Business Debtline: Free Debt Help for Small Firms and Sole Traders

What Business Debtline is

Business Debtline is a debt advice service run by the Money Advice Trust. It says it provides free and confidential debt advice for self-employed people and small business owners, and that all of its help and information is free for everyone. It is separate from National Debtline, which focuses on personal debt for people more generally, but the two share a charity behind them.

Who it helps

The service is aimed at anyone whose money problems are tied to self-employment or a small business. That includes:

• Self-employed people and sole traders
• Directors of limited companies
• People whose partners are self-employed
• Buy-to-let landlords

How to contact Business Debtline

You can reach Business Debtline in three main ways. We checked these details on its website on 20 October 2026, and hours can change.

How the service works

Business Debtline describes a three-step process on its website.

1. Tell us about you. You explain your situation and what kind of business you run.
2. Complete a budget. The service says the budget is the key to finding the right solution. You can do this online with its My Budget tool.
3. Find your solution. An adviser helps you understand your options and what suits your circumstances.

What it can help with

Business Debtline lists popular topics on its site, including debt solutions, dealing with bailiffsHow to Deal with Bailiffs: Your Rights and Their Limits (2026)Learn what bailiffs can and cannot do in England and Wales, the 14-day notice rule, current fees and how to respond.Read more →, dealing with creditorsHow to Deal with Creditors: Communication and NegotiationPractical advice on communicating with creditors, negotiating affordable repayments, and understanding your rights when dealing with the companies you owe.Read more →, credit scoreHow Credit Scores Work in the UKHow UK credit scores work: what the credit reference agencies record, what affects your score, why scores differ between agencies and what lenders actually see.Read more → problems, court action and the cost of living. These sit alongside help specific to being self-employed. Our guides to dealing with creditors and dealing with bailiffs cover the basics if you want to read first.

What to expect when you contact them

An adviser will ask about your business, your income and spending, and your debts. It helps to have a list of what you owe, recent business income and costs, and any tax owed. You do not need everything to hand, and the adviser can help you work out what is missing. They will explain the options, which may include speaking to creditors, a payment plan or a formal solution, and you decide what to do.

Business Debtline says it will not pass your details to other organisations without your permission.

Differences by country

Business Debtline says its advice may differ depending on the country you live in. Its website lets you choose England and Wales or Scotland, and links separately to advice in Northern Ireland, where Advice NINational InsuranceNational Insurance is a tax on earnings that builds entitlement to benefits such as the State Pension.Read more → (0800 915 4604) is the main free service.

Business Debtline or National Debtline?

If your debts come from self-employment or a small business, Business Debtline is designed for you. If your problems are mainly personal, such as credit cardsHow Credit Cards Work in the UKHow UK credit cards work: interest, APR, minimum payments, interest-free periods, fees, Section 75 protection and how to use a card without getting into debt.Read more → or council tax, National Debtline may fit better, though both can often help. You can contact more than one service. Our guide to free debt advice charities compared explains the differences, and debt advice for the self-employed covers tax debts and your options in more depth.

What to have ready before you call

Free advisers can work faster, and give you better advice, if you have your details to hand. You do not need everything in perfect order, and you can still call if you are missing some papers.

• A list of what you owe, who each debt is with and roughly how much, including any letters from collectors
• Your income from all sources, and how often it is paid
• Your main regular outgoings, such as rent or mortgage, council tax, energy, food and travel
• Any court papers, default notices or letters threatening action, with the dates they arrived
• Details of anything you own of value, and any savings

Preparing the figures an adviser will ask about

When you contact a business debt service, the adviser will usually want to understand how the business is trading as well as what you owe. It helps to know your rough monthly turnover and costs, what you take out of the business to live on, any tax you may owe, and whether any of the debts are personally guaranteed by you. Do not worry if the figures are estimates. An adviser can help you pin them down, and an honest rough picture is more useful than waiting until you have perfect records.

Business debts that are personal debts in disguise

If you are a sole trader or in a partnership, you are personally liable for the business debts, so a business problem can quickly become a personal one. Even if you run a limited company, you may have signed a personal guarantee for a loan, an overdraftOverdrafts Explained: Costs, Rules and AlternativesHow UK overdrafts work: arranged and unarranged, how interest is charged, the effect on credit files, the risks and cheaper alternatives to borrowing.Read more → or a lease, which means the lender can pursue you personally if the company cannot pay. Check what you signed before you decide what to do, and mention any guarantees as soon as you speak to an adviser. For more on how this works, see our guide to business debt help.

Mistakes that make debt problems harder

Most people who get into difficulty make the same few avoidable mistakes, and almost all of them come from fear rather than carelessness.

• Ignoring letters. Unopened post does not make a debt go away, and court papers have deadlines.
• Paying the loudest creditor first. The creditor who shouts hardest is not always the one with the most serious powers. See priority and non-priority debts.
• Borrowing to cover borrowing. A new loan can feel like a fix, but it often adds cost. Speak to a free adviser first.
• Agreeing to a plan you cannot afford. A payment that is too high is likely to fail, and a failed plan can leave you worse off.
• Paying for something that is available free. Check the free options first. See free versus paid debt advice.

Limits to be aware of

Business Debtline is an advice service. Its website does not say that it will represent you in court or negotiate on your behalf, so if you need that, ask the adviser whether it is something they can do or whether you need another service, such as legal aid or a solicitor. No adviser can promise a particular outcome.