Insolvency Practitioners in London
If your company is struggling with debt, HMRC arrears, creditor pressure or uncertainty about whether it can continue trading, Anderson Brookes can help you understand what to do next.
Our licensed insolvency practitioners support company directors across London with practical advice on liquidation, business debt and formal insolvency options. We’ll look at the company’s financial position, explain the realistic options and help you decide on the appropriate next steps.
Our advice can be provided remotely, so you can speak to an experienced insolvency professional quickly without needing to travel. Where an in-person meeting would be more appropriate, this can usually be arranged.
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Get free confidential insolvency advice
Tell us briefly what is happening with your company and a member of the Anderson Brookes team will get back to you to discuss the options that may be available.
Free initial consultation • Confidential • No obligation to proceedWhen should you speak to an insolvency practitioner?
HMRC payments are being missed
VAT, PAYE, Corporation Tax or other tax liabilities are building up and the company cannot keep up with current payments.Suppliers or lenders are chasing payment
Creditor pressure is increasing, payment terms are being withdrawn or legal action has been threatened.Cash flow is consistently tight
The company is struggling to meet wages, rent, tax, finance payments or other liabilities as they fall due.New borrowing is covering older debts
The business is increasingly reliant on credit or director funding simply to keep existing commitments up to date.You are unsure whether to continue trading
The company may still have work or customers, but you are concerned about taking on new liabilities while existing debts cannot be paid.You are considering liquidation or restructuring
You want to understand whether the company can be rescued or whether a formal closure process would now be more appropriate.How Anderson Brookes can help London company directors
The right option depends on whether the business can recover, what it owes, whether creditor action has started and whether the company can continue meeting new liabilities.
Anderson Brookes can help you understand the company’s position and explain the insolvency or restructuring options that may be available.
Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation
If the company cannot pay its debts and there is no realistic route back to financial stability, a Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation may be appropriate. A licensed insolvency practitioner is appointed to deal with the company’s affairs and creditors through a formal process.
Read our company liquidation guideVAT, PAYE and Corporation Tax arrears
Tax arrears can become serious quickly if the company is unable to keep up with current liabilities as well as existing HMRC debt. We can help you understand whether repayment, restructuring or a formal insolvency process should be considered.
Get help with HMRC debtSuppliers, lenders and legal action
If suppliers, lenders or other creditors are chasing payment, threatening legal action or restricting credit, it is important to understand whether the company can recover or whether formal insolvency advice is now needed.
Read about creditor and winding-up pressureClosing a company with an outstanding Bounce Back Loan
An outstanding Bounce Back Loan does not automatically prevent a company from entering liquidation. The company’s wider financial position and the use of the loan still need to be considered as part of the insolvency process.
Read our Bounce Back Loan guidePersonal liability and director concerns
Company debts usually remain with the company, but personal exposure can arise in some circumstances. We can help you understand issues such as personal guarantees, director’s loan accounts and your responsibilities once the company becomes insolvent.
Understand what happens to directorsRestructuring and recovery options
Insolvency does not always mean immediate liquidation. If the underlying business is still viable, repayment arrangements, restructuring or a formal rescue procedure may be worth considering before closure.
Explore business debt solutionsSupporting businesses across London’s SME economy
London has one of the UK’s most diverse business economies, with large numbers of SMEs operating across professional services, construction, technology, hospitality, retail and the creative industries.
Financial pressure can affect businesses in very different ways depending on the sector. Some companies face high staffing or premises costs, while others may be dealing with overdue tax, supplier pressure, borrowing commitments or inconsistent cash flow. Anderson Brookes can help directors understand the company’s position and the options available if those pressures become difficult to manage.
Professional and business services
London has a particularly large professional and business-services economy, including consultancy, finance, legal, property and other advisory businesses. Firms in these sectors can still face serious cash-flow problems where client payments are delayed, staffing costs rise or tax liabilities build up.
Construction and property-related businesses
Construction is a major part of London’s SME base and includes a very high proportion of microbusinesses. Payment delays, project overruns, supplier costs and tax arrears can quickly create pressure for contractors and subcontractors.
