There are many different issues at hand when it comes to business valuation. Most often, a business is being evaluated for its financial value because a company is either experiencing stress or is on the verge of — potentially — being sold. In some cases, business owners seek business valuation services because they want to know whether or not it’s a good idea to move forward. In some cases, a potential buyer or investor will request a business valuation analysis before making a final decision. This is understandable, as a business valuation report lays out the “truth” of a company in essence. With that being said, there are many ways a business valuation analysis can go wrong if it isn’t being handled by a professional business valuation firm. For understandable reasons, even the most reputable of business people typically can’t handle their own business valuation reports, which is why firms are turn to early in the process. Below, we’ll look into not only how a business valuation analysis works, but why the value of a company may be “overstated” at times — and what that means. In understanding the process of business valuation analysis, you make it less intimidating — and for that matter, educate yourself as a business person.
Business Valuation: Understanding The Basics
Business valuation does exactly what it sounds like it would — it will report the company or business’s value. In order to do so, however, business valuation firms need several key pieces of information. For one thing, they need an income statement and a balance sheet. But it’s not enough to have recent reports — in fact, for an accurate assessment income and balance sheets dating back three to five years are required. For this reasons, some newer companies are not eligible for business valuation. Once the necessary pieces of information are assembled, however, a business valuation firm will approach the process in three different ways. The sales of the evaluated business will be compared to those of competitors; the business’s earning power and risk assessment will be evaluated; and the company’s assets will be evaluated. Of course, the valuation results can certainly be assessed one way or the other. They can be influenced by your need for business valuation, in fact — but business value isn’t an absolute thing. The process measures the business’s worth, and that depends on two major elements: how you measure business value, and under what circumstances it’s being measured. Formally, these elements are known as the standard of value and the premise of value.
How Can A Business’s Value Be Overstated?
When a business’s value is overstated, this means that the value is essentially being played off as more than it actually is — it’s too good to be true. Business valuations can be overstated in many ways, bending the rules without actually breaking them. If you’re an investor, you certainly don’t want to fall prey to this. In some cases, business owners who are selling their businesses may decide not to repair old machinery or equipment. This is called “deferred maintenance”, and it essentially makes the cash flow look better than it actually is, while at the same underselling exactly how much the new buyer will have to invest in keeping the company afloat. In other cases, business owners can make their capital look better than it actually is by using credit terms from vendors and receivables collection to reduce their working capitals requirements. Now, eventually they may be able to raise long term capital, but this doesn’t mean that the business is solid. They can also hide operating costs and understate their payrolls — there are many ways that this can happen, needless to say.
Why Use A Firm?
Can a person potentially make business valuations on their own? Maybe. But this may not be accurate, and you can’t be sure unless you’re using a business valuation firm. Consider a firm insurance — you’ll be glad you used it.