copies of everything. “One plan, one voice” wins cooperation.
Triage My CallsPause nice-to-haves and preserve must-haves (home + business). This buys time to negotiate.
Offer small, regular payments that fit cashflow instead of lump sums you can’t repeat. Reliability builds trust.
Use our Debt Calculator for a fast overview. We’ll convert it into lender-ready figures and timelines.
Short, factual updates beat silence. We’ll draft messages that land well with creditors and HMRC.
Stabilise NowWhere appropriate, Breathing Space can pause most enforcement on qualifying debts while we prepare your long-term route. It’s a window to get organised—not the destination.
Even during a pause, we keep talking to HMRC and key suppliers so momentum isn’t lost.
Ask About PauseSkim this page plus Compare Solutions, Breathing Space and Stop Debt Collectors.
Share a few details so we can reach you and map your situation fast.
Begin Step 2A calm conversation to clarify priorities and next actions—no scripts, no judgement.
We list business and personal debts, check HMRC balances, and identify high-risk items.
Agree a sustainable figure with headroom. Preview with the Debt Calculator.
We refine the route (DMP, IVA, DRO where eligible) and formalise creditor communications.
Use our reference number with creditors; where suitable, utilise Breathing Space while setup completes.
Start NowYes. We’ll prepare a budget and propose affordable terms—often via staged “Time to Pay” style arrangements—while coordinating with other creditors. See Tax/HMRC Debt.
For personal debts, a DMP is informal and flexible. An IVA is formal and has specific obligations. We’ll explain pros/cons for your role (sole trader vs. director) before you decide.
PGs can make you personally liable. We include them in your personal plan so proposals reflect the full picture.
A budget-backed plan plus clear communication usually reduces contact quickly. Where eligible, Breathing Space can pause most enforcement while we set up the route.
Debt solutions can affect your credit profile. For many business owners, stabilising cashflow and protecting the household matters most in the short term. We’ll explain trade-offs clearly.
No. Bring what you have. We’ll help gather the rest and organise it into a clear plan.
Yes. We design plans with headroom and review points so they survive quieter months. See Business Debt for more context.
Often yes, if you’re within HMRC’s limits and up to date on returns. If not, we’ll help you propose Time to Pay with budget evidence and review points.
Don’t ignore it. We’ll help you engage HMRC, propose instalments, and stabilise cashflow so penalties don’t escalate.
PAYG options may ease pressure. Sole traders are personally liable; directors of limited companies may face scrutiny for misuse. Get advice early.
Ask A SpecialistCollect HMRC letters, supplier statements, bank activity and card/overdraft details. Note dates, balances and reference numbers.
Protect home essentials (mortgage / rent, council tax, utilities) and core business costs (premises, key suppliers).
Use the Debt Calculator to frame affordability. We’ll send budget-backed offers to HMRC and creditors and set up a DMP/IVA/DRO where suitable.
Small, repeatable payments and clear updates outperform big promises you can’t keep.
Build My PlanTo understand typical creditor behaviour, see: Barclays, HSBC, NatWest, Lloyds and Capital One. If consumer debts are crowding out cash for HMRC and suppliers, one plan can rebalance your month.
Our proposals are based on a clear, consistent budget. That’s how you earn cooperation from both creditors and HMRC.
Channel all contact through the agreed plan. Less stress, fewer surprises, better outcomes.
Calm The PressureFewer calls and letters, protected essentials, and a plan you can keep—that’s the goal.
Start Free CheckWhen you’re ready, we’re ready—on your terms and timeline.
Speak To UsMissing a VAT deadline snowballs penalties and interest. The key is to engage early, evidence affordability, and offer a realistic staged plan. Many businesses use a Time to Pay arrangement based on a defensible budget and seasonality. We’ll help you build it and communicate clearly so trading can continue.
Fix My VATIf your return is filed and within HMRC limits, you can often set up a Self Assessment payment plan online. If you can’t, we’ll help you propose Time to Pay with budget evidence and review points. We’ll also check if personal debts can be rolled into one DMP/IVA to free headroom.
Plan My SAPAYG (Pay As You Grow) can reduce monthly outgoings, but it won’t suit everyone. If you’re a sole trader, you’re personally liable; in a limited company, misuse or wrongful trading can trigger personal risk for directors. We’ll map safe options, including restructuring your personal side (DMP/IVA/DRO) so cashflow is realistic.
BBL OptionsA personal guarantee makes you personally responsible if the business can’t pay. We’ll audit any PGs, include exposure in your personal plan, and ensure proposals reflect the full picture. Knowing whether your guarantee is limited or unlimited, and the trigger events, matters for negotiations.
Review My PGs