Business Valuation Blog | Understanding Buying / Selling a Company

Your Business Appraiser Does Not Need to be Local

Posted by Business Valuation Specialists LLC on Mar 11, 2024 7:30:00 AM

Small Busines Owner Happy with Business Appraisal

There is a misconception in the valuation industry, which some of our clients express their concern over, that their appraiser needs to be located in close proximity to where their company is situated. It is understandable that a small business owner, who themselves may have several local relationships with their own clientele, would raise this issue; however, the fact is that experienced, certified professional appraisers can effectively value any company, regardless of where it is located, and what local markets it may be operating in.

During the valuation process, a qualified appraiser will work with their clients in a “hands-on” fashion to gather all the specific company information needed to complete an accurate and supportable analysis, and ultimately deliver a full narrative report. Each client has the opportunity to discuss the details of their company that go beyond the black-and-white picture created by their tax returns, income statements, and balance sheets, allowing for reasonable adjustments to be made that paint a more colorful, complete, and truer picture of their business.

The appraiser has access to market and industry data across every region in the country and will take into account the nuances of how the company works within these areas, in relation to their competitors and client base. They will look to understand the specific strengths and weaknesses the business has, as well as their ability to leverage the former and improve on the latter. Future growth plans will be considered regardless of whether they are aggressive, modest, or even negative.

Based on the sum total of the data provided, an educated, trained, professional appraiser considers the same set of consistent approaches and methodologies for every valuation and determines how best to apply and weigh each one specifically to the business. The underlying assets of the company will be taken into account, as well as the specific purpose and effective date of the appraisal.

As you can see, the appraisal process is a collaborative effort that relies upon both the independent valuation professional and the business owner/representative to work together and develop a complete snapshot of the company. By the time the project is over and the report is delivered, it will become clear how well the appraiser understands the business, even though they weren’t local to the area.

Tags: small business valuation, certified appraisal, business appraisers

Small Business Owners: Don’t Prioritize Price Over Quality!

Posted by Business Valuation Specialists LLC on Jan 29, 2024 7:30:00 AM

 

Business Appraisal Quality vs Price AppraisersBusiness owners are constantly having to review their annual expense budgets for both fixed overhead and variable costs that arise from new projects and demands that come up in any given year. It is common for decisions to be made based largely on who can deliver the lowest price, especially in a competitive market where the product or service needed can come from a multitude of vendors.

This strategy might save you money in the short term however, there is oftentimes a loss in quality that comes with working with the cheapest option that can come back and haunt you later on. Quality can be measured in more ways than one, and it’s a good idea to think about what’s most important when it comes to working with your providers before deciding on who to engage with.

Here are some areas where quality can justify paying a higher price:

Customer Service from Start to Finish

Who is communicating with you most effectively and consistently when you are inquiring about purchasing the product or service? Are they making you feel like their most important client from day one, even before you commit to working with them? Do they follow through with that same level of communication and delivery after you’ve contracted with them? If the cheaper price leads to poor customer service and late deliveries, then take your business elsewhere.

Reliability of the Product or Service

Are you ultimately receiving the best, most dependable product that you expected and required to satisfy your business’s transactional needs? What are the costs to your business if you receive an inferior service? Do you potentially suffer a hit to your own company’s reputation or end up on the losing end of a business dispute due to poor quality?

Your Own Time and Effort Costs Money

Will working with the cheaper vendor be more time-consuming for you or your employees? Does the more expensive provider have greater experience and display a more professional, take-charge persona that will save you time and effort, which translates into cost efficiency for your business? This type of savings can be significant in comparison to the money you saved by purchasing the lower-priced product.

In summary, consider the benefits that will likely go along with choosing quality over cost, especially if you find the cheaper alternatives are not all they’re cracked up to be.

