12,000+ UK businesses entered MVL in 24-25.
- Ben Crayston
- Feb 5
- 1 min read
Some of them didn’t need to close.
If you advise SME business owners, you’ll recognise this pattern:
➡️ The owner wants out
➡️ A trade sale isn’t achievable
➡️ Closure feels like the only option
At RetireToday, we work with advisers to rescue viable businesses from unnecessary closure — protecting jobs, preserving founder legacy, and crucially maintaining existing recurring revenue or fee income.
When done properly, this becomes:
✔️ A better outcome for the client
✔️ Continuity for employees
✔️ A stronger, longer-term adviser relationship
If you’re seeing owners stuck at this crossroads, a 30-minute conversation is often enough to decide whether this approach is relevant.
Comment below or message me if you’d like an overview.
Many thanks,
Ben
The post about UK businesses entering MVL really highlights how many companies are choosing to close in a planned way, which shows how tough the current market has been. I found it interesting that over 12,000 businesses went this route in 2024–25, showing it is not just small cases but a wider trend. It reminded me of a class discussion on financial pressure where planning ahead mattered a lot. I once saw someone hire someone to do the NEBOSH exam during exam stress, but it made me realise real effort is more valuable. It shows that facing challenges directly builds stronger decisions over time.