Can Small Business Owners File for Unemployment?

Q: Can small business owners file for unemployment?

It depends. Generally, a business owner will only qualify for unemployment benefits if they have been paying themselves as a W-2 employee.

Q: How can small business owners apply for unemployment?

If you think you may qualify for unemployment benefits as a small business owner, you can start by going to your state’s Employment Development Department (EDD) website to review requirements and to start the application process. To apply, you will generally need your driver’s license, Social Security card or passport, details on your last employer (your company), the last week you worked, and total gross earnings for that week. You may also need to provide information on any other employers you have had over the past 18 months, as well as your net income. In some states, you may need to have an interview with a representative from the EDD.

Q: Are unemployment benefits for business owners different than for employees?

No. If you qualify for unemployment benefits as a business owner, you will have access to the same unemployment benefits as any other eligible applicant in your state.

Can Small Business Owners File for Unemployment?

Susan GuilloryUpdated August 24, 2022

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Editor’s note: Lantern by SoFi seeks to provide content that is objective, independent and accurate. Writers are separate from our business operation and do not receive direct compensation from advertisers or partners. Read more about our Editorial Guidelines and How We Make Money.

If your small business hits a slump, due to a crisis, pandemic, or other unfortunate circumstance, any employees you let go will be able to file for unemployment benefits. You may wonder, however, if the same applies to you: Can small business owners file for unemployment? Is your only option small business bankruptcy?In some cases, small business owners may be able to file for unemployment. It just depends on how you've been paying yourself and whether you've paid into unemployment insurance. Let's get into the details.Recommended: Insolvency vs Bankruptcy

Is Pandemic Unemployment for the Self-Employed Still Available?

Many small businesses, independent contractors, and gig workers took an economic hit as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. As part of the CARES Act, federal lawmakers expanded unemployment benefits significantly. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provision allowed many self-employed workers to receive unemployment benefits who normally wouldn't, including sole proprietors, independent contractors, and gig workers.Unfortunately, the PUA program expired on September 5th, 2021 That means only individuals who qualify as employees are currently eligible for unemployment benefits. Those who are self-employed no longer qualify.

How Do Unemployment Benefits Work?

When employees are laid off or let go from a company, they are typically entitled to temporarily receive a portion of their previous salary in the form of unemployment benefits. People who quit their jobs or were fired because of poor performance are generally not eligible. Unemployment benefits vary from one state to another, but generally can last up to 26 weeks. To qualify, individuals must be ready and willing to work and unable to find comparable employment. There may be additional requirements depending on which state you live in.Unemployment insurance is financed by taxes paid by employers.

Types of Business Owners Who Are Eligible for Unemployment

Whether or not a small business owner can file for unemployment will depend on what state they live in, how their business is set up, and how they pay themselves. Here are some general guidelines that can help you decide if you should apply for benefits.

1. Sole Proprietorships

If you are the sole proprietor of a business, you likely do not pay yourself wages and unemployment taxes. If that’s the case, you probably do not qualify for unemployment for small business owners.

2. S Corporations

If you operate as an S corporation, you may be required to pay yourself wages, as well as state unemployment insurance tax on those wages, just as you do any other employee. If so, you can likely qualify for unemployment benefits. You may want to keep in mind, however, that generally a business owner has to cease business operations entirely in order to be eligible. This shows that you are, indeed, separated from the company. “Firing yourself” due to a slowdown in business is not likely to make you eligible for unemployment.

3. Business Owners Not Earning Wages

If you operate your business as a partnership (such as an LLC or LLP) or a corporation, but haven’t been drawing a regular paycheck or contributing to your state’s unemployment insurance fund, you are likely not eligible for unemployment benefits.If you only take money from your company as you need it, or only take money through distributions or dividends, you’re generally not considered an employee unless you are also drawing regular employee wages.Changing your status and making yourself a W-2 employee of your company shortly before shutting it down isn’t likely going to help your case either. Many states have rules about required minimum lengths of employment to qualify for benefits.

Requirements for Small Business Owners Applying for Unemployment

Requirements for small business owners to qualify for unemployment are dictated by the state. Typically, however, a business owner will only be eligible for unemployment benefits if they are an employee within their own business. This means you meet these requirements:

You worked as a wage-earning employee of the company on a W-2 (not 1099)
You had a title and a role with defined responsibilities (such as CEO or president)
You paid federal and state unemployment taxes
You lost your status as an employee
You can prove that you’re seeking alternative employment

If you’ve been compensating yourself through dividends or distributions, rather than wages, or you’re a sole proprietor, you likely will not be eligible to file for unemployment as a business owner.

