Can I Liquidate a Company If I Have No Money in the Bank?
If your company has no money in the bank, it can feel like every route is blocked. You may know the business cannot continue. You may also know it cannot pay HMRC, suppliers, wages, rent or loan repayments. But if there is no cash available, how can you pay for liquidation? The good news is […]
HMRC Interest, Penalties and Tax Arrears: Why Delay Can Make Insolvency Worse
HMRC debt can feel easier to put off than other bills. There may be no supplier calling every day, no landlord at the door, and no immediate threat that trading will stop tomorrow. In reality, however, tax arrears rarely stand still. HMRC late payment interest, penalties and missed payment arrangements can all worsen your company’s […]
What Does a Liquidator Actually Look for in Your Bank Statements?
Bank statements can feel very personal. If your company is heading towards liquidation, it is normal to worry about what a liquidator will find, what they will ask, and whether past decisions will be judged unfairly. The reassuring truth is this: a liquidator is not looking for reasons to criticise every payment. They are trying […]
Before Liquidation: Can You Pay Staff, Suppliers or Customers?
When money is tight, every payment can feel urgent, from a staff member who needs wages to a customer looking for a refund. HMRC may be applying pressure, and you may also be worried about your own income. Before you make any payment, pause. Payments before liquidation can be reviewed later, especially if the company […]
Should I Finish the Job or Stop Trading Before Liquidation?
If your company is close to liquidation, it can be hard to know whether to finish work or stop straight away. You may want to protect your reputation, avoid letting customers down, pay staff, reduce losses and do the right thing. But once insolvency is clear, the decision changes. You need to think carefully before […]
What to Do If You’ve Taken Customer Deposits but Can’t Complete the Work
If you’ve taken customer deposits and now can’t complete the work, it can feel like everything is closing in at once. Customers may be asking for updates. Suppliers may be chasing payment. You may not know whether to refund people, finish some jobs, stop trading or keep going. The most important thing is not to […]
Website, Domain and Customer Data: What Happens to Digital Assets in Liquidation?
When a company is under pressure, the assets that feel most personal are often the digital ones. This can include your website, your domain name, your email inbox, your logo, your customer list, and your social media pages. You may have built them from nothing, paid for them yourself and used them every day. But […]
Construction Retention Payments: What the Proposed Ban Means for Contractors
Retention payments can look like a normal part of construction work. You finish the job, send your application or invoice, then wait for part of your money to be released later. On paper, it is meant to protect against defects or incomplete work. In practice, delayed or unpaid retention payments can put serious pressure on […]
Small Business Protections Bill: What the Late Payment Reforms Mean for Struggling Businesses
Late payments can turn a healthy order book into a cash flow crisis. You may have done the work, paid staff, covered materials, raised the invoice and waited. Then the payment date passes, and the money still does not arrive. The 2026 late payment reforms are welcome. They may help improve payment culture over time. […]
Why Construction, Retail and Hospitality Firms Are Still Under Pressure in 2026
A business can be busy and still be under pressure. You may have work coming in, regular customers, staff to look after and suppliers who rely on you. Yet the cash may still not stretch far enough. That is the difficult reality for many firms in 2026. Official data shows that construction, wholesale and retail, […]