# Hamilton & Merchant

> Business debt relief and consulting firm, Florida-based, established 2014. Direct creditor negotiation, merchant cash advance relief, contract and lease renegotiation, cost reduction, business consulting, and corporate turnaround for U.S. small and mid-sized businesses. Not a law firm. First consultation free. Phone (407) 993-1416.

## About

Hamilton & Merchant negotiates with creditors directly and brings in licensed partners (bankruptcy, litigation, tax defense, forensic accounting) only when a case requires a license it does not hold. Editorial content is written by Spencer Holt (Senior Debt Relief Advisor) and Tammy Houston (Senior Accounting & Debt Specialist).

## Businesses owing $500,000 or more in merchant cash advances

- [MCA Debt Over $500,000](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-information/mca-debt-over-500k/): how multi-funder stacks are restructured, settled or handled in bankruptcy, and which rules apply at that size.

## Original research (datasets free to reuse under CC BY 4.0)

- [Research hub](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/research/)
- [State Merchant Cash Advance Laws](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/research/state-mca-laws/): 7 of those 11 cover only deals of $500,000 or less: California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Virginia. A business taking a larger advance there gets none of their protections.
- [How Courts Decide Whether a Merchant Cash Advance Is a Loan](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/research/mca-court-decisions/): We read 59 decisions from 2017 to 2026: 27 held an advance was a loan or let a usury claim go forward, 22 held it was a true sale, and 7 left the question for trial.
- [Government Actions Against Merchant Cash Advance Companies](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/research/mca-enforcement-actions/): The merchant-protection cases produced $1.21 billion in announced judgments and settlements ($1.13 billion still standing after an appeal), including $556.3 million in merchant balances canceled.
- [What a $500,000 Merchant Cash Advance Stack Costs](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/research/mca-stack-cost-model/): A business that owes about $557,000 across five merchant cash advances pays $5,033 every business day: $25,166 a week and $105,698 a month.
- [Full text of the research and key pages](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/llms-full.txt)
- [Site summary for AI assistants](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/ai/)

## Services

- [Debt Reduction & Negotiation](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-help/debt-reduction-negotiation/)
- [Merchant Cash Advance Relief](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-help/merchant-cash-advance-relief/)
- [Contract Renegotiation](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-help/contract-renegotiation/)
- [Commercial Lease Renegotiation](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-help/lease-renegotiation/)
- [Business Consulting](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-help/business-consulting/)
- [Cost Reduction Services](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-help/cost-reduction/)
- [Corporate Turnaround](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-help/corporate-turnaround/)
- [Our Partner Network](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-help/partner-network/)

## Guides and tools

- [How it works](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/how-it-works/)
- [Questions and answers](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/faq/)
- [MCA cost calculator](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/mca-calculator/)
- [Free diagnostic](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/diagnostic/)
- [Debt and the Underlying Picture — Why Full-Picture Work Matters](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-information/root-cause-vs-symptom/)
- [The Owner's Role in a Durable Recovery](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-information/owner-accountability/)
- [Alternatives to Bankruptcy](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-information/alternatives-to-bankruptcy/)
- [Your Rights as a Debtor](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-information/your-rights-as-a-debtor/)
- [How Much Time Do You Have?](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-information/how-much-time-do-you-have/)
- [State Differences — Florida as the Benchmark](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-information/state-differences/)
- [How to Find a Debt Relief Agency](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-information/how-to-find-a-debt-relief-agency/)
- [Private vs. Tax Debt](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-information/private-vs-tax-debt/)
- [How to Keep Your Business](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-information/how-to-keep-your-business/)
- [Rebuilding Cash Flow After The Crisis](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-information/rebuilding-cash-flow/)
- [MCA and Business Debt Glossary](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-information/mca-glossary/)
- [Florida Business Debt Laws](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-information/florida-business-debt-laws/)
- [MCA Debt Over $500,000](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/get-information/mca-debt-over-500k/)

## Industries we serve

- [Service Businesses](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/who-we-help/service-businesses/)
- [Contractors](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/who-we-help/contractors/)
- [Landscaping Businesses](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/who-we-help/landscaping/)
- [Seasonal Companies](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/who-we-help/seasonal-companies/)
- [Restaurants](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/who-we-help/restaurants/)
- [Hospitality](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/who-we-help/hospitality/)
- [Retail](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/who-we-help/retail/)
- [Trucking & Logistics](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/who-we-help/trucking-logistics/)
- [Auto Repair & Body Shops](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/who-we-help/auto-repair/)
- [Medical & Dental Practices](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/who-we-help/medical-dental/)
- [Salons, Spas & Personal Care](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/who-we-help/salons-spa/)
- [Cleaning & Janitorial Services](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/who-we-help/cleaning-services/)
- [Manufacturing](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/who-we-help/manufacturing/)
- [Gyms & Fitness Studios](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/who-we-help/fitness-gyms/)