How Small Business Owners Can File for Unemployment

If you believe you qualify for unemployment benefits, you may want to start by visiting your state’s Employment Development Department (EDD) website to review requirements and to start the application process. You’ll likely need to have certain documents on hand, such as your driver’s license, Social Security card, and/or passport, and need to submit certain information, such as details on your last employer (that’s your company), the last week you worked, and your total gross earnings for the last week you worked.You may also need to provide information on any other employers you have had over the past 18 months, as well as your net income. Some states may require you to have an interview with a representative from the EDD. Once approved, you may need to verify whether you have looked for work or worked at all during a given pay period so your unemployment benefits can be accurately calculated.

What Kinds of Unemployment Benefits Can Business Owners Expect?

If you’re eligible for unemployment benefits as a business owner and your claim is approved, you’ll receive the benefits available in your state. Benefits can typically last anywhere from three to six months.The actual amount of weekly unemployment benefits you’ll receive as a business owner will depend on where you live and your prior earnings. The maximum weekly benefit amount can range from $275 to $600-plus depending on the state where you file. Once your benefits run out, you generally cannot file another claim until a year after your original claim.

Other Small Business Financial Relief Options

If you don’t qualify for unemployment benefits, but still need a solution to cover a gap in income until business picks up, there are a number of small business funding options to consider.

SBA Disaster Loans

The COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is no longer available. However, the SBA continues to offer traditional EIDL loans for business owners that have been affected by a natural disaster, such as a flood, drought, or hurricane. You can learn more on the SBA's website.

Other SBA Loans and Grants

In addition to the EIDL program, the SBA offers many other loans to small businesses, such as the 7(a) loan program. SBA loans tend to offer the largest loan amounts and have the lowest interest of all your options.In addition, the SBA offers a small number of grants to small businesses that do not have to be repaid.Recommended: SBA Loans for Independent Contractors and the Self-Employed

Small Business Loans

You may qualify for a traditional small business loan from a bank, credit union, or online lender. Some require higher credit scores, while others have less stringent requirements, though may offer less favorable terms. You may also be able to get a personal loan while unemployed. Recommended: Applying for a Small Business Loan in 6 Steps

Emergency Funding Options

If your revenues and credit scores are down, you may be limited to applying for higher-interest options like a merchant cash advance. Even if you have to pay higher interest, an emergency business loan could ensure you have the money you need to pay yourself and your business expenses until you once again have a successful small business, especially if you don’t qualify for unemployment.

Business Insurance Policies

Business insurance helps protect your business’ financial assets should you face an unfortunate (and costly) event, such as a lawsuit, property damage, theft, loss of income, and employee injuries or illnesses. A general business owners policy (BOP) typically includes:

General liability insurance
Commercial property insurance
Business interruption insurance (which helps you recover lost business income if your business is unable to open because of a problem such as a fire)

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is the use of small amounts of capital from a large number of individuals (a.k.a., the “crowd”) to finance your business. If you opt for reward-based crowdfunding, investors receive a reward for investing and you get to keep ownership of your business. To go this route, you typically have to create a campaign on a crowdfunding site that gets people excited about your business.

Lantern Small Business Loans

Whether or not you can file for unemployment as a business owner generally depends on whether you get a regular paycheck from your company, pay unemployment taxes, along with several other factors. It can be a good idea to check in with your state, since these benefits are administered at the state level. If you don’t qualify, there are other ways to help keep your business afloat during a slump. If you’re interested in investigating loan options without making any type of commitment, Lantern by SoFi can help. With our online lending platform, you can explore rates from multiple small business lenders with just one application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can small business owners file for unemployment?

How can small business owners apply for unemployment?

Are unemployment benefits for business owners different than for employees?

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

Photo credit: iStock/FlamingoImages

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About the Author

Susan Guillory

Su Guillory is a freelance business writer and expat coach. She’s written several business books and has been published on sites including Forbes, AllBusiness, and SoFi. She writes about business and personal credit, financial strategies, loans, and credit cards.

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