Direct answer
Reputable firms charge 15% to 25% of the amount they save you, billed only as each settlement closes, sometimes with a monthly program fee of $200 to $600. Some charge 15% to 20% of enrolled debt instead. Federal rules bar charging any fee before at least one debt is settled, so a large flat fee up front is a red flag, not a price.
The three fee models, compared
Percentage of savings is the most aligned: the firm earns only when you pay less. On a $150,000 stack settled at 50%, a 20% savings fee is $15,000, and you have paid $90,000 total instead of $150,000.
Percentage of enrolled debt is common and less aligned: the fee is fixed at enrollment regardless of how good the settlements are. On the same stack, 18% of enrolled debt is $27,000 whether the firm settles at 40% or 70%.
Flat upfront fees, typically $4,000 to $9,000 before any work, are the model to avoid. Two firms in our rankings were capped at 5.0 for it.
Costs that hide in the plan
Monthly program or “maintenance” fees accrue whether or not anything settles; over an 18-month program they can exceed a competitor’s entire performance fee. Escrow or account fees, document fees and “legal review” charges should all be in the fee schedule before you sign. If they are not, ask why.
What settlement itself costs
The settlement amount is separate from the fee. In letters owners shared with Zogby, business debt settled at 35% to 70% of balance, with stacked or defaulted positions at the low end. You also need the cash or a short plan to fund each settlement, which is why the firm’s job includes pausing the daily debits first.
Key takeaway
Pay for results, not enrollment. Get the fee schedule in writing, confirm nothing is charged before the first settlement, and add up the monthly fees over the full program length.
Cite: Zogby, “How much does MCA debt settlement cost?”, updated Sep 14, 2026.