Checklist for Closing Your Business: 20 Things You Need to Do

Make sure you still follow orderly procedures even if you are forced to abruptly close your business due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Stephen Fishman , J.D. USC Gould School of Law

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  1. Collect outstanding accounts receivable (before you notify customers you're going out of business). This may be difficult due to the economic dislocation caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but attempt to collect as much as possible.
  2. Sell off inventory. If possible, consider a "going out of business" sale. Alternatively, you could donate your inventory to charity--for example, a restaurant could donate food to a food bank. Such donations are deductible. If your business is a C corporation, the corporation takes the deduction. Otherwise, it is a personal deduction the business owners' take on their personal returns. For more information on claiming a personal deduction, see New Rules for Charitable Contribution Deductions Under the CARES Act.
  3. Notify your creditors (suppliers, lenders, service providers, and utilities). Doing this the right way limits the amount of time a creditor can ask for a debt.
  4. Notify your customers and deal with any remaining contractual obligations. Remember to return any deposits or payments for goods not delivered or services not rendered.
  5. Terminate your commercial lease. Give your landlord the required notice stated in your lease -- at least 30 days. Due to the pandemic, some landlords may agree to defer your final lease payment.
  6. Notify and pay your employees. Give employees some notice if possible. If you need an employee to help wind up the business, offer the employee a small bonus to stay until the very end. Plan to pay employees their last paychecks on their last day, with the value of accrued, unused vacation days if your state requires it. Note that, if you obtained a coronavirus-related paycheck protection program loan, you may have to pay it all back if you lay off your employees during the eight-week period after obtaining the loan. See the SBA guide to the Paycheck Protection Program.
  7. Liquidate your business assets in an orderly fashion.
  8. Settle or pay your debts to the extent possible, prioritized to protect your personal liability -- money owed to your landlord, bank, suppliers, utilities, and service providers. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, some creditors may accept less than the full amount owed in return for prompt payment. Ask for letters indicating that your bills are paid in full as you pay off each creditor.
  9. Make your final federal and state payroll deposits. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, employers are allowed to defer 50% of the employer's portion of Social Security payroll taxes until 2021 and 2022. The deferral applies to deposits and payments otherwise due March 27, 2020 through December 31, 2020. See the IRS FAQs for details.
  10. Submit final sales tax forms and funds due up to the closeout date.
  11. Cancel your business credit cards and subscriptions.
  12. Comply with "bulk sales laws," if required. (If you sold your inventory, you may need to notify your creditors a specific number of days before you close your business, and in some states, to publish a notice of your impending closure in a local newspaper.)
  13. Close your business bank account and any other accounts.
  14. Cancel state or county permits and licenses, including your seller's permit, business license, and fictitious or assumed business name.
  15. File your final employment-related tax returns:
  16. File your final income tax returns, checking the box stating that this is your final return.
  17. If you sold business assets, file IRS Form 4797, Sales of Business Property, or, if you sell the bulk of your business assets to one buyer, file IRS Form 8594, Asset Acquisition Statement. For information on selling your business, see Nolo's article Selling Your Business: Eight Steps.
  18. Leave contact information with former business contacts, colleagues, and employees.
  19. Carefully distribute anyremaining assets to yourself and any other owners.
  20. Dissolve your corporation or LLC or partnership: File the required forms, such as a "certificate of dissolution." You may have to obtain a "tax clearance" first. (This doesn't apply to sole proprietors.)

While the majority of small business owners can wind up their business affairs (and protect their personal assets) without filing for bankruptcy, if you have a heavy debt load and creditors who won't settle for less, bankruptcy may be your best, or only, option. If you do file for bankruptcy, it will be your first step in the closing process; the rest of the steps discussed above will follow, shaped by the bankruptcy process. But there are cheaper alternatives for small business owners; read Nolo's article on bankruptcy and alternatives for small business owners.

A business attorney who's been through business closings can be a huge help in deciding whether to file bankruptcy and guiding you through the closure process. In addition to dealing with recalcitrant landlords and other creditors, an attorney can alert you to any potential liabilities you haven't considered or any steps you might omit. Even more important may be seeking the advice of an accountant or tax expert, who can advise you on the tax consequences of selling assets, the various tax forms you'll need to file, and ways to take advantage of your business losses for tax purposes. For help, connect with a local business attorney.