--- title: How do I shut down my company? (Australia) description: While we all start out with high hopes for our startups, there are occasions when, unfortunately, things sometimes just don't work out ... for this startup. You'll want to go through an orderly shutdo --- [Skip to content](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/how-do-i-shut-down-my-company#main-content) ![](https://support.standardledger.co/hs-fs/hubfs/Standard%20Ledger%20Logo_RGB_transparent.png?height=40&name=Standard%20Ledger%20Logo_RGB_transparent.png) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Contact us](mailto:support@standardledger.co) [Contact us](mailto:support@standardledger.co) Hi, how can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Knowledge Base](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge?hsLang=en) 2. [ACCOUNTING](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/accounting?hsLang=en) 3. [Accounting / Bookkeeping Articles](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/accounting?hsLang=en#accounting-bookkeeping-articles) # How do I shut down my company? (Australia) While we all start out with high hopes for our startups, there are occasions when, unfortunately, things sometimes just don't work out ... for this startup. You'll want to go through an orderly shutdown of your startup and then as the final step after everything else you may need to deal with, you also need to shut down your company. You can apply to voluntarily deregister your company with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) following the process they outline on their [website](https://asic.gov.au/for-business/closing-your-company/deregistration/voluntarily-deregistering-a-company/). As part of this process you need to make sure that all - all shareholders agree to shut it down (you'll need meeting minutes to this effect) - you've sold off all your assets - you've paid all your debts (or sometimes possibly reached an agreement to write them off), especially any debts owing to employees (leave, superannuation etc) - you've processed and paid any final amounts to the ATO; and of course - made sure you've paid ASIC themselves This tends to be the time that you look more at your Balance Sheet - looking at what you own (Assets) against what you owe (Liabilities). The aim is to get your Balance Sheet back to a $0 position where there really is nothing left. From a financial perspective, you'll need to complete and lodge any final BAS and tax returns (and potentially pay any amounts owing), noting that there's likely to be some additional accounting work ahead of the tax return to record any once-off adjustments to cater for any finalisation of assets or liabilities. Once all other arrangements have been made, and you've lodged your final tax returns you can then go ahead and submit your ASIC de-registration form. And that's it. Of course, there's always your next startup :) We often see (in a very 'Circle of Life' way) that startup founders go on to [#flearn](http://www.pollenizer.com/2012/06/13/fail-learn-flearn/) from their first startup and then apply this next time around, so good luck! ![](https://support.standardledger.co/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/downloads.intercomcdn.comio965224551335ebaa378c1c6a896c4f0fcircle-of-life.jpg) **More information** - [Voluntarily deregistering a company](https://asic.gov.au/for-business/closing-your-company/deregistration/voluntarily-deregistering-a-company/) \[ASIC website\] - [STARTUP FOUNDER INFORMATION](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/startup-founder-information?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Startup Funding](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/startup-founder-information?hsLang=en#startup-funding) - [CONTACTING STANDARD LEDGER](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/contacting-standard-ledger?hsLang=en) - [OUR BOOKKEEPING SERVICES](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-bookkeeping-services?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Bookkeeping Services](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-bookkeeping-services?hsLang=en#bookkeeping-services) - [Dext for Supplier invoices and Employee Expenses](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-bookkeeping-services?hsLang=en#dext-for-supplier-invoices-and-employee-expenses) - [OUR PAYROLL SERVICES](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-payroll-services?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Employers](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-payroll-services?hsLang=en#employers) - [Employees](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-payroll-services?hsLang=en#employees) - [OUR TAX SERVICES](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-tax-services?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Activity Statements](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-tax-services?hsLang=en#activity-statements) - [Tax Returns](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-tax-services?hsLang=en#tax-returns) - [OUR CFO SERVICES](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-cfo-services?hsLang=en) - [OUR FINANCIAL MODELING SERVICES](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-financial-modeling-services?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Financial model usage guidelines](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-financial-modeling-services?hsLang=en#financial-model-usage-guidelines) - [OUR R&D TAX INCENTIVE SERVICES (Australia)](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-rd-tax-incentive-services-australia?hsLang=en) - [OUR GRANT SERVICES](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-grant-services?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Top Grants](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-grant-services?hsLang=en#top-grants) - [OUR VALUATION SERVICES](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-valuation-services?hsLang=en#main-content) - [How we prepare your valuations](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-valuation-services?hsLang=en#how-we-prepare-your-valuations) - [OUR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE SERVICES](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/our-accounts-payable-services?hsLang=en) - [ACCOUNTING](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/accounting?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Xero](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/accounting?hsLang=en#xero) - [Accounting / Bookkeeping Articles](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/accounting?hsLang=en#accounting-bookkeeping-articles) - [PAYROLL](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/payroll?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Payroll articles](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/payroll?hsLang=en#payroll-articles) - [TAX and COMPLIANCE](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/tax-and-compliance?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Structure](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/tax-and-compliance?hsLang=en#structure) - [Key dates and How PAYG and GST work](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/tax-and-compliance?hsLang=en#key-dates-and-how-payg-and-gst-work) - [ATO information](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/tax-and-compliance?hsLang=en#ato-information) - [Income and deductions](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/tax-and-compliance?hsLang=en#income-and-deductions) - [UK ARTICLES](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/uk-articles?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Company setup and operations](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/uk-articles?hsLang=en#company-setup-and-operations) - [Payroll](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/uk-articles?hsLang=en#payroll) - [VAT](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/uk-articles?hsLang=en#vat) - [Raising Capital](https://support.standardledger.co/knowledge/uk-articles?hsLang=en#raising-capital) Need support? email support@standardledger.co © 2026 Standard Ledger