Tags: Business Valuation, business appraisers, quality

Business Valuation: Working Through the Process is a Two-Way Street

Posted by Business Valuation Specialists LLC on Dec 4, 2023 7:30:00 AM

Small Business Owner and Appraiser working on valuation

When you decide your company needs to be valued for whatever reason, whether you are seeking additional working capital, taking on new investors, buying out a partner, retiring, or in the middle of a personal or professional dispute, you want the end result to be supportable and reasonable.

It’s important to keep in mind that the appraiser you select knows little to nothing about your business until you begin to communicate and share information. The first half of the process will be a fact-finding mission, with the goal of providing sufficient financial data and other key information to the appraiser, while they suggest to you the best approaches and methodologies to take.

This level of communication and data flow will also present the valuation professional with a better understanding of the larger picture, whether that involves a critical transaction you are trying to close, the settlement of a divorce or partial buyout, or providing you with a value that can be presented to potential purchasers in the open marketplace.

A third-party valuation is independent and unbiased; however, this is the chance to present your individual perspective as a business owner so the appraiser understands what you’re trying to accomplish, and certain variables that only you may be aware of that could influence the outcome. Trust that the professional working with you will understand how best to consider all the potential adjustments and make reasonable decisions in the overall scheme of their analysis.

As a result of these meaningful communications, the second part of the valuation, which involves the appraiser’s review, research, analysis, and report writing, will result in a thoroughly examined and reliable outcome. It likely will also end up being more in line with your expectations. No business owner wants to go through the effort of working with external consultants and service providers only to end up with surprising, undesirable results.

Many business owners might believe the value of their company is more than what the market might dictate; that’s just human nature. However, the more the appraiser understands your experience and specific history working every day as the head of the company, the more likely the final value opinion will be in line with your expectations.

Before you commit to a specific appraisal professional, spend time discussing these kinds of topics so you feel comfortable that you will be working with a well-balanced firm that understands the important factors that go into a business valuation.

Tags: valuation, business appraisers, business owners, small business

Business Appraisal Abbreviated Terminology

Posted by Business Valuation Specialists LLC on Oct 9, 2023 7:30:00 AM

Explaining business appraisal terminology

Like many professions, the appraisal industry is full of acronyms that only those well-versed in the lingo can identify at first glance. Here are a couple of abbreviated terms that will factor significantly in the overall valuation of your small business.

EBITDA: Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization

Even the long version of this acronym is confusing to understand. Here is a short discussion of its meaning and purpose:

EBITDA is a measurement to determine a company's profitability or cash flow, however, it may not fully represent cash earnings. EBITDA considers a wide range of factors in business finances. It is considered a universally accepted appraisal measurement and is also used in accounting circles.

From an application perspective, it is used by banks and financial services companies to estimate debt servicing levels. It is also used to compare similar businesses within an industry or market and as a tool to preliminarily estimate a company’s current value using multiples of EBITDA developed from historic databases.

SDE: Seller’s Discretionary Earnings

Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) is a calculation that considers the net profit of a business while adding back discretionary adjustments to show the entire financial benefit provided to an owner.

SDE is a common income measurement calculated when a business is changing hands. Financial data associated with this calculation include EBITDA, as well as other factors that impact a company's value as you engage in a buy/sell transaction.

If you're on the purchase or acquisition side, SDE provides you with the information needed to develop a reasonable estimate of your expected future return, as well as an understanding of realistic expectations for the continued growth of the business. From the seller’s viewpoint, SDE supports an optimal level of value during sale negotiations. SDE allows both buyers and sellers to make informed decisions while preparing to invest in or exit a small business.

In summary, these are only 2 of several acronyms commonly utilized in the business valuation industry. Our next blog will discuss other terminology that may be important to better understand when you decide to appraise a privately owned company.

Tags: business appraisal, EBITDA, business appraisers, SDE

Business Valuation Relies on Complete and Accurate Financial Documents

Posted by Business Valuation Specialists LLC on Jul 3, 2023 7:30:00 AM

Small Business Business Valuations Financial Records

If you have owned a business for a number of years and now need an appraisal to sell the company, apply for financial assistance, or bring in new investors, you will need to have reliable financial documentation that provides historical performance details.

