Mobile Menu

Debt Relief Services in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Brendan McErlaine Brendan McErlaine New York, United States Last Updated: January 2024 NAICS OD6282 Spotlight Report

Revenue

$21.5bn

2024

$21.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

20,360

Businesses

453

Wages

$X.Xbn

Debt Relief Services in the US industry analysis

Revenue for debt relief service companies has displayed volatility during the current period. Demand for the industry's services often surges during bad economic times because businesses and individuals have trouble paying their debts. This didn't happen during COVID-19 despite the massive recession because of record-low interest rates and soaring per capita disposable income. These factors enabled consumers to pay their bills and avoid going into more debt, hindering demand for the industry's services and causing revenue to plunge in 2020. When the economy recovered from the pandemic, households used their cash to flock to newly opened stores, restaurants and other businesses, causing corporate profit to surge. Elevated corporate profit kept businesses out of financial ruin, so spending on debt relief services from the commercial sector hindered the industry's performance in 2021. Revenue recovered in 2022 and 2023 as rising interest rates made it more difficult for businesses and individuals to pay off their existing liabilities. Overall, revenue for debt relief service companies is expected to plunge at a CAGR of 6.1% during the current period, reaching $21.5 billion in 2024, including a 5.0% drop in that year.

Trends and Insights

  • Revenue plunged during the current period because of low-interest rates during COVID-19 and rising corporate profit amid the pandemic recovery. The industry has performed better since the cost of borrowing has increased recently.
  • Rising interest rates have caused demand for loan services to soar during the current period. Higher corporate profit has reduced trading debt instruments' revenue share.
  • Barriers to entry are fairly modest since debt relief service companies don't need to purchase expensive plants or equipment. Start-up costs include financial capital, office space, software, computers and hiring workers. Regulations make it difficult for some individuals to enter the industry.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
  • PDF report or online database with Word, Excel and PowerPoint export options
  • 100% money back guarantee

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 6.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $21.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Revenue plunged during COVID-19 despite poor economic conditions

  • Demand for debt relief services often rises during recessions because individuals and businesses display a drop in income, causing them to take on more debt or struggle to pay their existing obligations.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Debt Relief Services in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Steady economic growth will hinder demand for the industry's services

  • Despite challenges related to high inflation, rising interest rates and recessionary fears, US GDP will rise steadily during the outlook period.

Biggest companies in the Debt Relief Services in the US

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Debt Relief Services in the US industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Debt Relief Services in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Trading debt instruments, Loan services to consumers and Loan services to businesses. Trading debt instruments is the largest segment of the Debt Relief Services in the US.

Trends and Insights

Loan services to customers give providers the most revenue

  • Since the primary function of this industry is to help businesses and households with their debt, loan services to customers comprises more than three-quarters of revenue.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Debt relief service providers buy, pool and repackage debt for resale to others on the secondary market. Products include providing loans to households and businesses, trading debt instruments, securities origination and other services.

What's included in this industry?

Loaning funds to businesses for debt reliefLoaning funds to consumers for debt reliefProviding unsecured loans to customersOffering securities origination servicesTrading debt instruments

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIESCOLLATERALIZED DEBT OBLIGATIONSMORTGAGE ORIGINATIONPAYDAY LOANINITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 522291 - Debt Relief Services in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Revenue plunged during the current period because of low-interest rates during COVID-19 and rising corporate profit amid the pandemic recovery. The industry has performed bet...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Factors that influence volatility in the industry
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Rising interest rates have caused demand for loan services to soar during the current period. Higher corporate profit has reduced trading debt instruments' revenue share.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Purchase this report to unlock analyst insights.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Barriers to entry are fairly modest since debt relief service companies don't need to purchase expensive plants or equipment. Start-up costs include financial capital, office...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Since debt relief service companies offer a slew of different financial products, they are subject to a host of regulations. These relate to loan disclosure, mortgages, credi...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Debt relief service providers are profitable the industry is in the finance sector. Profit has fallen during the current period because of rising aggregate household debt, co...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Debt Relief Services in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Debt Relief Services in the US industry in United States is $21.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Debt Relief Services in the US industry in 2024?

There are 453 businesses in the Debt Relief Services in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Debt Relief Services in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Debt Relief Services in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 6.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Debt Relief Services in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Debt Relief Services in the US industry in United States is expected to decline.

What does the Debt Relief Services in the US in United States include?

Loaning funds to businesses for debt relief and Loaning funds to consumers for debt relief are part of the Debt Relief Services in the US industry.

How competitive is the Debt Relief Services in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is low and steady in the Debt Relief Services in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Commercial Banking in the US
  • Loan Brokers in the US
  • Credit Unions in the US

Complementors

  • Stock & Commodity Exchanges in the US
  • Investment Banking & Securities Dealing in the US
  • Office Supply Stores in the US

International industries

  • Debt Collection Agencies in Canada
  • Debt Collection Agencies in the UK

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.