Marcel Klopp , 36 years old, is a restaurateur and owner of a small bar with 50 seats and a beer garden with 40 seats on a busy street in Filderstadt. Before becoming self-employed, Marcel worked as a bartender and waiter for 10 years and gained valuable experience during this time. In 2018, he took the step into self-employment by using his savings to open his own restaurant. His equity was enough for the furnishings, the deposit for the rent and for initial marketing measures such as Google Ads, signs and advertising campaigns.

The bar was doing well – customers were coming regularly, reviews on Google and Tripadvisor were positive, and it seemed as if Marcel’s dream had come true.

But then Corona came. Like many other restaurateurs, Marcel was hit hard by the effects of the pandemic. The running costs remained, but income collapsed. Marcel applied for Corona aid to stay afloat. But since 2022 he has had to pay back this aid, which was an additional burden. The sharp rise in food prices and operating costs since 2021 made the situation worse.

Customers stopped coming and sales dropped. Marcel was forced to lay off staff, which in turn affected service and attracted even fewer customers. Negative reviews piled up and a vicious circle began.

In 2023, Marcel took out a loan of 80,000 euros to close the financial gap. This loan was supposed to be enough to cover the debts incurred and get the business back on track. But defective equipment , additional marketing costs and canceled reservations eventually led to his over-indebtedness and ultimately insolvency .

debt counseling and personal insolvency

In his desperate situation, Marcel turned to the SIC Debtor-Insolvency Center eV . There he received comprehensive debt advice and support in filing for personal insolvency . The experienced advisors helped him to file for insolvency and stabilize his financial situation.

Thanks to the professional help of the association, Marcel was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. He is on the way to getting rid of his debts and concentrating on what is important: running his bar. The good conduct phase will enable him to be debt-free after a few years and to make a fresh start.