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 if those assets belong to the company, they need to be dealt with as company property. Digital assets in liquidation can have value, carry legal duties and create risk if they are moved or copied without advice.
At Anderson Brookes, we help you understand what belongs to the company, what may be possible and what to avoid before you take action.
Status of Digital Assets
A company asset does not have to be a van, laptop, stock or office furniture. It can also be something online, intangible or stored in an account.
Digital assets in liquidation can include:
- website files, content and design
- domain names
- business email accounts
- customer databases and CRM records
- logos, brand files and design work
- social media accounts
- Google Business Profile listings
- reviews, enquiry records and mailing lists
- software, apps and source code
- licences, subscriptions and SaaS accounts
- trading names, brand reputation and goodwill
If the company owns or controls them, they may need to be listed and dealt with in the same way as other company assets during liquidation.
This matters because digital assets can be worth more than expected. A website with search rankings, a trusted domain, strong customer reviews or a database of previous customers may have real commercial value.
In April 2026, there were 2,085 registered company insolvencies in England and Wales, including 1,510 CVLs. These situations are common, and you are not alone if you are trying to work out what happens next.
Why Digital Assets May Not Be “Yours”
It is very common for directors to feel that certain assets are personal to them.
You may have registered the domain yourself and paid the web designer from your own card. You may know every customer on the database, or be the only person with access to the email account or social media login.
Despite this, that does not necessarily mean the asset belongs to you personally.
Ownership depends on the facts. Questions may include:
- Who paid for it?
- Who used it?
- Was it bought for the company?
- Is it shown in company records?
- Was it part of how the company traded?
- Did the company benefit from it?
- Are there contracts, invoices or licence terms?
The answer may not always be clear, but simply guessing can cause problems. If an asset belongs to the company, transferring it to yourself or a new business without advice may be challenged later.
What Happens in a CVL?
In a CVL, a licensed insolvency practitioner is appointed to deal with the company’s affairs. The company usually stops trading, its assets are reviewed and steps are taken to realise value for creditors. That review can include digital assets.
This process can involve the sale of domain names and transfer of websites. There may be a need to assess the customer database, or get brand assets valued. Software or intellectual property may need specialist input.
This does not mean you can never keep or buy anything. It means the process has to be handled properly.
If you want to buy digital assets from the company, there may be a route to do that. The key points are usually valuation, transparency and proper records. The liquidator must be able to show that assets have been dealt with in the interests of creditors.
Anderson Brookes can help you through the liquidation process, including advice on digital assets. Call us on 0800 1804 935 or email advice@andersonbrookes.co.uk.
Can You Keep the Website or Domain Name?
Keeping ownership of a website or domain name involves more than simply moving it.
A domain name can be a valuable company asset. So can the website attached to it. This is especially true if the domain has been used for years, receives enquiries, ranks in search results or carries brand recognition.
The same applies to the website itself. It may include:
- design and layout
- written copy
- images and graphics
- blog posts
- product or service pages
- enquiry forms
- analytics history
- SEO value
There may also be contracts to check. For example, a web agency might own certain design elements. A theme, plugin or software licence may not be transferable. A stock image licence may only cover the original company.
Before making changes, gather the details. Who hosts the site? Who controls the registrar account? Which email address owns the login? Are invoices in your name or the company’s name? This information can help your insolvency practitioner work out the safest route.
Managing Customer Data
Customer data needs extra care. Your database may include a range of personal data, including names, email addresses, phone numbers, order history, contracts, preferences, notes, enquiries or marketing consents. That means UK GDPR and data protection rules still apply.
You should not simply download a database and upload it into a new business. Marketing consent will not necessarily transfer automatically. You should also avoid keeping customer records “just in case” without understanding the lawful basis for doing so.
The ICO’s guidance says that on insolvency, data might be sold as an asset to a different legal personality, but the parties still need to consider due diligence, what data is being transferred, why it was originally collected, the lawful basis, documentation, transparency and security.
The customer list, therefore, is not just a spreadsheet. It needs to be handled carefully.
If you are worried about losing access to customers, speak to us before copying, exporting or transferring anything.
Email Accounts and Inboxes
Business email accounts can feel especially personal. They may include years of customer conversations, supplier emails, quotes, complaints, HR records, contract terms and login reset links. They can also contain sensitive information.
The domain may belong to the company. The email account may sit inside a company-paid Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or hosting account. Even if the inbox has your name on it, it may still be a company asset or company record.
You may need to preserve access, but avoid misusing the account. Do not delete emails, hide information or change passwords to block access. If there is personal information mixed into a company inbox, take advice on how to separate or protect it properly.
Logos, Designs and Brand Files
A logo can be more than an image. It may be part of the company’s intellectual property. The same can apply to brochures, photography, website artwork, packaging, templates, videos, written content and design files.
The company may own the rights, or it may only have permission to use them under a licence. For example, a designer may have granted the company usage rights but kept ownership of the original creative files. A photographer may have licensed images for a specific website only. A software platform may prevent transfer of the account to a new entity.
This is why it is important to check contracts, invoices and terms before assuming an asset can be reused.
Goodwill also matters. HMRC describes goodwill as the value connected to a business’s name, reputation and customer connection. In practice, this means a name, logo, website, reviews and returning customer base can all contribute to value.
