2 min read
Definition
A company is solvent when it can pay its debts as they fall due and its assets exceed its liabilities; it is insolvent when it cannot. The distinction carries serious legal duties for directors.
In plain terms
Solvent means you can meet your bills and are worth more than you owe. Cross into insolvency and directors' duties shift to protecting creditors, not shareholders — a critical line to watch.
Why it matters for your company
Recognising the approach of insolvency early lets directors act — through working-capital finance, restructuring or advice — while options remain. Trading on while insolvent exposes directors to personal liability. Vigilance here is a core duty.
Related reading

Solvency: What It Means Under UK Company Law
Solvency is a company's ability to meet its financial obligations as they fall due, assessed both on a…
Read →
Going concern
Going concern is the assumption that a business will keep trading for the foreseeable future — and a warning…
Read →
Working capital
Working capital is the money a business has available to fund its day-to-day operations, calculated as…
Read →
Insolvency
Insolvency is the state in which a company cannot pay its debts as they fall due, or its liabilities exceed…
Read →Funding for UK limited companies
Credicorp lends to your company, not to you personally — short-term working capital with no personal guarantee. See what your business could access.