Client Meeting Preparation Checklist

Key questions to ask before making a referral

These questions are intended to help identify signs of financial distress and determine whether specialist advice may be appropriate. They are not intended to replace legal, accounting or regulated financial advice.

Trading Position

Is the business continuing to trade normally?
Have there been any recent losses or cash flow pressures?
Has turnover fallen significantly during the last 6–12 months?
Have any major customers or contracts been lost?
Are there any seasonal factors or one-off events affecting performance?

Creditor Pressure

Are suppliers demanding payment or restricting credit?
Have any County Court Judgments (CCJs) or statutory demands been received?
Is HMRC pursuing unpaid liabilities or threatening enforcement action?
Have creditors threatened or commenced legal proceedings?

Cash Flow

Is the company able to meet payroll obligations?
Are VAT, PAYE or Corporation Tax liabilities overdue?
Is the business relying on director loans or external funding to continue trading?
Is there sufficient working capital for the next three months?

Finance and Security

Are there any bank facilities, asset finance or invoice finance arrangements in place?
Have lenders raised concerns or imposed restrictions?
Have any personal guarantees been given?

Directors and Shareholders

Are directors concerned about potential personal liability?
Are shareholders aligned on the future of the business?
Have restructuring or rescue options been considered?

Immediate Action Required?

Are employees, customers or key suppliers at risk?
Is there a pressing legal or financial deadline?
Would an urgent discussion with an insolvency practitioner be beneficial?

Conversation Reminder

Early advice often creates more options. Prompt referrals can help preserve value and improve outcomes for directors, creditors and stakeholders.

For more information about our referral and partnership schemes, or to discuss a client confidentially, contact Tom Fox, Head of Insolvency today. 
Call 01625 546 240 or 07814 434 697.

Download this client meeting preparation checklist as a pdf

See our document checklist before referring

See our referral email templates

What our clients tell us

Excellent service from Sarah and the team. Efficient and made everything easy and so professional. Thank you so much - would highly recommend umbrella.UK Insolvency

Charlotte B

Clear and efficiently managed service. Nice job thanks Tom & Sarah at Umbrella.UK Insolvency.

Doug Q

Tom Fox has been very professional, informative and helpful during what has been a difficult time. He’s been at the end of the phone when needed and has provided clarity and kept structure at all times in something I didn't really understand at the start of my process. I would absolutely recommend Umbrella.UK Insolvency!

Julia T

Umbrella.UK Insolvency helped liquidate our limited company in a very straightforward way. The team were very helpful.

Martin F

I would highly recommend using this service. Tom &Sarah were professional and made my MVL painless. The advice they gave me was explained in such way a novice like myself could understand. Many thanks to the team.

Martin J

Tom was incredibly helpful as I prepared to liquidate a couple of companies - clear advice, a respectful approach to both myself as director and the creditors, and a reasonable fee structure vs many of the national IP's I spoke to whilst researching who to work with.

Mike S

When I recently needed to liquidate a company, I was so lucky to have found Thomas Fox and Sarah McClean to achieve this for me. They explained the whole process to me in a way that I could understand and guided me through what I had to sign and when this needed to be done in a friendly manner. I would not hesitate to recommend them.

Tanya C

Both Tom Fox and Sarah McClean made they very best to make the liquidation process as smooth as possible. I liked that they laid out the plan for next 2 years upfront and explained it in plain English. Very helpful at all stages from beginning to final closure. Best Insolvency Practitioners ever!

Lukasz

Great service provided by Tom and Sarah. They acted quickly to support my liquidation and provided expert guidance throughout. I really felt like they continually went the extra mile and they were very patient in explaining stuff with me too. Highly recommend…a highly personalised service! Thank you

Craig S

I recently needed to liquidate a company and after doing some research I came across Umbrella. Within minutes of talking to them on the phone I knew I had chosen the right company. They handled everything for me, I simply had to sign the various forms they sent me. I dealt with Sarah McClean there who was absolutely brilliant. Nothing was too much trouble for her, she was super efficient, kept me informed at every step in the process and came across as a lovely person when I spoke to her on the phone. I would have no hesitation recommending Umbrella for your liquation needs.

I Francis

Tom Fox was incredibly helpful as I prepared to liquidate a couple of companies - clear advice, a respectful approach to both myself as director and the creditors, and a reasonable fee structure vs many of the national IP's I spoke to whilst researching who to work with.

Mike S

I engaged Umbrella accountants to oversee a Members Voluntary Liquidation for the small consultancy business I've been running. The team talked me through the MVL process, steps and requirements. The paperwork involved was well explained and straightforward, with the initial disbursement of funds handled very quickly and professionally under tight deadlines.

Brendan N

I extend my appreciation of your professional efficiency in handling my company business and herewith say thank you.

Maxine R

Umbrella.UK Insolvency guided me as sole Director of my small limited company, and the shareholders, through every step of a Members Voluntary Liquidation in a very efficient manner. The steps required were clearly laid out and proactively managed by their licensed practitioner. From first meeting through to an interim distribution of funds to shareholders took only a few days in our case. Thereafter, Umbrella will be managing all of the downstream actions required to complete the process with HMRC and Companies House, through to the final discharge of the company.

Alex O

I'd just like to thank Tom for your help with the closure of my company. You have been highly efficient and very professional throughout. Thank you.

Tony D

First of all, I would like to say a BIG Thank You for all of your assistance over the past year. I would not be in the positive state of recovery without Umbrella Insolvency. Your care and assistance at the application stage last summer, along with the advice throughout the year, has been great. I would not hesitate to tell anyone in my negative situation where to turn to.

Mr TM

Before I came to Umbrella.UK Insolvency I was in a bad place mentally due to debt because I believed I would be in my current situation for a long time to come. Umbrella.UK Insolvency walked me through my options and helped me pick the best one. I am genuinely amazed at what they managed to do for me and can now afford to live comfortably, and without the constant worry of debt looming over me.

I engaged Tom to arrange an IVA for me after I ran into financial difficulties as a result of the closure of my company. He introduced me to Sarah and both of them as a team worked tirelessly through Lockdown to get the best outcome for me and my family. Both Sarah and Tom were patient, thorough and incredibly compassionate for our situation. They attained the best outcome for us and I couldn't speak more highly of them. Thank you to you both, Amazing work.

Thank you very much for your assistance in a successful proposal. We are ever so grateful as this is a chance to transform our lives; or rather you have given us a second chance to have our lives in order. Thank you for your patience and perseverance throughout that you showed.

Client Meeting Preparation Checklist

Key questions to ask before making a referral

Trading Position

Creditor Pressure

Cash Flow

Finance and Security

Directors and Shareholders

Immediate Action Required?

Conversation Reminder

What our clients tell us

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