Wind up backing deficit hidden by disreputable resort? (8)
I believe the answer is:
dissolve
'wind up' is the definition.
(as in winding up a business)
'backing deficit hidden by disreputable resort?' is the wordplay.
'backing' is a reversal indicator.
'deficit' becomes 'loss' (I've seen this in other clues).
'hidden by' indicates putting letters inside.
'disreputable resort?' becomes 'dive' (shabby bar).
'loss' in reverse letter order is 'ssol'.
'ssol' inserted into 'dive' is 'DISSOLVE'.
(Other definitions for dissolve that I've seen before include "Pass into a solution" , "Break up and merge with a liquid" , "Wind up" , "Cause to go into a solution" , "Annul or end, a marriage say" .)