The most common records you will need are income statements, balance sheets, and tax filing records. You can provide further information by responding to a series of typical questions the valuation professional will ask during the process, that will give additional perspective on how to view these documents and make discretionary adjustments to the income and expenses of the business.

The appraiser will ask for 3-5 years of these filings, and they should be developed by an outside accounting agency or internal company controller. If you find yourself in a position where these records are not current, or poorly documented, you will need to determine the best way to update them, otherwise, the appraiser may not be able to assist you.

One option is to hire a forensic accountant or bookkeeper who can go through all the business receipts and related paperwork in an effort to develop formal documents which can be utilized for the appraisal as well as support these transactions. A potential buyer, financial institution, or investor is not going to blindly give you funding if the historical performance of the company is not well-detailed and documented.

Keep in mind the appraisal firm you engage with cannot actively participate in the development of these documents since they need to remain independent and unbiased when estimating their value opinions. As a business owner, you will know far more than anyone about the previous performance of the company as well as have access to the records needed to put these documents together. Whether you decide to take this project on yourself or work with an outside agency or internal employee, your direct involvement in the process will be critical.

Regardless of your immediate desire to put the business on the market, or look for new capital funding alternatives, take the time now to review your business records and determine if they are accurate and up to date. Even if they are, take further steps to organize a file to consolidate and provide easy access to, all the historical financial records of the company so that when the time comes, you will be prepared to move forward.

If you are unsure of the steps needed to complete this effort, contact a certified accountant or appraiser who can discuss the process further and give you informal advice that gets you on the right track.

Tags: small business valuation, business appraisers, small business, accounting

Valuing Small Business Start-Ups

Posted by Business Valuation Specialists LLC on Jun 19, 2023 7:30:00 AM

Appraisers Business Valuation Start-Up Company

We receive several valuation inquiries every year from companies still in their infancy stages that are looking to attract new investment through private equity or by bringing in additional partners with the right talent to help them achieve their goals. These “start-ups” are often thought to come from the various technology markets, however, anytime an entrepreneur begins the process of developing a business from scratch, regardless of the industry, they are considered a start-up.

With a start-up from a valuation perspective, you will not be able to rely on historic financial performance and the current balance sheet will likely be very limited. There will potentially be some comparable established companies publicly available to research, however, these may not be similar enough to rely upon given the specific business plan the new company is developing.

Most likely, your potential client is looking for the appraiser to rely on a future growth strategy, typically a five-year plan, as the basis for the appraisal, given this data will create a more favorable value conclusion. If you plan to value a start-up company, here are a couple of additional thoughts to consider:

  • Ask your client to provide a business plan including forecasted income statements and balance sheets. It is important to advise them that the data needs to be reasonable and supportable, based on as much background and research they have performed and which they can provide details for. If the forecasts look overly aggressive, they will need to come up with as much support as possible to justify their growth plans.
  • Advise your client that as a professional appraiser, you do not have forensic accounting capabilities or business planning experience, and therefore, will be relying on the data provided by them to be accurate within reason. The appraiser cannot actively participate in the development and verification of the forecasted data.
  • Ensure that your appraisal report includes sufficient narrative summary discussions on the scope of work, advising readers that your value conclusions are based in large part, or even solely, on this future business plan. Add that should the plan not come to fruition, or be considerably different than the forecasted estimates, the value of the business will be materially altered.

If you, as a certified valuation professional, are not comfortable with the information provided by the client and believe it to be unrealistic based on your experience with similar situations, you should discuss this with them and ask that they adjust the data. If you can’t agree on a game plan, you can potentially opt out of the work if that is a contractual option. Valuing start-ups is a challenging endeavor therefore, ensure you have these issues covered before taking on the appraisal assignment.