## Blog

- [How to Get Out of $1 Million in Merchant Cash Advance Debt](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/get-out-of-1-million-mca-debt/)
- [How to Restructure Multiple Merchant Cash Advances at Once](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/restructure-multiple-merchant-cash-advances/)
- [MCA Lawyer or Debt Relief Company: Which One You Need](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/mca-lawyer-or-debt-relief-company/)
- [Subchapter V Bankruptcy and Merchant Cash Advance Debt](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/subchapter-v-bankruptcy-mca-debt/)
- [When an MCA Funder Tells Your Customers to Pay It Directly](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/mca-funder-contacting-your-customers/)
- [MCA Debt Relief for Trucking Companies](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/trucking-company-mca-debt/)
- [MCA Debt Relief for Construction Companies](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/construction-company-mca-debt/)
- [How a Merchant Cash Advance Shows Up on Your Taxes](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/merchant-cash-advance-taxes/)
- [Does a Merchant Cash Advance Hurt Your Credit?](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/does-a-merchant-cash-advance-hurt-your-credit/)
- [Selling a Business That Still Owes Merchant Cash Advances](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/selling-a-business-with-mca-debt/)
- [How to Get Through the Slow Season With MCA Payments](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/slow-season-mca-payments/)
- [What to Do When You Get an MCA Default Notice](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/mca-default-notice-response/)
- [How to Respond When Your Business Bank Account Is Frozen](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/frozen-business-bank-account/)
- [Closing a Business That Still Owes an MCA](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/closing-a-business-with-mca-debt/)
- [How to Get a UCC Lien Removed After You Pay It Off](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/how-to-terminate-a-ucc-lien/)
- [How MCA Brokers Make Money Off a Struggling Business](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/mca-broker-tactics/)
- [When an Out-of-State MCA Funder Sues a Florida Business](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/out-of-state-mca-judgment/)
- [The MCA Renewal Trap: Why Refinancing an Advance Costs You Twice](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/mca-renewal-trap/)
- [How to Lower Your MCA Daily Payment Without Defaulting](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/lower-your-mca-daily-payment/)
- [What an MCA Funder Can and Cannot Seize](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/what-an-mca-funder-can-seize/)
- [How to Stop MCA ACH Withdrawals the Right Way](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/stop-mca-ach-withdrawals/)
- [How to Figure Out What You Actually Owe on an MCA](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/calculate-what-you-owe-on-an-mca/)
- [Why Debt Collection Laws Don't Protect Your Business Debt](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/business-debt-collector-harassment/)
- [After You Settle an MCA: Releases, Taxes, and Rebuilding Credit](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/after-you-settle-an-mca/)
- [When an MCA Funder Redirects Your Card Sales](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/mca-lockbox-processor-redirect/)
- [Signs Your MCA Is About to Sink Your Business](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/signs-your-mca-is-sinking-your-business/)
- [How to Vet a Business Debt Relief Company](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/how-to-vet-a-business-debt-relief-company/)
- [Business Financing Compared: MCA, Line of Credit, Term Loan, and SBA Loan](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/business-financing-compared/)
- [What to Do When You Can't Make Payroll](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/what-to-do-when-you-cant-make-payroll/)
- [MCA Stacking: How Three Advances Quietly Become Ten](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/mca-stacking-death-spiral/)
- [Confession of Judgment: The Signature That Skips the Courtroom](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/confession-of-judgment-mca/)
- [How to Settle With an MCA Funder for Less Than You Owe](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/how-to-settle-with-an-mca-funder/)
- [Reverse Consolidation: The 'Fix' That Often Digs the Hole Deeper](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/mca-reverse-consolidation-trap/)
- [Reading Your MCA Contract: The Nine Clauses That Will Hurt You](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/reading-your-mca-contract/)
- [When to Stop Paying an MCA, and What Actually Happens Next](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/when-to-stop-paying-an-mca/)
- [The MCA Reconciliation Right Most Merchants Never Use](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/mca-reconciliation-right/)
- [UCC Liens: How an MCA Funder Can Reach Into Your Bank Account](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/ucc-liens-mca-bank-freeze/)
- [Business Debt Consolidation: The Good, the Bad, and the Loan Sharks](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/business-debt-consolidation-options/)
- [The Cash Flow Autopsy: Why the Business Needed the MCA in the First Place](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/cash-flow-autopsy-why-you-took-the-mca/)