Technology, creative and digital businesses
London has a substantial technology and creative sector, from software and digital agencies to media and design businesses. Rapid growth, changing client demand and high employment costs can all create financial strain if cash flow does not keep pace.
Hospitality, retail and customer-facing businesses
Hospitality and retail businesses can be especially exposed to rent, staffing, energy and supplier costs. If margins tighten or trading falls, directors may find it difficult to keep up with tax and other liabilities.
What happens when you contact Anderson Brookes?
Getting insolvency advice does not commit you to a particular course of action. The first step is simply to understand the company’s position and what options may still be available.
Tell us what's happening
We’ll ask about the company’s debts, cash flow, creditor pressure and any action already taken by HMRC or other creditors.
Understand the available options
A member of the Anderson Brookes team will explain the realistic routes open to the company, which may include repayment, restructuring, rescue or liquidation depending on the circumstances.
Decide on the next step
You can then decide how you want to proceed. If a formal insolvency process is appropriate, we can explain what will happen next and what information will be needed.
Why London directors choose Anderson Brookes
- Licensed insolvency practitioners
Advice is provided by an established insolvency practice with experience supporting company directors through financial distress. - Free initial consultation
Directors can discuss the company’s position before deciding whether to take any formal action. - Remote support across London
Most advice can be provided by phone or online, helping directors get support quickly without needing to travel. - In-person meetings where appropriate
Where a face-to-face meeting would be more useful, this can usually be arranged. - Practical advice for company directors
The focus is on explaining what the company’s position means, what options remain and what directors need to consider next.
“I have had a great experience with Anderson Brookes and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for trustworthy, professional and reliable support. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and highly professional throughout. Any questions I had were answered promptly, and they handled everything efficiently with genuine care and understanding. I really appreciated how supportive and approachable everyone was from start to finish.”
FAQs for directors closing a company with debt
Do I need to meet an insolvency practitioner in person?
No. Most initial insolvency advice can be provided remotely by phone or online, so London company directors can usually speak to Anderson Brookes without travelling to an office. Where a face-to-face meeting would be more appropriate, this can usually be arranged depending on the circumstances.
Can Anderson Brookes help a London company with HMRC debt?
Yes. We regularly help company directors understand their options where VAT, PAYE, Corporation Tax or other HMRC liabilities have become difficult to manage, and to close limited companies with HMRC debts.
If the company can realistically repay what it owes, a repayment arrangement may be worth exploring. If it cannot meet existing debts and future liabilities, formal insolvency options such as liquidation may need to be considered.
Can I liquidate a company that still owes creditors?
Yes. A company does not need to be debt-free before it enters liquidation. A Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation is specifically designed for insolvent companies that cannot pay their debts. The appointed liquidator deals with the company’s assets and creditors as part of the formal process.
How quickly can a company enter liquidation?
The timescale depends on the company’s circumstances and how quickly the necessary information can be prepared. Anderson Brookes can place a company into liquidation in as little as eight days in appropriate cases, although some cases take longer depending on complexity and the information available.
What happens to me as a director if my company goes into liquidation?
In most cases, company debts remain with the company rather than becoming the director’s personal debts. However, directors’ conduct may be reviewed during liquidation, and personal liability can arise in some circumstances, including issues involving personal guarantees, overdrawn director’s loan accounts or certain conduct before insolvency.
Can a business be rescued instead of liquidated?
Sometimes. If the underlying business is still viable, options such as restructuring, repayment arrangements or a Company Voluntary Arrangement may be worth considering. The appropriate route depends on factors such as cash flow, creditor pressure, future profitability and whether the company can realistically meet ongoing liabilities.
Talk to an insolvency practitioner about your company
If your company is struggling with debt, creditor pressure or HMRC arrears, you do not need to work out the next step on your own. Speak to Anderson Brookes for a free, confidential initial consultation. We can help you understand the company’s position and explain the practical options available.
Free initial consultation • Confidential • No obligation to proceed