Tags: Business Valuation, business appraisers, startup company

The Importance of Continuing Education for Business Appraisers

Posted by Business Valuation Specialists LLC on Apr 10, 2023 7:30:00 AM

Business Appraisers Continuing Education Certification

Acquiring a formal certification or accreditation is critical in the valuation profession and typically requires a few years of hands-on experience and the successful completion of several educational courses to gain the initial recognized title. Once acquired, there is usually a renewal process every 3-5 years depending on the organization providing the designations, whereby a minimum of 20 annual continuing education hours are needed to maintain and extend it beyond the initial period.

Staying current on topics such as ethics, report writing requirements, industry/market developments, tax laws, and economic fluctuations is important so that appraisers can continually be aware of developments in these areas in order to provide ongoing credible valuation work.

There are a few different ways valuation professionals can accomplish these continuing education requirements. The most common is attending courses and seminars provided by their primary recognized associations, such as the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA), the Appraisal Institute, or the Appraisal Association of America.

Prior to the development of online course offerings, appraisers could only attend courses in person, which was more time-consuming and costly. Virtual classes are generally less expensive and allow individuals more flexibility in terms of scheduling. Some of these associations also have local chapters that meet throughout the year and create learning opportunities on a more personalized level.

Another option is to attend conferences, trade shows, and seminars provided by third-party organizations that specialize in areas such as finance, tax, accounting, economics, and specific business industries that the appraisers might focus on. Over the last few years, many of these events are now offered both in person and virtually.

The appraiser is required to track, log and report their hours to the sponsor organizations who will formally provide the recertification or reaccreditation once completed. These steps are crucial to the long-term credibility and continuing validation of both the individual appraisers and the valuation industry as a whole.

When you are seeking the services of an appraiser to value your business, ask them if they have maintained their continuing education requirements that pertain to their specific designation and their affiliated organization.

Tags: business appraisers, business valuation certification, continuing education

Independent Business Valuation for Divorce Purposes

Posted by Business Valuation Specialists LLC on Mar 13, 2023 7:30:00 AM

Business Valuation Appraisals Appraisals Divorce

Most everyone is familiar with the commonly cited statistic that 50% of all marriages end in divorce. Unfortunately, this estimate is essentially factual, with around 40% of first marriages and 60-70% of second and third marriages making up that average figure. Experts will also tell you that the last three years of hardships (we all know which ones I am referring to) have driven these numbers up further and will continue to rise in 2023.

If one or both of the partners in a divorce owns all or part of a business, the value of the enterprise and its underlying assets will likely become subject to the overall divorce settlement. A dispute as to the assessment of the fair market value of the business is commonly a factor in many divorce cases. The best way to resolve any dispute, ideally in an amicable fashion, is to engage with a certified business appraiser, who can provide an independent value based on reviewing the company history, analyzing financial data, researching the market, and understanding the assets associated with the operation.

Divorce attorneys will often be the representatives who suggest this approach during the proceedings and will work directly with the appraiser to facilitate the collection of data from either or both parties involved. This process can get bogged down for any number of reasons, and the judge or arbitration representatives involved should look to expedite the process with the legal means available to compel the availability of the information needed for the appraiser to complete the appraisal.

Without cooperation on both sides to work through the valuation issues together, the roadblocks to settling these cases can pile up, andthe divorce terms may ultimately be decided by the courts, who have no personal stake in the business or the overall case. The courts will look to rely on any experts involved in assessing value and if both parties engage separate appraisers, it could lead to deposition or trial testimony to ultimately determine value.

It's logical to assume it would be ideal for both parties if these decisions were made amicably and mutually however, the reality is that many divorce settlements become very difficult to settle due to significant differences of opinion, making the ability to work through the process unattainable without the assistance of independent third parties. When it comes to maximizing your chances of arriving at a fair settlement of business value involved in a divorce, seek out an unbiased experienced appraiser to work through the issues with you.