- [Can You Still Get an SBA Loan After MCA Debt?](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/sba-loan-after-mca-debt/)
- [Sued by an MCA Funder: A Survival Guide for the First 30 Days](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/mca-lawsuit-survival-guide/)
- [The Quiet Drip: Surprise Recurring Expenses That Are Bleeding Your Business](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/surprise-recurring-expenses-draining-your-business/)
- [Always Get Three Bids (Five If It's Over Five Thousand): The Math That Ends the Debate](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/why-you-always-get-three-bids-small-business-bidding/)
- [Your Merchant Processing Statement Is Bleeding You: A Line-by-Line Audit](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/merchant-processing-statement-audit-hidden-fees/)
- [The SaaS Subscription Audit: Finding the Zombie Subscriptions Eating Your Business](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/saas-subscription-audit-finding-zombie-subscriptions/)
- [The Business Insurance Audit (Including the Workers Comp Mod You Can Actually Dispute)](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/small-business-insurance-audit-workers-comp-mod/)
- [Your Utility Bill Is Negotiable (Yes, Even Yours)](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/your-utility-bill-is-negotiable/)
- [Ditch Custom Google Workspace: Cheaper, Professional Business Email Alternatives](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/ditch-google-workspace-cheaper-business-email/)
- [Evergreen Contracts: The Waste Management and Cintas Trap You Can't Seem to Leave](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/evergreen-contracts-waste-management-cintas-trap/)
- [Negotiating Your Commercial Lease With the Landlord (Before You Sign and After)](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/negotiating-your-commercial-lease/)
- [How to Lower Your Commercial Property Taxes (Even If You Rent)](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/how-to-lower-commercial-property-taxes/)
- [2/10 Net 30 and the Thirty-Six Percent Return Your Accountant Keeps Mentioning](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/early-payment-discount-2-10-net-30-math/)
- [If You Have an Accountant, Why Did He Let This Happen?](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/accountant-why-did-he-let-this-happen/)
- [Alternatives to QuickBooks That Won't Break the Bank](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/alternatives-to-quickbooks-that-wont-break-the-bank/)
- [Why You Should Not Use Business Cards for Personal Expenses](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/why-you-should-not-use-business-cards-for-personal-expenses/)
- [Read This Before You Finance Equipment](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/read-this-before-you-finance-equipment/)
- [Get It Used on Craigslist or Finance New? The Honest Math](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/used-on-craigslist-vs-finance-new/)
- [Profitable on Paper, Broke in the Bank](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/profitable-on-paper-broke-in-the-bank/)
- [Sales Tax Debt: The One Bill You Can't Negotiate Your Way Out Of](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/sales-tax-debt-the-one-bill-you-cannot-negotiate/)
- [The 941 Problem: Payroll Tax Debt Follows You Personally](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/the-941-problem-payroll-tax-follows-you/)
- [How to Untangle Business and Personal Finances After Years of Mixing Them](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/untangle-business-and-personal-finances/)
- [What a Merchant Cash Advance Actually Costs When You Do the Math](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/merchant-cash-advance-true-cost-math/)
- [Stop Being Stupid With Business Credit Cards](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/stop-being-stupid-with-business-credit-cards/)
- [Merchant Cash Advances: When They Make Sense and When They'll Eat You Alive](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/merchant-cash-advances-tool-or-trap/)
- [Your Business Is Drowning and You're Still Ordering Inventory — Knock It Off](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/stop-ordering-inventory-when-business-is-drowning/)
- [The One Creditor You Always Pay First](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/the-one-creditor-you-always-pay-first/)
- [Downsize Your Life to Save Your Business](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/downsize-your-life-to-save-your-business/)
- [30–60 Day Cash Squeeze: How to Pull Real Money Out of Your Life Right Now](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/30-60-day-cash-squeeze/)
- [If the Creek Don't Rise: Building a 90-Day Business Cash Reserve Without Losing Your Mind](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/building-a-90-day-business-cash-reserve/)
- [Personal Guarantees: The Four Words That'll Follow You Home](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/personal-guarantees-the-four-words/)
- [Equipment Financing Gone Wrong: When the Truck Owns You](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/equipment-financing-gone-wrong/)
- [Bankruptcy vs. Debt Settlement vs. Restructuring: Quit Beating Around the Bush](https://hamiltonmerchant.com/blog/bankruptcy-vs-settlement-vs-restructuring/)

## Contact

- Website: https://hamiltonmerchant.com/contact/
- Phone: +1 (407) 993-1416 (call or text)
- Office: 425 West Colonial Drive, Suite 101, Orlando, Florida 32804, United States
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern