Business Valuation Blog | Understanding Buying / Selling a Company

It doesn't matter whether it's time to sell, pass the hat to the next generation or just get a better picture of where your business is heading, determining the valuation of a company can be a very complex, confusing process for many business owners. How do you determine the value of a business? The world of business valuations involves several different approaches to help answer that question. Here are the basics to help get you going.

How do You Determine the Value of a Business?

There are several key approaches that are used and methodologies within each one, depending on what your situation is:

• Asset-Based: Though this is often the one most business owners turn to, it's also the least accurate of a healthy business. An asset-based approach uses the value of the business' assets alone. The problem with this type of approach is that it doesn't account for the business' goodwill or its future earnings. For that reason, it's typically only used in liquidation situations, such as bankruptcy. It can include a number of different approaches, but if you ever deal with an appraisal company that is basing the valuation of assets in the company books, you'll want to proceed with caution when selling, especially if you have fully-depreciated equipment or assets that are still in operation in the business. Using a book value approach means that those pieces of equipment are essentially being given away in the process rather than holding their actual value to the business.
• Income-Based: When you sell your business, you're not only selling the assets, you're selling future income. For that reason, income-based business valuation is one of the most popular types of business valuation used in small and medium privately-held businesses that have enjoyed steady market conditions for a period of time. Generally speaking, when a company has had a steady cash flow over the years, it will be appraised using capitalization of earnings approach to reflect that regularity. In contrast, a company that has had irregular income will often be valued using a discounted earnings approach.
• Market-Based: You may want to consider a market-based approach to business valuation. Why? Because when an industry is in a period of rapid growth, past income may not reflect future potential accurately enough. During these times, a market-based approach looks at businesses that have sold recently that have particular similarities to the business being valued. This method can use multiples of discretionary earnings or gross revenue, the sale price of a similar transactions. In the last two methods, the sale price is adjusted for any differences between the companies to come up with the best fair market value for the company being appraised.

So how do you determine the value of a business? By this point, you know that business appraisals are just as flexible as the circumstances that demand them. If you need help determining the valuation of a company, we can help.

If you've been in business for any length of time, there's a good chance that the process of the valuation of a company is something you're at least somewhat familiar with. You also know that business values can change quickly based on market conditions, competitors and industry changes. For this reason, many businesses want the ability to track their company's value over time as conditions change. Though in the past you would have simply get multiple business valuations a particular period of time apart, today's companies often use valuation advisory services to track changes in business value based on changes in the market, the company and similar concerns. Here's some more information on how these services work and how it can help you improve your business' performance.

What are valuation advisory services and how can they help my business?

Valuation advisory services will provide you with a long term look at your business' value and how it shifts and changes in different conditions. In a regular business valuation, you are able to learn the value of your business at that particular time. The business valuation specialist compares your business against other businesses in the industry, as well as other factors that can influence your business' value, then prepares a report using standardized methodologies. That report tells you your business' strengths and weaknesses and where you can make changes to improve your business' value.

But a business can be a very dynamic entity. The market shifts, a major competitor goes out of business, you change the direction of your business - any of these changes can drastically change the value of your business. They can happen at any time and can have a huge impact on your business' bottom line. Even if you've had a business appraisal performed only a few weeks before, the calculated value can rapidly shift into something completely different. How do you keep up with the changes? How can you tell when your business is going in a good direction or when you should shift gears to avoid upcoming problems in the market?

Setting up a valuation advisory service with a well qualified business valuation firm can help give you ongoing insights into shifts in your industry. This allows you to adapt to changes and take advantages of favorable conditions to keep your business ahead of the curve. Do you need to figure out what strategy to take to build your business or weather an industry downturn? Are you considering sorting out an exit strategy and need information on not only what you need to do to improve your sale price but also the best time to sell it? Having the long term information into how your business performs over time can provide you with significant insights that will make it easier to steer your business on a solid course with minimal risks to your investment.

As you can see, when you're considering how business appraisals can quickly change through a variety of conditions, valuation advisory services provide solid long-term benefits to help you grow your business with up to date insights and great opportunities.

