Your business may be your most valuable asset, so it is important that you develop a proper understanding of its worth. This is especially true if you plan on selling your business. We take the responsibility of helping you determine an appropriate value and asking price very seriously. Your IBM business broker has had extensive training on the various methods of business valuation and can help you price your business appropriately.
For those requiring a more formal and comprehensive approach to business valuation, IBM recommends the services of a reputable, independent, third-party valuation companies, such as GCF Valuation, who perform thousands of business valuation engagements each year and has access to the most comprehensive databases of business transactions in the nation. Their reports are comprehensive, reader friendly and can be shown to prospective buyers. In addition to receiving a report on the fair market value of your business, you’ll have direct access to an accredited appraiser throughout the engagement to assure all of your questions are answered. Below is a list of services available to you through GCF Valuation. Other valuation companies may offer different services and turnaround times. Work with your local IBM broker to determine your needs.
Calculation of Value (or “Value Calculations”)
The objective of a Calculation of Value is to provide an approximate indication of value based upon the performance of limited procedures agreed upon by the appraiser and the client. Although we try to follow USPAP, calculation reports are not officially considered an appraisal by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, however it does allow for “adequate” and ”reasonable” care to our clients. Developed for our business intermediary clients, Calculation of Value reports are utilized to provide a preliminary value for the broker to list their client’s business for sale and to be utilized until a complete appraisal is required.
Turnaround Time: 5-7 business days to the preliminary draft phase
Complete Appraisal – Summary Report
Also called an “Abbreviated” or “Letter Form Written Report”, this abbreviated form of report is the minimum level of reporting embraced by the Institute of Business Appraisers (IBA) – BV Standards, but still meets USPAP requirements. The report contains at least a summary of the material factors that leads to the conclusion, but is usually intended to reduce the normal appraisal burden of writing a comprehensive report, and thereby allowing the client to realize some economic benefit. However, the appraiser is still required to perform materially the same investigation and analysis as would be required for a complete self-contained report and maintain in his/her files the work papers necessary to support the conclusions stated in the summary report.
Turnaround Time: 3-4 weeks to the preliminary draft phase
Complete Appraisal – Self-Contained Report
This is a formal presentation of the value of a business in a self-contained written report. If a valuation has the potential to go to court or if the report needs to be reviewed by others, such as the IRS for tax implications, this type of report explains in full detail how the value was derived. Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and American Society of Appraisers (ASA) address the above as a “Comprehensive, Written Business Valuation Report”. The Institute of Business Appraisers (IBA) addresses the above as a “Formal Written Report”.
Turnaround Time: 4-6 weeks to the preliminary draft phase
If you are interested in working with a business broker to determine the value of your business, contact us today.
