Are founders typically completely on-hook for business loans, when a business fails?

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Let's say an individual takes out a business loan, incorporates (or whatever), hires a team and works awhile. Eventually the venture fails. Is this individual completely on-hook for the millions he borrowed?



On the surface it seems like this is an intuitive "yes!". However, this seems to create a very high barrier for entry (high risk) for new business owners / founders. It seems that if a business idea fails, it can ruin the person. Rather than encourage innovation, this discourages it.



So I wonder how this typically pans out in real life.







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    up vote
    8
    down vote

    favorite












    Let's say an individual takes out a business loan, incorporates (or whatever), hires a team and works awhile. Eventually the venture fails. Is this individual completely on-hook for the millions he borrowed?



    On the surface it seems like this is an intuitive "yes!". However, this seems to create a very high barrier for entry (high risk) for new business owners / founders. It seems that if a business idea fails, it can ruin the person. Rather than encourage innovation, this discourages it.



    So I wonder how this typically pans out in real life.







    share|improve this question






















      up vote
      8
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      8
      down vote

      favorite











      Let's say an individual takes out a business loan, incorporates (or whatever), hires a team and works awhile. Eventually the venture fails. Is this individual completely on-hook for the millions he borrowed?



      On the surface it seems like this is an intuitive "yes!". However, this seems to create a very high barrier for entry (high risk) for new business owners / founders. It seems that if a business idea fails, it can ruin the person. Rather than encourage innovation, this discourages it.



      So I wonder how this typically pans out in real life.







      share|improve this question












      Let's say an individual takes out a business loan, incorporates (or whatever), hires a team and works awhile. Eventually the venture fails. Is this individual completely on-hook for the millions he borrowed?



      On the surface it seems like this is an intuitive "yes!". However, this seems to create a very high barrier for entry (high risk) for new business owners / founders. It seems that if a business idea fails, it can ruin the person. Rather than encourage innovation, this discourages it.



      So I wonder how this typically pans out in real life.









      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked Aug 18 at 16:15









      horse hair

      1,31411222




      1,31411222




















          3 Answers
          3






          active

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          up vote
          11
          down vote













          In the U.S., it is almost impossible to get a small business loan without a personal guarantee. If you aren't willing to back your own business, why should the bank or government back it? The SBA, for example, usually requires that anyone with a 20% or higher stake in the business sign a guarantee on any loans.



          After the business has been in business for a while and has assets, revenue, and collateral, it is then often possible to get additional funding from various banks without having to personally guarantee because by then the business has its own collateral.



          To answer your second question ("how does this pan out?"), the small businesses that fail lose money, sometimes a lot. That money comes from the people that funded the business in the first place. In the case where someone guaranteed a small business loan, they still have to pay it back. Bankruptcy happens.






          share|improve this answer



























            up vote
            7
            down vote













            This depends on the structure of business (Sole proprietorship vs corporation) along with whether the founder was required to 'guarantee' the loan.



            A lot of small business loans or lines of credit require that someone personally guarantee the loan, meaning they're responsible for paying it if the business defaults.



            If your business has sufficient financial strength and credit profile, you will get a loan without this requirement.



            Though I believe a financial guarantee from the owner can provide a lower interest rate. Not entirely sure.






            share|improve this answer



























              up vote
              2
              down vote













              If you either take a loan personally and give the money to your LLC, or your LLC takes out a business loan and and you guarantee for it personally, then you are on the hook personally. The LLC doesn't protect you.



              Obviously the fact that an LLC is protected in case of bankruptcy means the banks are not exactly keen on giving money to LLCs. They are much more keen if the owner guarantees personally, because that means they will get their money back, or at least it is much more likely.



              So practically you have the choice between no loan, or a loan personally guaranteed by the owner, unless the LLC is doing very, very well.






              share|improve this answer




















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                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

                votes








                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

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                up vote
                11
                down vote













                In the U.S., it is almost impossible to get a small business loan without a personal guarantee. If you aren't willing to back your own business, why should the bank or government back it? The SBA, for example, usually requires that anyone with a 20% or higher stake in the business sign a guarantee on any loans.



                After the business has been in business for a while and has assets, revenue, and collateral, it is then often possible to get additional funding from various banks without having to personally guarantee because by then the business has its own collateral.



                To answer your second question ("how does this pan out?"), the small businesses that fail lose money, sometimes a lot. That money comes from the people that funded the business in the first place. In the case where someone guaranteed a small business loan, they still have to pay it back. Bankruptcy happens.






                share|improve this answer
























                  up vote
                  11
                  down vote













                  In the U.S., it is almost impossible to get a small business loan without a personal guarantee. If you aren't willing to back your own business, why should the bank or government back it? The SBA, for example, usually requires that anyone with a 20% or higher stake in the business sign a guarantee on any loans.



                  After the business has been in business for a while and has assets, revenue, and collateral, it is then often possible to get additional funding from various banks without having to personally guarantee because by then the business has its own collateral.



                  To answer your second question ("how does this pan out?"), the small businesses that fail lose money, sometimes a lot. That money comes from the people that funded the business in the first place. In the case where someone guaranteed a small business loan, they still have to pay it back. Bankruptcy happens.






                  share|improve this answer






















                    up vote
                    11
                    down vote










                    up vote
                    11
                    down vote









                    In the U.S., it is almost impossible to get a small business loan without a personal guarantee. If you aren't willing to back your own business, why should the bank or government back it? The SBA, for example, usually requires that anyone with a 20% or higher stake in the business sign a guarantee on any loans.



