Close a Company with a Bounce Back Loan

Anderson Brookes Insolvency Practitioners help directors close limited companies with debt quickly, legally and with expert guidance every step of the way.

Free Bounce Back Loan Review

 If your business took out a Bounce Back Loan (BBL) and now can’t repay it, you’re not alone. Thousands of directors are facing the same challenge. The scheme was designed to support businesses during the pandemic, but for many, recovery didn’t come quickly enough. If your company is now insolvent, it’s important to understand what your options are – and what protections exist for you as a director.

Can You Close a Company with an Outstanding Bounce Back Loan?

Yes, you can close a limited company with a Bounce Back Loan that hasn’t been repaid – but you can’t simply walk away or strike the company off. A Bounce Back Loan is classed as an unsecured debt of the business, and if the company is insolvent, it must be closed through a formal process like Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL).

The good news is that Bounce Back Loans were government-backed, which means the bank can claim on the government guarantee after the company is liquidated. You will not be personally liable for the debt – unless there has been misconduct.

What Happens to the Loan in a CVL?

In a CVL, a licensed insolvency practitioner will review your company’s finances, communicate with creditors, and manage the closure process. The Bounce Back Loan will be included in the company’s list of liabilities. As long as the funds were used correctly for the benefit of the business the debt is written off when the company is formally liquidated.

You won’t need to repay the loan personally unless:

  • You used the money for personal purchases

  • The funds were transferred to another company without fair value

  • There was any form of fraud or misrepresentation when applying for the loan

Sectors We Support

We support company directors in every sector, from construction firms and logistics companies to pubs, cafés, restaurants, hotels, retailers and manufacturers. Our advice is always clear, confidential and shaped by real experience in your industry. Whether you’re dealing with unpaid tax, supplier pressure or falling income, our team understands the challenges and will guide you through the best next steps.

What If the Company Has No Assets?

Many companies that took out a BBL used the loan to cover rent, wages, or supplier bills. If nothing is left, that’s okay. A company with no assets can still go through liquidation. Directors may be eligible for redundancy pay if they meet the criteria, and this can help cover the cost of the CVL.

Get Expert Advice

If your company can’t repay a Bounce Back Loan and is struggling with other debts, it’s time to speak to a licensed insolvency practitioner. At Anderson Brookes, we’ve helped hundreds of directors in this exact situation.

We’ll talk through your options, explain the process clearly, and help you close the company properly – with dignity, legal protection, and no scare tactics.

Taking early advice is the best step you can take. There is a way forward.

Can I Strike Off a Company with a Bounce Back Loan?

No – striking off is not appropriate if your company still owes a Bounce Back Loan. Attempting to dissolve a company with outstanding debts is likely to be blocked by the lender, and it can lead to further investigation. In some cases, it may be seen as an attempt to avoid repaying the loan and could result in personal consequences.

Director Protection and Redundancy

The formal liquidation process helps protect you as a director. It shows that you’ve taken the right legal steps once the company became insolvent. If you’ve been on PAYE and worked for the company for at least two years, you may be able to claim director redundancy – something many directors overlook.

This payment can go towards the cost of liquidation or provide financial support while you start over.

Why Directors Choose Anderson Brookes

With more than 25 years’ experience and thousands of directors helped, we’re trusted by business owners across the UK. You can speak directly with an expert insolvency practitioner and we’ll help you understand your options clearly and quickly. We specialise in working with small and medium businesses and we understand your perspective and priorities. 

Ready to
Move On?

If you’re ready to close your company, stop creditor pressure, or just want to understand your next steps, we’re here to talk. 

Call us now on 0800 1804 933 or request a call back - we’re here to help.

Testimonials

Our clients praise our professionalism, reliability, and the exceptional support we provide during challenging times, helping thousands of company directors through insolvency, liquidation, and business debt solutions.

Closing a Limited Company with Debts?

Fast and Stress-Free Solutions.

Start closing your limited company today. Placed into liquidation within 8 days. We fully understand that timing is critical.

Worried about your Bounce Back Loan?

Need to close your limited company? Speak to an expert who’s helped thousands do the same – even with company debts or creditor pressure.

