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    United Kingdom · guide for SMEs

    United Kingdom: a step-by-step guide for SMEs

    For companies with 30 to 249 staff at their peak that are in a formal insolvency process or have closed. Six steps, in order, from authority to a signed licence.

    Who decidesAdministrators and liquidators (licensed insolvency practitioners)
    This guide30 to 249 staff at their peak
    micro1 timingReview within 30 days, pay within 30 days of invoice
    Cost to youNothing from us

    Read the enterprise guide instead →

    1. 1

      Confirm who can sign

      In administration or liquidation, the officeholder controls the company's assets and decides whether to license its records. Get the authority in writing before you speak to any buyer.

    2. 2

      Check the company's status

      Companies House shows status, dissolution dates and officeholder appointments; The Gazette publishes insolvency notices. Once a company is dissolved, its remaining property generally passes to the Crown as bona vacantia (Companies Act 2006, s.1012).

    3. 3

      Export the records now

      List the tools the company used, then export from each one while access still works. Check the records are in English.

    4. 4

      Take people out

      Personal data stays covered by UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 whoever holds it. Employee and HR records are usually left out entirely.

    5. 5

      Run the fit check, then apply

      micro1 lists companies that are no longer operating, with 30+ peak employees and English records, in ten countries including United Kingdom company.micro1.ai/get-started · 15 Nov 2026. Our fit check takes two minutes.

    6. 6

      Review, take advice, sign or walk away

      micro1 says it reviews and approves the data within 30 days, then pays within 30 days of invoice. Take advice on the contract; you can stop at any point before signing.

    Tips for SMEs

    • Act within weeks. Software subscriptions lapse after closure and exports disappear with them.
    • One person usually knew every system. Get their help with exports before they move on.
    • Keep it simple: one export per system, one adviser, one decision.
    • Ask the former IT provider or MSP for admin access and a list of tools in use.

    Common pitfalls

    • Once a company is dissolved, its remaining property generally passes to the Crown as bona vacantia (Companies Act 2006, s.1012).
    • Sending a sample before a contract covers handling and confidentiality.
    • Leaving employee or customer personal data in the export.

    General information, not legal advice. Full United Kingdom rights guide →

    See if your company fits

    Built for SMEs in United Kingdom.

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