The Complete Store Closing Checklist 2026
The full, ordered closeout sequence for a U.S. store — from the WARN notice and final payroll to tax filings, license cancellation, and customer refunds. Use it with our free checklists.
Read Article →🚪 Store Closing & Exit
Store Closing & Exit
Close a store the right way — WARN notice, lease exit, sale vs liquidation, final payroll and tax filings, personal guarantees, and bankruptcy when debts outrun the business.
Articles in Store Closing & Exit
How Much Does It Cost to Close a Store in 2026
A store closure is not free. Estimate the real cost: remaining lease, final payroll, WARN exposure, final tax prep, liquidation fees, and professional help — with ranges from U.S. small-business research.
Read Article →Breaking a Commercial Lease: Options, Costs & the Duty to Mitigate
A commercial lease does not end when you lock the door. Options to exit — assignment, sublease, buyout, or default — and how the landlord’s duty to mitigate damages changes what you owe.
Read Article →What Is Your Store Worth? SDE Multiples & Valuation in 2026
A going-concern sale usually beats liquidation. Learn the SDE multiple method, 2026 Main Street multiples by sector (BizBuySell), and what buyers add on top — inventory and real estate.
Read Article →Liquidating Store Assets: What You Actually Recover
When a sale is not on the table, liquidation is the fallback. Realistic recovery rates by asset class — equipment, inventory, receivables, real estate — minus the fees that eat the proceeds.
Read Article →Final Payroll, Final Tax Returns & Closing Your EIN
The closeout tax sequence: final Form 941/940, W-2/W-3, 1099-NEC, corporate dissolution (966), final entity return, and the letter that closes your EIN. Plus the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty to avoid.
Read Article →WARN Act & Store Closures: Notice Rules Before You Shut Down
Federal WARN requires 60 days’ notice for large closings and layoffs; 15+ states add mini-WARN with lower thresholds. Penalties, who is covered, and how to count employees.
Read Article →Personal Guarantees & What Survives When the Business Closes
About half of small-business owners sign a personal guarantee. A PG on a lease or loan can outlive the business — and bankruptcy of the entity does not erase it. How to size and contain the exposure.
Read Article →Gift Cards, Deposits & Customer Credits When You Close
Unused gift cards and unearned deposits are liabilities that survive closing. State escheat (unclaimed-property) law varies, and in bankruptcy they become unsecured claims. How to handle them cleanly.
Read Article →Bankruptcy vs. an Orderly Close: Which Path for Your Store
Deep guide to business bankruptcy for store owners: Chapter 7 liquidation, Chapter 11 / Subchapter V reorganization, Chapter 13 for sole props, the automatic stay, and why personal guarantees survive. With a decision framework.
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