Business Closure Decision Workbook
Organise the facts before you decide anything.
Six prompts covering the areas that actually matter in a closure decision. This workbook does not make the decision for you and produces no score — it simply sets your own answers out clearly so you can think, and talk to the right people, more calmly.
Hayley Duster — writer and solo business owner
What has revenue and profit actually done over the last six to twelve months? Is the trend improving, flat or worsening?
Is there still genuine demand for what you offer? Has interest, enquiries or repeat business changed?
What is running the business currently costing you personally — sleep, relationships, health, time? Be specific.
What debts, personal guarantees or liabilities are tied to the business? How would closing affect them?
What have you already tried to turn things around — new pricing, new offer, new marketing, reduced costs?
If nothing changes, what does another six or twelve months of continuing actually cost — financially and otherwise?
0 of 6 sections completed.
What this workbook is, and is not
- There is no scoring system and no recommendation to close or continue — the value is in seeing all six areas together.
- It reflects only what you write here, not a full financial, legal or accounting review.
- Closure requirements — final tax returns, notifying authorities, employee rights, creditor priority — vary by country and legal structure.
- A solicitor and an accountant are the right people to confirm what closure would actually involve for your business.
If you decide to continue
Revisit the alternatives you have not yet tried, and consider whether a smaller or different version of the business would relieve the pressure identified above.
If you are leaning towards closure
Speak to an accountant about final accounts and tax obligations, and a solicitor about contractual, employee and creditor duties before communicating anything to clients or suppliers. Guidance on the closure process itself is available in the difficult decisions section of this site.
The Resilient Founder
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