Whichever side of the debate you're on, we have a new president in our country, and that will impact the way we do business. But how will President Trump's policies impact valuing intellectual property? Will he support tighter patent enforcement or reduce the value of intellectual property? Though it will be difficult to determine until these changes go into effect, we can take a look at the expected impacts his administration may have on these aspects of the valuation of a company with strong intellectual property assets.

Changes to Patents and How it Impacts Valuing Intellectual Property

When it comes to intellectual property and patents, many companies don't realize the strong impact it can have on the valuation of a company. But part of the impact involves the current administration's effect on how patent law is enforced. How will President Trump's policies impact your business' value?

Though there haven't really been any strong statements from the President on his views of intellectual property, we can take hints from those around him to get an idea of how things may shape up. Here are a few things to consider for how the current administration may go:

• Vice President Pence was on a House of Representatives subcommittee on intellectual property. His positions during that time suggest he would approve of the reversal of many of the patent reforms proposed during the Obama administration.
• Donald Trump Jr. is known for having worked with a company that took action in a patent enforcement campaign, suggesting that he would support strong patent enforcement and pass that viewpoint on to his father.
• One of President Trump's uncle was a MIT professor and inventor who had 23 patents to his name. Seeing that level of success would undoubtedly impact Trump's views of intellectual property.
• As Chief Strategist to the President, Steve Bannon's views will strongly influence President Trump's intellectual property policies, including his push against patent reforms during the Obama administration.
• President Trump's current pick for Secretary of Commerce is Wilbur Ross, who has written in the past about reducing the theft of intellectual property by China. Paired with Trump's focus on raising import tariffs, this could bolster U.S.patent rights.

But what about the man himself? President Trump has risen to his current position through business savvy, branding and the use of trademarks, so it's expected that he'll strongly enforce patent laws. That being said, the conservative backing that put him into office doesn't tend to approve of spurious lawsuits, so there may be backlash against companies that appear to be patent trolls that are viewed as hampering genuine business innovation.

It can be presumed that these influences will create the environment for strong enforcement of intellectual property rights. This improves the value of innovation and intellectual property in a business. By protecting those rights, there is less chance that a business will lose money to a competitor who may have stolen their concepts.

Though these changes may or may not come to pass, having an idea of how valuing intellectual property will change over the next four years can help you anticipate the impacts of the new administration.

When you're trying to get a grasp on the world of business appraisals, one term that is often tossed around is valuation multiples. In general, it involves business valuations based on the value of another business, either by similar size and market share or by income, which is then adjusted for any differences between the two businesses. But what about valuation multiples we hear about in the news for different businesses? What makes these businesses gain or lose value and how can you apply that information and insight into your own business? Here are a few real-world examples, courtesy of Market Realist, of how companies' valuation multiples actually work.

How do Valuation Multiples Work in the Real World?

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

There are a number of different valuation multiples used in the automotive industry, but one that stands out with Fiat Chrysler is EV-to-EBITDA, or enterprise value to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. Recent figures have shown it to be approximately 1.3x, which is half that of Ford's 2.6x and GM's 2.5x. Chrysler's figures are also lower in price to earnings and net profitability. Why? Some of it is related to perceived loss of value in their products, but the main factors include their progress on the company's debt reduction plan, expanding margins consistently and trends in domestic car sales.

Home Depot

Because Home Depot has high earnings visibility, analyzing the price to earnings valuation multiple is one of the easiest ways to look at how this company competes. Even though the housing market is still recovering, the recent slowdown in the economy and uncertainty about changes in the interest rate have lowered the company's multiple from 20.4x prior to announcing its earnings to 18.4x. At the same time, investors are still confident in the company's ability to perform, with even its lowered multiple significantly outperforming competitor Lowe's 15.6x.

McDonald's Restaurants

After McDonald's reported gains in the prior quarter, the company's multiples grew from 18.6x to 18.8x. Though this seems like a small change, it can represent millions of dollars of value that was quickly added to a company that is already mature and does not have as much room for growth as younger competitors. In other words, because McDonald's has already grown through so much of the market, its ability to grow is limited, but their value can still improve based on improved earnings.

Time Warner Media

Time Warner has a price to earnings multiple that is second only to Disney's numbers, and an EV-to-EBITDA multiple that is the highest among the industry giants. But what is their advantage that keeps the company with the high numbers? The company has continued developing original programs, is looking at a new approach to content licensing strategies in overseas markets and has made active gains in promoting its digital platform viewer numbers. These innovations have allowed the industry giant to expand even in a tight market.

