The PPP gives small businesses and self-employed folks loans that are 2.5 times their monthly payroll costs. The loan can be forgiven if you use at least 60% of it for payroll costs, turning it into a grant that businesses don’t have to repay.
Self-employed folks and independent contractors can now qualify for unemployment and those unemployment benefits have been given a boost with an extra $600 in benefit payments for 13 weeks. You can learn more about the new benefits here.
How do you make the most of the options available? You can get money from the PPP or unemployment, but not both. Here’s how to decide which is right for your business.
Paycheck Protection Program vs unemployment as a sole proprietor
As a sole proprietor, you’re able to apply for either the PPP or unemployment (but not both). To help you decide, here’s what you want to think about.
How much money will you receive?
Both the PPP and unemployment offer substantial benefits for the next few months, but which one will net you the most money? You’ll want to do a little research and math to see what puts you in the best position.
The minimum benefit offered under PUA is 50% the state’s average weekly UI benefit. Each state can determine if and by how much they offer above the minimum. For example in New York, the maximum benefit rate is $504, the same as the maximum benefit rate for regular unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits are also taxable income, so you should also factor in how much state and federal tax will be applied on your unemployment benefit payments.
Say you’re a sole proprietor living in New York and your net profit on your Schedule C is $75,000. Your monthly average payroll expenses will be $75,000 divided by 12, or $6,250. If you’re approved for the PPP, you’d receive $15,625. That’s 2.5 times your monthly payroll expenses of $6,250.
Under unemployment, you could qualify for the maximum unemployment benefit in New York of $504 per week in addition to an extra $600 per week for 13 weeks. That means your monthly unemployment check could be $1,104, a total of $14,352 over 13 weeks. And once you account for state and federal income taxes on that total, you’ll end up with a bit less than that.
In this scenario, you’ll get more by applying for the PPP.
Will you still have any work to do?
For some sole proprietors, business may be down but not completely gone. If you still have some work coming in and you have the ability to earn some income over the next few months, getting the PPP would be a better option. The amount you receive from the PPP won’t be impacted by working and earning income—you’ll still be able to receive 2.5 times your monthly payroll cost.
But if you are receiving unemployment benefits and are still partially working, your benefits may be reduced. Check the rules with your state agency to see how much your unemployment check would be reduced if you continue to do some work.
Having both the PPP and receiving PUA
It’s possible to take advantage of both programs, but you cannot have both at the same time. If you are collecting unemployment benefits and also have a PPP you are claiming owner compensation replacement from, you should report your PPP loan as income to your state’s unemployment resource.
Paycheck Protection Program vs unemployment as a business owner
If you have employees, the decision between filing for PPP or laying off your employees so they can collect unemployment benefits becomes a little more complicated.
Depending on how much your employees earn, there is a chance that they could earn more on unemployment, thanks to the additional $600 per week payment. But that’s not the only factor to consider.
Will you need to ramp up your business quickly?
If you think your business can ramp up quickly once the shelter-in-place is over, keeping employees on payroll can help your business get a faster start. You won’t need to re-hire and re-train a workforce—you’ll be able to get your business running quickly.
In turn, your employees won’t have to file for unemployment or worry about looking for another job. They’ll be ready to jump in when your doors can open again.
Do you have small projects employees can help with?
While the shelter-in-place is still in effect, there may be small things that your employees can help with. What projects could help your business long-term, that you haven’t had a chance to do yet?
That might be building a better website, setting up an email list, or designing new products to sell once the business opens back up again. Using the PPP you can have your employees help knock things off your to-do list.
Do you provide health insurance coverage?
If you provide health insurance coverage for your employees, the PPP includes health insurance costs in the calculation of the loan. Keeping employees on payroll will let them keep their health insurance benefits—something that is critical during a global health crisis.
If you lay your employees off so they can collect unemployment, they’ll be on the hook for finding and paying for their own health care coverage.
Can you use help paying rent and utility bills?
If you have rent and utility bills to pay, the PPP allows you to use a portion of the money you receive to pay for those costs. So not only do you get funds to pay employees for 24 weeks, you can get money to pay for some of your other expenses.
If you choose to lay off employees instead of using the PPP, you won’t get that extra money to help you pay those bills.
Do you plan to restart your business?
If you don’t think your business will ever recover and you’d prefer to close for good, you’re probably better off laying off your employees and working to wind down your business, rather than applying for the PPP. Applying for the PPP will only delay the inevitable and you and your employees can instead spend time looking at what’s next.