Stop Creditor Pressure

Getting constant calls from creditors? Closing your company through liquidation can give you the relief to move forward.

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Steven Kendall-Torry
Steven Kendall-Torry
Having to shut down your business is a very emotional and scary journey and although you think you’ve done everything correctly there’s always something you get wrong , small print , and rules one is unaware of which can surprise bite you on the bum and ruin your day ! We were fortunate to have Laura , Katie and the background Riki who considering they have a fairly thankless job to do they were always polite , very patient , and as helpful as they could be considering they generally were giving bad news which was rarely expected or welcome. Altogether they were good listeners and helpful we had to understand they still had to follow rules and a job to do and they managed the balancing act extremely well. Many thanks
Madeleine Cole
Madeleine Cole
We had the unpleasant, highly stressful experience of being the Directors of a business that was beyond help, despite our best efforts. Jon was absolutely brilliant, going way above and beyond. Not only was Jon a professional, knowledgeable person helping us go through the process of a liquidation, but he was also a safe pair of hands, and an empathetic voice to discuss even the tiniest detail with. He never rushed us, he used language that we understood and he was an excellent communicator. Jon made a very stressful, upsetting time feel manageable and in control.
Harvey J
Harvey J
Efficient and Professional Experience Two words to describe the experience: efficient and professional. No doubt you can appreciate that it’s a very stressful time for directors, but from my initial telephone conversation with Mike, and the decision to enter into a CVL, the process from start to finish was completed within two weeks. In addition to Mike, I would also like to mention the professionalism of the two other members of the AB team, Steve and Emmy. Worth mentioning as well that, where it was possible, the lines of communication were via WhatsApp which again massively improved and streamlined the whole process.
 Derek Clarke
Derek Clarke
It has become very unfortunate that the company has had to go into administration. Anderson Brookes have bee efficient, reactive to our needs and totally communicate every step of the way. The experience whilst personally been painful to have to make such a decision, the company dealing with these affairs have acted professionally and been responsive to our questions.
Vie Sidibe
Vie Sidibe
Great service. I wish I got in touch earlier. I'm finally getting some proper sleep. Thank you to Emmie and the team 🙏
 Andrew Colley
Andrew Colley
With the help of Anderson Brookes I now have a massive weight of my shoulders. They were very helpful from start to finish.
 Lynne Bull
Lynne Bull
From the first call I received from Anderson Brookes I was very impressed with how friendly and professional they were. I agreed to take them on to liquidate my company and very pleased with my decision. All done and dusted in very quick order.
Ray Gowrie
Ray Gowrie
First Class Company,Friendly, Knowledgeable, Caring, Most Helpful And Give Great Peace Of Mind. They Took All The Worry And Weight Off My Shoulders And Gave Me Great Peace Of Mind To Let GoOf My Problem. thank You Ever So Much Rebecca Marsden And Her Team.
Andrew P
Andrew P
They are amazing in what they do, affordable fees compairing to other brookers, helped me with a LTD insolvency, i am over the moon with their services, would highly recommend. They are really knowledgable and straight forward.
 Lewis Beaumont
Lewis Beaumont
Amazing company who conducted our liquidation very thoroughly and professionally, I was fortunate enough to have Jon Rudd as my case manager who helped me every step of the way. Highly recommended and a big thank you to you Jon!
Jaspreet Singh
Jaspreet Singh
Mr Rikki Burton and team are very professional, efficient and patient. The work conducted was very smooth and the transition Was without any hiccups. They gave time to put evidences upfront to support the liquidation. Great communication and highly recommended.
 Luke Singleton
Luke Singleton
I used Anderson Brookes when I got into bother with my ltd company. After getting other prices and talking with different companies I felt happiest with these. Great service helped throughout and any questions I had (I had a lot) they were more than happy to answer and put my worries at ease. Top marks thank you to everyone that has helped
James Cockney
James Cockney
I was assisted every step of the way by Rebecca and her team. Eddy was very helpful through the entire process. I would highly recommend Anderson Brookes to anyone going through a similar situation to me.

Contact us today

As licensed insolvency practitioners, we provide regulated business debt advice and support for company directors.