As you can see, valuation multiples are a tool used to determine the valuation of a company across many industries and specialties. By knowing how they interact with real work situations, you can get a better grasp of what events will impact your business' overall value.

And of course things change quickly...so by the time you are reading this the company's earnings and possibly the earnings have changed!

When you're working hard keeping your company going on a daily basis, figuring out how to value a small business often falls to the back burner in the chaos of normal operations. But if you don't include business appraisals as part of your regular financial checkup, you may be missing out on valuable insights that can help you expand or improve your business. Here are some details on how business valuations help you make excellent decisions and improve your overall financial outlook.

How to Value a Small Business to Improve Your Financial Outlook

Let's start with the basics. What exactly is a business appraisal? In the most simple terms, a business appraisal looks at your entire business to determine its value. But in practice, it is actually significantly more complex. It's not just a fast look at last year's tax paperwork and a balance sheet. Here are some of the aspects that are taken into consideration during a business valuation:

• What condition is the market in? If the market is undergoing a period of growth, your business value may have increased without having to do anything to make it happen. Similarly, if it's in a downturn, you may be losing value without realizing it.
• Has your business developed goodwill? Many businesses don't take that value into account when trying to determine what their business is worth.
• What other aspects can impact your business' value? If you are located in a prime business area, have a reputation for excellence, have a unique approach to dynamic innovation in your industry or otherwise have extenuating circumstances, your business may not be valued properly without an expert business valuations specialist.

But what else can you learn from a business valuation? You can find out where your business is strong and where it is weak, allowing you to take advantage of your strengths while improving weak areas that could be a liability down the road. You can discover innovative new approaches that businesses in your industry are undertaking to ensure you remain competitive. 

What stage is your business in? Are you still building it and need to know what your assets and equity are worth to grow your business? Are you considering a merger or acquisition of an outside business and need to know where both businesses stand to negotiate a fair offer? Are you getting ready to retire and need to know how to strengthen your business' value on the market to carry you through your golden years? A business appraisal helps you position yourself for a better financial future.

Now that you know a little more about how to value a small business, you can get a better feel to where your business is and where it needs to be improved.

When you're selling a business, you've got a lot of different things to worry about. Is everything operating at its best so that you can get a good price? Are there any areas you need to work on? Is your asking price fair, too high or too low? Will you be able to sell your company as it is and see enough profit to set you up for your future plans? When it all comes down to it, your asking price can make a big difference between a successful sale that sees you into your future opportunities and a failure that sits on the market too long or sells for too low a price. Fortunately, the valuation of a company isn't something you need to worry about in the process. Here's why a business appraisal can help ensure you're asking the right price when you sell your company.

How a Business Appraisal Helps You Fine Tune Your Asking Price When Selling a Business

As you're going through the process of getting your business ready to sell, do you know what aspects of your business are in good shape and which ones will require work before it's acceptable to a prospective purchaser? What will need to go into your asking price to ensure you're getting what your company is worth? These questions are fairly common when a business owner is preparing to sell, and they are often best answered by a professional business appraisal specialist.

A business appraiser will look at a number of areas in your business. Part of that includes the financial paperwork for your company, including financial statements, tax returns and similar information. They may make adjustments to the report to convey more accurate information to the potential purchaser, such as removing significant income or expenses that can cause inaccurate spikes in the financial statements.

Another area that will be explored is the industry. The appraisal specialist will look at similar companies, in terms of discretionary earnings, company transactions, gross revenue or public companies of a similar nature. They'll then adjust the value of those companies based on the differences between the two to help determine your company's value in the marketplace. This allows for adjustment when a market is very new or experiencing strong growth that you want to capitalize on.

By getting a business appraisal before selling a business, you can quickly learn exactly what needs work in your business and can be certain that you're getting at least what it's worth. But don't settle for just any business appraisals company. You'll want one that has experience in your industry and can provide a business valuations specialist who is certified and can provide you with a valuation report based on standardized methodologies.

