Business Relief Options for Massage Practices
4/9/2020
NewsThank you to Massage Business Blueprint for talking about these programs in their podcast this week! Please listen to their full episode for great recommendations on the programs you should apply to and in which order.
In this blog, we discuss different programs available to you to cut down your expenses right now, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance, the Payroll Protection Program, unemployment, and a comprehensive list of other funding options you can apply to right now.
What can I do right now?
Stop paying student loans
Student loans under the U.S. Department of Education: The interest rate on all federally held student loans serviced by FedLoan Servicing will temporarily be reduced to 0% until September 30, 2020. All borrowers will automatically be placed on an administrative forbearance which will temporarily suspend monthly payments from March 13, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2020. Please note that some FFEL Program loans are owned by commercial lenders, and some Perkins Loans are owned by the institution you attended. These loans are not eligible for this benefit at this time. More information here and here.
Stop paying SBA loans
As part of SBA's debt relief efforts, the SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of current 7(a), 504, and microloans for a period of six months. The SBA will also automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of new 7(a), 504, and microloans issued prior to September 27, 2020. More information here.
What are the main programs I should apply for?
Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance
This loan advance will provide up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties. More information here.
Payroll Protection Program
Your AVERAGE INCOME counts as your payroll when you are sole proprietor or a single person LLC. More information here.
Keep in mind: you will need to decide whether you want to apply for one of these OR unemployment. Talk to your financial advisors to see which one will be a better fit for you.
Do I qualify for unemployment benefits?
Most states are offering unemployment to sole proprietors and 1 member LLCs
Federal law permits significant flexibility for states to amend their laws to provide unemployment insurance benefits in multiple scenarios related to COVID-19. For example, federal law provides states flexibility to pay benefits where: an employer temporarily ceases operations due to COVID-19, preventing employees from coming to work; an individual is quarantined with the expectation of returning to work after the quarantine is over; and an individual leaves employment due to a risk of exposure or infection or to care for a family member. In addition, federal law does not require an employee to quit in order to receive benefits due to the impact of COVID-19. Learn more here.
You will receive an additional $600 per week for unemployment benefits
New federal law provides unemployment benefits for self-employed and other workers, adds an additional $600 to weekly benefits, and offers other benefits that you can read about in these FAQs about unemployment insurance or the complete guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor. More information here.
Where else can I apply for emergency assistance?
We encourage you to review this list of additional sources of emergency assistance from funders at the links below:
GrantSpace — List of nearly 200 resources for nonprofits, individuals, and businesses
Hello Alice — List of resources for small businesses
SheaMoisture — Funding for minority-owned businesses and women entrepreneurs
Small Business Administration — List of resources and funding opportunities for women-led small businesses
Most importantly, please stay positive. We will get through this together. Please join the Yomassage Facebook group for more support and weekly virtual happy hours.
Check out our resources for massage therapists to take your business online:
12 Services To Offer Virtually As A Massage Therapist