Social Media Accounts and Online Reviews
Social media accounts can be awkward in liquidation because control and ownership are often blurred.
It’s common to have created accounts personally, to be the page admin, or to have passwords saved on your phone. However, that does not automatically decide who owns the account or the value attached to it.
A business social account may hold value because of:
- followers
- reviews
- direct messages
- enquiries
- brand history
- advertising data
- content
- links from the website
The same applies to Google Business Profile listings and review platforms. They can influence new enquiries and carry commercial value.
Do not delete accounts, rename pages or move followers without advice. If an account belongs to the company, it may need to be recorded and dealt with as part of the liquidation.
Software, Apps and Subscriptions
Software can be owned, licensed or rented. That distinction is important. A bespoke app or piece of source code, for example, may be a company asset. Meanwhile, a CRM account may include valuable customer records. A paid subscription may not be transferable at all. Some licences end automatically if the original company stops trading.
Useful checks include:
- Is the software bespoke or off-the-shelf?
- Does the company own the code or only use it under licence?
- Is there customer data inside the system?
- Can the account be transferred?
- Are there unpaid subscription fees?
- Are there export restrictions?
For digital businesses, software and data may be among the company’s most valuable assets. They should be reviewed before any account is closed or allowed to lapse.
Can You Transfer Digital Assets Before Liquidation?
You may be able to sell or transfer assets before liquidation, but it has to be done carefully.
This applies to digital assets as much as physical ones. A director might think: “I’ll just move the domain now,” or “I’ll copy the website before anything formal happens.” That can create risk if the company is insolvent and creditors may lose out.
The safer route is to get advice on pre-selling assets before liquidation. If an asset is being sold, it should usually be sold for fair market value, supported by evidence and properly documented.
Connected-party sales need particular care. This includes sales to you, a new company you control, a family member, a business partner or another linked party.
The issue is not that a sale is always banned. The issue is whether it is fair, valued and transparent.
Can You Use the Same Trading Name Again?
This is an area where directors need to be very careful. A trading name can feel personal, especially if customers know you by that name. But after insolvent liquidation, rules on reusing the same or a similar name can apply.
GOV.UK guidance on re-use of company names explains that a prohibited name can include the company’s registered name, trading names, brand names and similar names. It also refers to public-facing information such as websites, social media, web addresses and email addresses.
This means the issue is wider than the name at Companies House. It can also affect how you present a new business online.
You may have options, but do not rely on assumptions. Reusing a name without advice can expose you to personal risk. It can also affect the impact of liquidation on a company director, especially if the rules are not followed.
What If the Company Is Struck Off?
Strike-off is different from liquidation, but digital assets can still be a problem.
If a company is dissolved while it still owns assets, those assets may pass to the Crown as bona vacantia. This can include property, cash and any other assets owned by a company when it is dissolved.
That can include intangible assets. So if a company still owns a domain, brand asset, intellectual property right or other digital property when it is dissolved, it may not simply remain yours by default.
If you are considering strike-off, read our guide to assets after strike-off before you proceed. It is far easier to deal with assets before dissolution than to try to correct matters afterwards.
What to Do Before Moving Anything
If you are under pressure, it is tempting to act quickly. You may want to protect the website, keep the email account live or save the customer list.
Pause first. Before making changes, take these steps:
- Make a list of every digital asset connected to the company.
- Record who has access to each account.
- Keep passwords secure, but do not hide them.
- Download invoices, contracts and licence terms.
- Check whether assets were paid for by you or the company.
- Do not delete customer data, emails or records.
- Do not transfer domains, websites or accounts without advice.
- Speak to licensed IPs before making a decision.
The earlier you get advice, the easier it is to avoid mistakes. You do not need to have everything perfectly organised before speaking to us. A clear conversation is often enough to identify the next sensible step.
Common Questions About Digital Assets in Liquidation
Can I buy my company website from the liquidator?
Potentially, yes. If the website belongs to the company, it may be possible to buy it, but it should be valued and dealt with properly. The transaction needs to be transparent and recorded.
Can I keep my domain name?
Sometimes. If the domain belongs to the company, it should not simply be transferred to you without advice. If it has value, the liquidator may need to consider that value for creditors.
Can I copy my customer database into a new company?
Not without advice. A customer database may be an asset, but it may also contain personal data. Marketing consent, lawful basis, transparency and security all need to be considered.
Can I keep using my business email address?
It depends who owns the domain and account. If the email address is linked to a company-owned domain, you should not assume you can keep using it after liquidation.
Can I use the same logo or brand?
Possibly, but only if the rights are properly transferred or you already own them personally. Check who owns the files, trade marks, design rights and usage licences.
What if I already moved the domain or website?
Get advice before making further changes. The timing, value and reason for the transfer may matter. It may be possible to put things right, but it is better to deal with it early.
Get Advice on Digital Assets
Digital assets in liquidation can feel personal because you built the business around them. But websites, domains, customer data, email accounts, logos, software and goodwill all need careful handling if they belong to the company.
You do not have to work this out alone. At Anderson Brookes, we offer clear, confidential and regulated advice. We can help you understand what may belong to the company, what options are available and how to avoid unnecessary risk.
If you are worried about your website, domain, customer database or brand assets, speak to Anderson Brookes before moving, copying or transferring anything. Call us today on 0800 1804 935, email us at advice@andersonbrookes.co.uk or contact us online.