When it comes to the valuation of a company, it can be easy to consider the need for a business valuation expert and the business appraisals they provide to be a one-time thing. But if you do use this approach, you may be missing on some of the best benefits business valuations can offer your business. Could it be that you need to have a business appraisal performed more often or need to learn how to take the best advantage of your opportunities? Here are a few reasons why business valuation experts can help your company soar.

5 reasons why your company needs a business valuation expert

1. Changes in your business' leadership. When you have a change in ownership or leadership in your business, a business appraiser can help you navigate who gets what. When a partner leaves or a divorce happens, a professional business appraisal helps you determine how much that person's share of the business amounts to and how that cost can be handled without breaking the bank. If the individual leaving the business is doing so under a less than friendly situation, the business valuation will hold up to strong scrutiny if a lawsuit becomes necessary to settle the matter.
2. Shifts in the market. Is the market going through a boom or a bust cycle that is affecting your profitability? How can you stay ahead of the shifts to improve your business' overall standing? A business appraiser can help you determine what changes you can make to keep up with those changes and position your business to come out ahead by taking advantage of the situation. 
3. Changes in the industry. Has digitization or other new discoveries or technologies caused disruptions in your industry? When these types of changes are occurring, it can be really difficult to figure out where to position your business. Deciding whether you should embrace the changes or ride out the disruption is easier when you know what's going on overall.
4. Shifts in business focus. Are you considering entering a new sector or changing the direction of your business overall? By knowing what's going on in those areas, you can prepare your business for that shift to ensure that it will go smoothly and that you'll be able to make a successful shift.
5. Changes in your business' profitability. Has your business become less profitable and you need to know where you're losing money? Maybe you have more money coming in than expected and are trying to figure out how to take advantage of it? A business appraiser can tell you what's going on and how to shift your focus to the change.

By keeping these reasons in mind as you go through your daily operations, you can ensure that you can help your business take advantage of any opportunities that arise without having to worry that you're putting your business at unnecessary risk. Working with your business valuation expert means you can safely grow your business while being guided by expert knowledge of your industry, competitors and business. But what if you're not currently working with a well-qualified business valuation specialist? If you need to be connected with a valuation expert who has experience in and a solid grasp of your industry, please feel free to contact us today. We'd be happy to match you up with the right business appraiser for your company.

How much is a manufacturing company worth? It's a tough question, one that has plagued the minds of business owners for centuries. So many factors work into the final calculations that it can be virtually impossible to determine the final valuation of a company. Issues such as the reason for the business appraisals, the amount of time available to sell the company, the company's reputation and goodwill in the community and many other aspects can cause a significant difference between business valuations. Here's a quick look at what's involved and how the final figure is calculated.

How do you determine how much is a manufacturing company worth?

• Why do you need the value determined? Business valuation specialists who have gone through the certification process know which methodologies to apply to your particular situation. If you're getting ready to sell, the appraiser will look at the market conditions and what similar businesses have sold for.
• How quickly do you need to turn over the business' value? If you need to quickly sell your business or raise funds to buy out a partner who is leaving or to settle an estate, you'll need to accept a lower price than you may be able to receive for the business if you had time to prepare it for sale to the perfect buyer at a much higher price.
• What is your business' position in the community? If you have a reputation for excellence, over-the-top customer service or for cutting-edge innovation, your business will have a higher value than one that doesn't meet those standards. It can include your position within your industry or specialty.
• What are the current market conditions in your business' industry? If your market is growing like crazy, there will be a lot more investors interested in purchasing your business, boosting its value significantly over what you might receive when it's in a regular cycle of operation or in a slump.
• Do you specialize in any particular areas that increases your products' perceived value? If you're the only manufacturer of a particular product or use specialized techniques, your products will often have a higher profitability or market share than they would if you're creating the same products as all your competitors.
• How strong is your brand? Brand recognition helps you demand a premium for your products. This is the most basic premise behind why generic sodas cost so much less than household names such as Coca-Cola or Pepsi. When you've worked hard to build up your brand, you can expect a higher return for your products.

When you need to know how much is a manufacturing company worth, having a grasp of how the process works can make a huge difference in understanding the final calculated value. Due to the complex factors involved in calculating the business' final value, it's often better to leave this process to a well-qualified, experienced business appraisal specialist.