Test if Your Company is Insolvent - UK Insolvency Guide

Insolvency is one of the greatest concerns for most businesses.

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80%

Over 80% Of Debt Wiped
Out On Average

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Companies Helped

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£Millions In Debt
Written Off

Company Insolvency UK Guide

With unexpected twists and turns in the economy, it can feel like insolvency is never far away. But how do you know if your company is insolvent? Are there ways to measure insolvency? Predicting and analysing the possibility of insolvency is often the best mode of prevention.

The Boardroom Punks understand how difficult it is to get hold of valuable and trusted information. If you instruct an insolvency practitioner, your request for advice may only be met with ambiguity or avoidance. Even if you do receive the right information, it might come at a hefty price. However, we pride ourselves on transparency and honesty. The no-nonsense guides we offer will give you an insight into how you can steer your enterprise toward success. Even if you do need more specific information, these guides are designed to make you more confident in running your business. We have helped many of our clients wipe off 80% of their debt, and there is no reason why we cannot do the same for you. If you require more details, book a free and confidential call today. Read on to find out how you can test your business for insolvency.

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Testing for Business Insolvency - Boardroom Punks Guide

First is important to define what we mean by insolvency. When a company is declared insolvent, it means can no longer afford to pay its outstanding debts to creditors. The debt may be from unpaid bills, rent, HMRC tax, or any outstanding contractual obligations. If a company is in a state of cashflow insolvency, then the companys assets are insufficient to pay the outstanding debt but do not have the appropriate means to pay off the arrears. By contrast, if a company is in a state of balance sheet insolvency, then they do not have the assets in place to pay off the debt. But how does a director test for company insolvency? If the enterprise is of medium or large size, it can be difficult to measure insolvency from a balance sheet alone.

The fastest way to test if your company is insolvent is with external help. Hiring a professional financial adviser (such as the Boardroom Punks) or a licensed insolvency practitioner will save a company time during the examination. However, if a company is concerned about insolvency and worried about liquidation, it is likely that it may not have the financial means to pay someone to come in to analyse this issue. A business can also contact the UK Business Debtline. As it is associated with The Insolvency Service from GOV.UK, there are limitations on the advice given. For instance, they cannot provide legal or financial advice, information on specific insolvency cases, information or advice about other government departments or information about redundancy payments. However, it may be worth calling to cover all bases.

WHO ARE THE BOARDROOM PUNKS?

Our business model was founded upon our managing director David Morgan’s experiences. In 2008 he received the news that his chain of opticians was trading insolvent and facing liquidation. After battling with the liquidators and the loss of assets of over £250,000, David dedicated his time to finding alternative solutions that would help with restructuring both his own business and the SMEs of the future. Today, Boardroom Punks is the solution that our director strived for, and we believe that we have the right tools in place to get any business back to a state where it can stand on its own two feet.

However, don’t just take the claims of expertise from ourselves. Our business experts have tested their skills in many different trading models. Beauty salons, haulage companies, decorators, and even jewellers have all needed the advice of Boardroom Punks. Whatever type of company you are looking to salvage, know that our solutions have been tried and tested across many different businesses. Some of the cases we are currently working on include businesses in the fitness industry, window installation, and wine. We always encourage our future clients to reach out and speak to those who have worked with us, as they are the best proof of our success.

Cash Flow Test for Company Insolvency

If a company has accountancy services at hand or has directors that are trained accountants, they can conduct what is known as a cash flow test. During this process, present balance sheet payments and future payments are analysed against the company’s overheads. This will allow a company to forecast their revenue for the foreseeable future. This option is popular with smaller enterprises, as it is often easier to analyse the cash flow when there are fewer incomings and outgoings. For a larger company, this process may require external help and the appointment of an accountancy firm.

Balance Sheet Test for Company Insolvency

Similar to the cash flow test in the balance sheet test. In this process, there is an analysis of current debts, stock and supply, outstanding payments and contractual obligations, and other business expenses. The balance sheet test will give a company a more immediate picture of whether they are solvent or insolvent. This test is usually combined with the cash flow test.

Another type of test a director can conduct is a legal action test. In this process, a company will analyse its current statutory demands. These are written warnings or letters with the intent that have been supplied by a creditor. A close analysis of these statutory demands can give a company a strong idea of how much debt they owe, how long it has been owed, and the degree to which the creditors are pursuing the debt. For instance, if a creditor has submitted a winding-up order, this will be present on at least one of the statutory demands. The legal action is usually conducted by a business that is either close to insolvency or is going through legal procedures to deal with insolvency.

These are the most common forms of testing for insolvency. There are many signs to look out for before it gets too late. Some of the signs of an insolvent company include:

If you need to find out if your company is insolvent, you must contact your creditors immediately – including secured creditor and unsecured creditors. It will be a difficult conversation if you have accrued debt, but it is necessary for the next steps. After communication is made, it is at this point that you can begin to examine the state of insolvency. We are happy to help with all the solutions outlined, and we are also experts in negotiation and alternate solutions: for example, we may help you put in place a Company Voluntary Arrangement. Having us in your corner will make the process seamless. You can continue to run your business whilst we deal with the nitty-gritty details.

If you do not take these steps then you may face corporate insolvency procedures such as, compulsory liquidation, Creditors voluntary liquidation or, if a secured creditor has a floating charge, administrative receivership.

Avoiding Liquidation if your company is in financial difficulty

Even with the help offered in this guide, your problem may be too specific to rely upon this advice alone. The Boardroom Punks understand the intricacies of the insolvency process as we are a team of business-savvy professionals who take their trade seriously. If you are a director of a business in financial distress and you fear court or other legal proceedings, wrongful trading or simply wish to deal with your outstanding creditors, then feel free to book a free consultation call today.

All enquiries are confidential, and you can be assured that we will approach your problem with respect and dignity. Our alternative solutions are always geared toward saving a business rather than insolvency or liquidation. The Punks have your back!
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We help struggling SMEs put in place business turnaround strategies, undertake restructuring, raise working capital, improve cashflow and emerge from financial difficulty. We are the BOARDROOM PUNKS, and we can help you save your business.

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