Tags: Business Valuation, divorce, business appraisers

Consultants: A Necessary Evil or a Facilitating Factor?

Posted by Business Valuation Specialists LLC on Jun 6, 2022 7:30:00 AM

 

Business Valuation Appraisals Appraisers Business Consultants

Consultants are oftentimes viewed as a necessary evil to accomplishing the larger goal of ensuring one has all the information needed to make the wisest decisions in a business or personal transaction. Without them, you may be led down the wrong path by a biased source or someone without the knowledge and experience to provide you with the leverage needed to make informed choices.

Typically, consultants are engaged in transactions where both independence and expertise are critical to a successful outcome, whether that be in a financial endeavor, business combination, professional dispute, arbitration, or litigation proceeding. Accountants, appraisers, insurance advisors, statisticians, and legal experts, to name a few, are engaged by one or both parties in a situation where there is a significant need to comply with regulations, and settle cases where disagreement on key issues is apparent.

The answer to the question in this article's title lies predominantly with the individuals you choose to work with.

Ask yourself the following when considering engaging with consultants:

  • Does the consultant fully understand the larger picture in play, and can they keep this perspective while focusing on their specific role?
  • Can they remain fully independent in the case at hand, regardless of who hires them?
  • Does their experience and expertise fit with the specifics of the transaction or dispute?
  • Are they accredited and/or certified as a professional in their practice?

The most effective consultants understand their role in each unique situation and can work seamlessly with the parties involved, without trying to influence areas in which they are not requested to participate.

Credentials on paper can speak to much of this, however, a more personal vetting process should complement the review process, to ensure you are bringing the right consultants to the table. Don’t necessarily prioritize cost over quality, as it may come back to haunt you down the road.

In the end, a strong team assembled to accomplish the specific goals of any transaction or business dispute settlement will likely avoid a lot of unplanned costs and damages in the long run, and lead to an equitable outcome.

Tags: valuation consultant, valuation of a business, business appraisers, consulting, consultants

Appraising Closed Companies for Tax Discharge and Dissolution

Posted by Business Valuation Specialists LLC on Apr 11, 2022 7:00:00 AM

Business Valuation Appraisal Business Closure IRS Discharge and Dissolution

In the aftermath of the pandemic and in consideration of continuing economic hardships for many businesses in highly affected industries, such as restaurants and entertainment venues, the reality is that a lot of companies did not survive. These unprecedented times saw a large increase of small business owners struggling to stay afloat in hopes of a turnaround that ultimately took too long to come about.

Despite short-term relief funding programs made available by federal and state governments, there has been a significant increase in small business closures beginning in mid-2020 and continuing to this day. One of the many obligations business owners are required to undertake when closing their company involves a formal discharge and dissolution filing with the IRS.

There are several filing forms involved and depending on the existing documentation, owners may need to engage with a certified business appraiser to independently declare a final value for tax purposes. Even though it is evident that little to no revenue is being generated from business operations, there likely remain certain assets and liabilities which need to be declared as part of these final steps.

As painful as it may be, a business appraiser will need to be engaged and review these documents as part of their work effort to establish a fair net value for the remaining tangible and intangible property. Essentially, the focus is on what remains of the business that can be resold as part of the closure.

In many cases, this would be tangible property only, such as real estate, buildings, machinery & equipment, and personal property. If these assets have recently been appraised or are reasonably depreciated and accounted for on the company books, the business appraiser can use this data to document under an Asset Approach to value. This approach will likely be the only one utilized given the lack of income and external market comps considered under more normal business valuation circumstances.

Other factors will be taken into consideration that pertain to the closure status which will hopefully soften the final blows that come with this process. Making the decision to close your small business for lack of profitability, or for any other reason, can be a heartbreaking experience, and as business appraisers, we will do all we can to facilitate this process for small business owners during these trying times.

Tags: business valuations, business appraisers, Appraisal for Tax Purposes, closed business