Chapters

Subchapter V cases and the company archive

If your small business has filed Chapter 11 under Subchapter V, or is about to, many others are in the same position. Epiq counted 2,442 Subchapter V elections from January through September 2026, up 46% on the same months of 2025.

AI Data Offers research deskChecked against our methodology Updated October 28, 2026 2 min read 10 sources

Sub V elections, Jan to Sep 2026: 2,442 (+46%)
September 2026: 276 (+38%)
All commercial Ch. 11: 6,560 (+11%)
Typical buyer floor: 20 to 30 staff

In this guide

Elections are rising faster than Chapter 11 overall

In September, Subchapter V elections hit 276 against 200 a year before, a 38% rise. All commercial Chapter 11 filings reached 6,560 by the end of September, an 11% increase. Small-business reorganizations are growing at four times the overall pace. See 2026 filings.

An operating debtor still has its systems

Subchapter V remains Chapter 11, so the debtor normally keeps control and keeps trading. That is the ideal window to let a buyer sample the archive, while email, Slack and drives are running and the staff who understand them are still employed.

The catch: size floors

Buyers who state a minimum mostly ask for 20 to 30+ staff and several years of data, and a handful set none. Plenty of Subchapter V debtors fall right around that threshold.

micro1
30+ employees
Pewter
20+ staff, 3+ years
Nyne
20+ in the US, 3+ years
Mode
20+ in the US, lower for law and accounting firms
Grepped, Troveo
No stated minimum

Buyer	Published floor
micro1	30+ employees
Pewter	20+ staff, 3+ years
Nyne	20+ in the US, 3+ years
Mode	20+ in the US, lower for law and accounting firms
Grepped, Troveo	No stated minimum

Buyers' own published requirements.

Run the match quiz to see which take a company your size.

FAQ

Questions, answered

Can a Subchapter V debtor sell its data?

A sale outside the ordinary course generally needs court approval, as in any Chapter 11. Ask your counsel and Subchapter V trustee.

Is my small company big enough for AI buyers?

The typical ask is 20 to 30+ staff plus several years of data, though some buyers set no floor. The match quiz filters buyers by company size.

Find the buyers that fit your company

Answer a few questions about your size, tools and history. We show which buyers want a company like yours. Free, no files.

Match my company What is my data worth?

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Sources

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