Approve the dissolution, stop taking on new obligations, inventory assets and liabilities, notify affected parties, resolve employees and contracts, file final tax and state documents, distribute remaining assets correctly, and preserve the closing record.
Choose the actual ending
A sale, asset sale, ownership transfer, merger, conversion, pause, and dissolution are different paths. Identify the transaction before filing cancellation documents.
Follow the operating agreement
Use the required approval, notice, and distribution process. Record the decision, effective date, wind-down authority, and plan.
Resolve the outside world
Address employees, customers, deposits, vendors, creditors, landlords, lenders, licenses, subscriptions, taxes, data, intellectual property, and insurance.
File and archive
Complete final state and tax steps, obtain acceptance or clearance where applicable, close accounts when appropriate, and create an indexed permanent archive.
References for this guide
U.S. Small Business AdministrationClose or sell your businessInternal Revenue ServiceFiling and paying your business taxesInternal Revenue ServicePublication 583: Starting a Business and Keeping RecordsUse these official sources to verify the current requirements after you finish the guide. They open in a new tab.