                    After the business has been in business for a while and has assets, revenue, and collateral, it is then often possible to get additional funding from various banks without having to personally guarantee because by then the business has its own collateral.



                    To answer your second question ("how does this pan out?"), the small businesses that fail lose money, sometimes a lot. That money comes from the people that funded the business in the first place. In the case where someone guaranteed a small business loan, they still have to pay it back. Bankruptcy happens.






                    share|improve this answer












                    In the U.S., it is almost impossible to get a small business loan without a personal guarantee. If you aren't willing to back your own business, why should the bank or government back it? The SBA, for example, usually requires that anyone with a 20% or higher stake in the business sign a guarantee on any loans.



                    After the business has been in business for a while and has assets, revenue, and collateral, it is then often possible to get additional funding from various banks without having to personally guarantee because by then the business has its own collateral.



                    To answer your second question ("how does this pan out?"), the small businesses that fail lose money, sometimes a lot. That money comes from the people that funded the business in the first place. In the case where someone guaranteed a small business loan, they still have to pay it back. Bankruptcy happens.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered Aug 18 at 16:31









                    Rocky

                    16.7k44375




                    16.7k44375






















                        up vote
                        7
                        down vote













                        This depends on the structure of business (Sole proprietorship vs corporation) along with whether the founder was required to 'guarantee' the loan.



                        A lot of small business loans or lines of credit require that someone personally guarantee the loan, meaning they're responsible for paying it if the business defaults.



                        If your business has sufficient financial strength and credit profile, you will get a loan without this requirement.



                        Though I believe a financial guarantee from the owner can provide a lower interest rate. Not entirely sure.






                        share|improve this answer
























                          up vote
                          7
                          down vote













                          This depends on the structure of business (Sole proprietorship vs corporation) along with whether the founder was required to 'guarantee' the loan.



                          A lot of small business loans or lines of credit require that someone personally guarantee the loan, meaning they're responsible for paying it if the business defaults.



                          If your business has sufficient financial strength and credit profile, you will get a loan without this requirement.



                          Though I believe a financial guarantee from the owner can provide a lower interest rate. Not entirely sure.






                          share|improve this answer






















                            up vote
                            7
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            7
                            down vote









                            This depends on the structure of business (Sole proprietorship vs corporation) along with whether the founder was required to 'guarantee' the loan.



                            A lot of small business loans or lines of credit require that someone personally guarantee the loan, meaning they're responsible for paying it if the business defaults.



                            If your business has sufficient financial strength and credit profile, you will get a loan without this requirement.



                            Though I believe a financial guarantee from the owner can provide a lower interest rate. Not entirely sure.






                            share|improve this answer












                            This depends on the structure of business (Sole proprietorship vs corporation) along with whether the founder was required to 'guarantee' the loan.



                            A lot of small business loans or lines of credit require that someone personally guarantee the loan, meaning they're responsible for paying it if the business defaults.



                            If your business has sufficient financial strength and credit profile, you will get a loan without this requirement.



                            Though I believe a financial guarantee from the owner can provide a lower interest rate. Not entirely sure.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered Aug 18 at 16:23









                            schizoid04

                            2,376722




                            2,376722




















                                up vote
                                2
                                down vote













                                If you either take a loan personally and give the money to your LLC, or your LLC takes out a business loan and and you guarantee for it personally, then you are on the hook personally. The LLC doesn't protect you.



                                Obviously the fact that an LLC is protected in case of bankruptcy means the banks are not exactly keen on giving money to LLCs. They are much more keen if the owner guarantees personally, because that means they will get their money back, or at least it is much more likely.



                                So practically you have the choice between no loan, or a loan personally guaranteed by the owner, unless the LLC is doing very, very well.






                                share|improve this answer
























                                  up vote
                                  2
                                  down vote













                                  If you either take a loan personally and give the money to your LLC, or your LLC takes out a business loan and and you guarantee for it personally, then you are on the hook personally. The LLC doesn't protect you.



                                  Obviously the fact that an LLC is protected in case of bankruptcy means the banks are not exactly keen on giving money to LLCs. They are much more keen if the owner guarantees personally, because that means they will get their money back, or at least it is much more likely.



                                  So practically you have the choice between no loan, or a loan personally guaranteed by the owner, unless the LLC is doing very, very well.






                                  share|improve this answer






















                                    up vote
                                    2
                                    down vote










                                    up vote
                                    2
                                    down vote









                                    If you either take a loan personally and give the money to your LLC, or your LLC takes out a business loan and and you guarantee for it personally, then you are on the hook personally. The LLC doesn't protect you.



                                    Obviously the fact that an LLC is protected in case of bankruptcy means the banks are not exactly keen on giving money to LLCs. They are much more keen if the owner guarantees personally, because that means they will get their money back, or at least it is much more likely.



                                    So practically you have the choice between no loan, or a loan personally guaranteed by the owner, unless the LLC is doing very, very well.






                                    share|improve this answer












                                    If you either take a loan personally and give the money to your LLC, or your LLC takes out a business loan and and you guarantee for it personally, then you are on the hook personally. The LLC doesn't protect you.



                                    Obviously the fact that an LLC is protected in case of bankruptcy means the banks are not exactly keen on giving money to LLCs. They are much more keen if the owner guarantees personally, because that means they will get their money back, or at least it is much more likely.



                                    So practically you have the choice between no loan, or a loan personally guaranteed by the owner, unless the LLC is doing very, very well.







                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered Aug 19 at 12:58









                                    gnasher729

                                    7,36011026




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