Whether a sale is imminent or coming sometime in the future, every business should have a current valuation. Like business plans and resumés, valuations allow owners to leverage opportunities, protect their interests, and move quickly once they decide to sell. Here, we’ll outline a few things business owners and potential sellers should know about the valuation process.
Find the Right Reasons for Valuation
An accurate valuation is essential for various reasons. First, it keeps an owner from losing money, and second, it may work to reassure a reluctant buyer. Before working with a brokerage and obtaining a valuation, clean up your company’s financials. It may take time and effort, but it will pay significant dividends in the end. If you’re thinking of hiring a business broker, the team at CGK Business Sales is always ready to help.
If you need some assistance cleaning up your finances, you can always outsource and reach out to bookkeepers like Holbrook & Manter bookkeeping services. They can help you manage your financial reports and ensure that your books are organized to help you decide before you start working with a business broker. Having clean records will help the process run smoothly and prevent delays.
Valuations Help Sellers Get Fair Market Value and Increase the Chances of a Successful Sale
Of all the reasons to get a valuation, this is one of the most important. Many owners, especially those with small and family-run businesses, rely on sales to fund future opportunities or enjoy a more comfortable retirement. We’ve all heard stories about owners who sold their companies for much less than their market value, as well as those who priced their companies too high and could not find a buyer.
While hiring a valuation specialist may be costly, it’s a good long-term investment because of the future savings it brings. When a business is accurately valued, owners will be able to time sales properly, increase their negotiating power, and boost potential profits.
A Business Valuation Will Help an Owner Make More Informed Decisions
When valuing a business for sale, it’s important to consider the right factors. Accurate valuations allow owners to gauge performance and measure changes over time, which in turn, gives them the information needed to make strategic decisions.
The valuation process provides a holistic view of a company, helping potential sellers make decisions that increase their return on investment. Not only will a valuation keep you from making the wrong choices, but it will also prevent the consequences that may follow.
Making a Graceful Exit
When done properly, business valuations give owners a baseline from which other efforts can be initiated. The information gathered during a valuation will let you know whether the sale is going in a good direction or if improvements must be made before the company goes on the market.
The baseline shows prospective buyers how well the company is performing, which may reassure those who are unsure. Performing a valuation is like taking the pulse of a business, and it’s especially beneficial when an owner seeks to increase profits before the sale takes place.
Managing Plans of Succession
In some cases, business owners sell to family members. Alternatively, you may want to sell to a strategic buyer who can use existing revenue streams to generate more profits. No matter who the business is going to, it’s still important to know its actual value.
Helping Business Owners Accurately Value Their Companies
A business valuation may fulfil multiple functions, such as ensuring higher profits and providing a degree of reassurance to buyers and sellers. If valuations are used correctly, owners and potential buyers will know exactly what to expect from a company. Call the team at CGK Business Sales for valuation help and advice.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Modupe Gbadeyanka