Q&A: How to get aid for a small business hit by virus crisis
ARE THESE PAYCHECK PROTECTION LOANS FREE?
They can be, if they’re used to retain or hire workers. Starting Friday, the Small Business Administration is guaranteeing $349 billion in potentially forgivable loans under the rescue package. A business with up to 500 employees, including owners who work solo and freelancers, can borrow up to $10 million to be repaid over two years at an annual rate of 0.5%. The money that’s used to pay salaries can be forgiven, and a portion of money used for rent, mortgage interest and/or utilities can be at least partially forgiven. Payments are deferred for six months.
You technically could get the full amount of the loan forgiven. But if you cut jobs — say you had 10 employees, let them go, and hired back only five — the amount of loan forgiveness will be reduced, and you’ll have to repay some.
But a caveat from the government: Because so many owners are expected to take advantage of the loans, it’s anticipated that no more than 25% of the forgiven amount may be for things other than payroll — rent, mortgage interest and utilities. So there’s a good chance you will have some repayments ahead.
You can learn more about the loans at
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/paycheck-protection-program-ppp.
HOW DO I GET ONE?
The government says this will be a fast, streamlined process — some companies could get money the same day, not like the weeks it takes when applying for a traditional SBA loan. You can apply through any federally insured bank, credit union or farm credit system institution, not just a traditional SBA lender. Most businesses are expected to apply online, through a financial institution’s website.
You don’t need collateral or a personal guarantee. But you’ll need to document your payroll, rent, mortgage interest and utilities expenses. The payroll portion of the loan is based on the monthly average of what a company paid employees during the year prior to the loan being granted.
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WHEN WILL MY LOAN BE FORGIVEN?
The government will calculate how much of a loan will be forgiven after June 30. The program covers the period from Feb. 15 through June 30 and owners will need to document how many workers they employed during that time and how much they were paid.
If you’ve laid off workers, you have until June 30 to rehire them — but the sooner you rehire and start paying them, the larger your loan forgiveness will be.
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WHAT OTHER MONEY IS AVAILABLE?
The Federal Reserve is working on a program to provide loans directly to small businesses. The details have not been announced yet.
Individual states, counties and cities may have loans or grants for small businesses. And those that have not yet announced any programs may yet create them — the outbreak has not yet reached its peak. Check online with your state or local agencies that support small businesses.
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CAN FREELANCERS GET UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND A LOAN TOO?
Yes. The rescue package provides for unemployment benefits for freelancers and independent contractors who haven’t qualified for such help in the past. So millions of people, including wedding photographers, graphic artists and writers, who have lost gigs or projects can get unemployment benefits. They’re also eligible for paycheck protection loans — but if they have both types of loans, they cannot use disaster loan money to cover payroll.