Trucking & Logistics
Owner-operators and small fleets take MCAs to cover fuel and maintenance costs between loads — Arkansas sits at the crossroads of major freight corridors
2026 Rankings · Arkansas Business Debt Relief
Top 3 Business Debt Settlement Companies in Arkansas
With 252K small businesses and 64% of bank applicants underserved, Arkansas business owners need proven debt settlement partners. Here are the three firms that can actually help.
252K
Arkansas Small Businesses
$340M
Alt. Lending Volume (2025)
$6.5M
Usury Enforcement (2024)
Arkansas has one of the most borrower-friendly usury frameworks in the country — and that makes it one of the most interesting battlegrounds for MCA disputes. Amendment 89 to the Arkansas Constitution caps interest at 17% above the federal discount rate, a limit that applies broadly and has been enforced aggressively by state courts. The state's 252,000 small businesses — concentrated in agriculture, trucking, retail, and healthcare — face the same bank rejection rates as the rest of the South: 64% of applicants in the Federal Reserve's 2025 survey were declined or underserved. When those businesses turn to MCAs, the resulting effective annual rates often exceed 200%, creating a direct collision with Arkansas's constitutional protections. The legal question is whether the MCA is a loan (subject to Amendment 89) or a purchase of receivables (exempt). Arkansas courts have been more willing than most to find that MCAs with fixed daily payments are, in substance, loans.
Amendment 89 — Your Strongest Weapon
Arkansas's Amendment 89 usury cap cannot be waived by contract. If your MCA can be recharacterized as a loan, the funder may owe you back every penny of excess interest. The Patterson Trucking ruling confirmed this.
Arkansas business trapped in MCA debt? Talk to us.
1-212-210-1851
Why Arkansas Businesses Are Vulnerable to Predatory Lending
64%
AR Bank Decline Rate
28+
MCA Bankruptcies (2025)
22-30%
MCA Default Rate
17%
State Usury Cap
The problem spans the area. Every neighborhood has businesses in the MCA cycle:
Little Rock
Healthcare, professional services, government contractors
Fayetteville/NW Arkansas
Retail (Walmart ecosystem), tech, university services
Fort Smith
Manufacturing, trucking, distribution
Jonesboro
Agriculture, healthcare, retail
Pine Bluff
Agriculture, forestry, small manufacturing
Need help now?
1-212-210-1851
Legal Landscape: Arkansas Business Debt Protections
Understanding the regulatory framework is the difference between settling on your terms and getting bulldozed:
Arkansas Constitution Amendment 89 sets usury cap at 17% above federal discount rate. This is one of the strictest constitutional usury caps in the nation and — critically — applies to commercial as well as consumer transactions. The Arkansas Supreme Court has consistently held that the constitutional cap cannot be waived by contract, making it a powerful tool for challenging MCA agreements recharacterized as loans.
Arkansas Supreme Court upholds MCA recharacterization in Cash Flow Capital v. Patterson Trucking. The court found that mandatory fixed daily payments disconnected from actual revenues constituted a loan, not a receivable purchase. Because the effective rate exceeded Amendment 89's cap, the agreement was void and all payments were ordered returned. This ruling sent shockwaves through the MCA industry.
AG Tim Griffin secures $6.5M settlement with MCA funder. The AG's Consumer Protection Division reached a settlement with a New York-based funder that had originated over $40 million in advances to Arkansas businesses at effective rates exceeding 300%. The settlement included debt cancellation for 180+ businesses and a permanent ban on the funder's operations in Arkansas.
SB 89 strengthens commercial lending disclosure requirements. The bill requires all commercial finance providers to disclose APR equivalents and total cost of capital for loans under $500,000. It passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support, leveraging the momentum from the AG's enforcement actions.
Why This Matters for Settlement
Each legal development gives a debt settlement firm more leverage. A funder facing regulatory scrutiny knows that court carries consequences. That turns a 100-cents-on-the-dollar demand into a 40-cent settlement.
The 3 Best Business Debt Settlement Companies for Arkansas Businesses
#1
Delancey Street
5.0
Delancey Street was founded in New York City for a specific reason: this is where MCA funders live, and this is where their collection attorneys file. The firm's founding team includes licensed attorneys and former MCA industry insiders — people who worked on the funder side of the table before crossing over to represent the businesses getting squeezed. That dual perspective is their core differentiator.
For Arkansas businesses, Delancey Street's legal expertise is particularly valuable because the state's Amendment 89 usury cap provides one of the strongest defense tools in the nation — but only if your advocate knows how to invoke it. Their attorneys understand the Patterson Trucking precedent and can construct the factual record needed to recharacterize an MCA as a loan, triggering Arkansas's constitutional protections. This is specialized legal work that consumer debt settlement firms simply cannot perform.
Strengths
- NYC-based, attorney-founded — national MCA expertise
- Former MCA industry insiders who know funder playbooks
- $100M+ settled across 1,000+ cases nationwide
- Can challenge COJs, UCC liens, invoke usury recharacterization
- Zero upfront fees — performance-based only
- Single dedicated team per case
Considerations
- Business debt only — no personal credit cards or student loans
- Minimum debt threshold may apply
- Smaller than mass-market firms — personal attention, not volume
Our Verdict
If your problem is MCA debt, stacked advances, or a COJ/UCC lien against your Arkansas business — Delancey Street is the most relevant choice. For consumer debt, see #2.
