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Friday, 4 January 2019

What You Need To Know About A Business Valuation Appraiser Before You Hire One

By Raymond Davis


If you are a business owner, at some point you are probably going to need to have the company valued. There are various reasons why. Selling the company, or some other exit transaction may require it. You might have to get the company assessed because of a divorce or partnership dissolution. Sometimes it is necessary for financial and tax reporting. Whatever the case, you will need the services of a professional business valuation appraiser. Before hiring one, there are some things you need to know about the process.

Appraisers use three different methods to evaluate companies. They may choose the market approach. This method assesses a company based on finalized sales of comparable companies. They may select the income approach. They use this method to compare potential advantages of investing in an enterprise and weigh that against the risks of taking on the responsibility. Financing differentials, input of capital, and growth in revenue are counted in the income approach.

The asset approach is the third type of appraisal. This one assesses a company's assets for value with the liabilities removed. The asset approach is not applicable for a company with high intangibles. It is appropriate for a company that is under performing.

The value of businesses can change dramatically over time. Appraisers assess companies based on a specific time period. Once that period has passed the appraisal may no longer be valid. They can be used as research for attorneys and potential buyers who are interested in the historical value of a particular company. For purposes of financial and legal transactions, current appraisals are the only ones that will be deemed valid.

The evaluation of your company is serious. You want to hire someone with the best qualifications and certifications possible. Anyone can say they do company appraisals, but not all of them have the qualifying credentials. The industry offers individuals several different types of certifications. Appraisers designated Accredited Senior Appraisers or Certified Business Appraisers are the most highly sought after. The level of training and experience required to receive these certifications exceeds those who have Certified Valuation Analyst or Accredited in Business designations.

It will be necessary for you to provide documentation in order for the appraiser to perform a valid evaluation of the company. The information necessary may include several years of tax returns, balance sheets for the current year and profit and loss statements. Appraisers usually request detailed liability information, inventory lists, and descriptions of the products or services rendered as well.

A valid assessment must include a reasonability test. When lenders are assessing whether or not it is feasible to loan a prospective purchaser the funds to invest in a particular company, they must be able to justify the purchase price. Lenders have to be assured that the company's cash flow can handle the debt and taxes while still providing a reasonable return to the buyer.

The fee structure for appraisals may be handled on an hourly basis or as a flat rate. Additional expenses are itemized and billed to the client separately. Costs vary depending on how complex the assessment is and what it will be used for.




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