Business valuation is the foundation of a smart exit plan. Without a solid understanding of your company’s value, you can’t price it correctly, structure the deal favorably, plan for taxes and retirement, or close value gaps.

An Employee Stock Ownership Plan is a type of retirement plan that gives employees ownership interest in the company. Instead of selling to an outside buyer, the business owner sells part or all of the company to a trust that holds shares on behalf of employees.

You can’t plan a successful exit without first knowing what your business is worth. Whether you're preparing for a sale, transitioning to a family member, or exploring buyout options, a valuation for exit is essential.

If your business owns significant equipment, vehicles, inventory, or real estate, your exit plan can’t rely on simple deal structures or vague estimates. Asset-heavy businesses face complex decisions around valuation, tax treatment, and ownership transfer—all of which can impact your sale price and post-exit tax liability.

For many small business owners, selling to a third party is the most common and financially rewarding exit strategy—but it’s also one of the most complex.

Partnerships can be powerful—but only when both parties have a clear path to enter and exit. Without a formal exit strategy, dissolving a partnership or transitioning ownership can lead to conflict, tax issues, or even litigation.

Downturns are one of the most strategic times to get your business valued—if you know what to do with the information.

If a large portion of your revenue comes from just one or two customers, your business may be seen as riskier—and therefore less valuable—by buyers, lenders, or investors.

The idea of using a revenue multiple as a quick shortcut for valuation has become widespread—but it’s often dangerously oversimplified.

The structure of your chart of accounts can make or break the accuracy of your business valuation.

Financial forecasting isn’t just for large corporations—it’s a must-have tool for any small business owner looking to grow, sell, or plan strategically. When done right, your forecast is more than a guess—it’s the roadmap that drives real business value.

Here are three of the most common valuation mistakes business owners make.

To get a business valuation, you'll typically need 3–5 years of financial documentation, along with key business records that explain how your company operates.

A SBA-compliant valuation is a formal business valuation that meets the documentation, methodology, and professional standards required by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) when financing a business purchase with an SBA loan.

Many small business owners with seasonal operations—like landscaping companies, ski resorts, or holiday retailers—believe their business is worth less simply because their revenues aren’t consistent year-round. This isn't always the case.

A business valuation report is packed with data, charts, formulas, and narrative—but for stakeholders, it’s often overwhelming. Whether you're presenting the report to a business partner, lender, investor, buyer, or board, your job is to translate the analysis into plain-English takeaways they can act on.

Short Answer: Yes—knowing your business value is essential, even if you're not selling.

For years, a company’s cost of capital has been determined by familiar variables—market risk, size, industry, and firm-specific factors. But in today’s evolving business environment, ESG factors are beginning to reshape the equation.

Many business owners fail to fully appreciate (or know) their company's value. This often stems from common mistakes and misconceptions about business valuation. In this article, we'll explore why most small business owners undervalue their company and how to avoid these pitfalls.

Valuing a business with fluctuating income is one of the most common (and most complicated) challenges in small business valuation....