#2
National Debt Relief
4.7
National Debt Relief is the largest and most credentialed debt settlement company in the United States. They've served over 1.3 million clients since 2009. Their Trustpilot score sits at 4.7 stars across 43,000+ reviews. Forbes Advisor has named them the top-rated debt settlement company three years running. They carry a BBB A+ rating, IAPDA certification, and ACDR accreditation.
The important caveat for Arkansas business owners: National Debt Relief's core competency is consumer unsecured debt — credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans. They are not built for MCA defense. Their negotiators are IAPDA-certified specialists, not licensed attorneys.
For Arkansas business owners dealing with personal consumer debt — credit cards, medical bills, personal loans — National Debt Relief serves clients statewide and has experience with Arkansas's consumer protection framework.
Strengths
- 1.3 million clients served — largest in the U.S.
- BBB A+, IAPDA, ACDR, Forbes #1 three years
- No upfront fees — 15-25% post-settlement
- FDIC-insured escrow, 24-48 month programs
Considerations
- Consumer debt only — not MCA or COJ defense
- Not attorney-led
- $7,500 minimum
- Requires stopping payments — credit impact
Our Verdict
For Arkansas business owners with personal consumer debt — NDR is the gold standard. They settle consumer debt, not MCA contracts.
Free consultation — no pressure
1-212-210-1851
Based in NYC · Serving Arkansas
MCA Payments Draining Your Account?
Our attorneys know how to use Arkansas's Amendment 89 usury protections to challenge predatory MCA agreements. We've settled over $100M in business debt. Free consultation.
Get Your Free Review#3
CuraDebt
4.3
CuraDebt operates out of Hollywood, Florida and has been in the debt relief business since 2000, making it one of the longest-running firms in the industry. Their distinguishing feature is breadth: they handle consumer debt settlement, business debt (including MCAs and vendor obligations), and IRS tax debt resolution under one roof. For Arkansas business owners who owe the IRS back payroll taxes on top of MCA advances — a common combination — CuraDebt is the only firm on this list that can address both in a single engagement.
Their BBB rating is A+, and their Trustpilot reviews trend positive at 4.9 stars across 216+ reviews. They identify creditor violations under the FDCPA and TCPA as additional settlement leverage. The fee structure is performance-based at roughly 20% of enrolled debt with a price-match guarantee. The minimum debt threshold is $5,000, more accessible than NDR's $7,500 floor.
The tradeoffs for Arkansas business owners are real. CuraDebt is not attorney-led. If you get sued by an MCA funder — which happens frequently when New York-based funders target Arkansas businesses — they can refer you to outside counsel, but the legal work is not in-house. They also lack a client portal or mobile app, so tracking your case progress is manual. For Arkansas business owners dealing with the complexity and speed of MCA litigation, those limitations matter.
Our Verdict
CuraDebt earns its spot for breadth and longevity. If your Arkansas business situation involves a tangle of MCA debt, unpaid vendor invoices, and IRS back taxes, their ability to address all three under one engagement is genuinely useful. But for the specific legal firepower that Arkansas's MCA landscape demands — usury challenges, COJ defense, funder-specific negotiation tactics — you'll likely need an attorney-led firm alongside or instead of CuraDebt.
A Warning About "MCA Relief" Companies
The Arkansas Attorney General's office and the FTC have both received reports of fake 'debt relief' firms contacting businesses trapped in MCA debt via text messages and social media. These operations typically recommend stopping all payments to funders, collect an upfront fee, and then disappear — leaving the business in default, exposed to lawsuits, and out the fee. If someone contacts you unsolicited promising to eliminate your MCA debt, verify their credentials independently. Check for a physical address, a BBB profile, attorney bar numbers, and a track record of completed settlements before signing anything.
Arkansas Business Debt Settlement: At a Glance
| Feature | Delancey Street | National Debt Relief | CuraDebt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-Led | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| MCA Specialist | ✓ | ✗ | Limited |
| COJ / UCC Challenges | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Consumer Debt | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Upfront Fees | None | None ($9 setup) | None |
| Best For | MCA, stacked advances, COJ | Credit cards, medical, personal | Mixed debt |
How to Choose the Right Firm for Your Arkansas Business
If your primary debt is MCA advances or stacked payments — you need an attorney-led firm. Delancey Street is built for this.
If your primary debt is personal consumer debt — National Debt Relief's scale and track record are hard to beat.
Many Arkansas business owners need more than one firm. Specialization matters when the stakes are your business's survival.
How We Evaluated These Companies
Legal credentials (30%) — Attorney-led? Can they file motions and provide legal representation?
MCA specialization (25%) — Factor rates, reconciliation, UCC liens, COJ mechanics?
Fee transparency (15%) — No upfront fees, clearly disclosed structure.
Track record (15%) — Debt resolved, reviews, CFPB history.
Arkansas relevance (15%) — Experience with local industries and state legal tools.
Ready to talk? We pick up the phone.
1-212-210-1851
Your Arkansas Business Deserves Better
We've helped 1,000+ businesses settle over $100M in debt. Talk to us — no pressure, just answers.
Schedule Free ConsultationOr call now: 1-212-210-1851
✓ No upfront fees
✓ Attorney-supervised
✓ $100M+ settled
✓ NYC-based team
Delancey Street is not a law firm. We are a private company based in New York City. This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Rankings reflect our editorial assessment. Delancey Street is the publisher and is included in the ranking. Estimates vary by circumstances. We do not guarantee debt reduction amounts. Read all program materials prior to enrollment. Participation may adversely impact credit rating. Data from Federal Reserve, state agencies, and public records as of March 2026. This article may contain affiliate relationships.