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What are the factors to consider when valuing a business? We discussed how different aspects are significant in each of the three basic valuation approaches—market, income, and cost ways of value—in a previous post about the process of producing a business appraisal. While there are a variety of business valuation elements that can come into play, it’s vital to remember that not all of them are relevant in every situation. We’ll look at numerous value elements and explain which ones are most relevant for various valuation scenarios in this article.

Purpose: The Most Important Business Valuation Factor

The most crucial determinant for any valuation is its purpose, which isn’t generally regarded as a valuation element. The purpose of the valuation is the most essential of the components that contribute to an assessment of the company’s worth.

This is because the valuation’s goal determines the value premise. If the aim is to invest in a stock rather than sell a firm, the value will be different. Different valuation aims can help you figure out which business valuation elements will give you the most accurate estimate of value.

Consider an auto manufacturer’s valuation as an example. The most essential company valuation elements will differ depending on what is being valued: the business itself, intellectual property (e.g., research and development), or tangible assets (e.g., a manufacturing plant). If the focus is on the manufacturing plant, a ratio of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) or revenue must be compared to a similar plant. The correct information can be difficult to come by, so the cost of replacing or rebuilding the plant itself is a more dependable appraisal component.

Depending on the goal of the appraisal, valuation specialists consider it from a different perspective. The broadest valuation can be compared to a large box containing smaller boxes that fit inside. The business enterprise is the big box, which contains smaller boxes of tangible and intangible assets, as well as the present worth of future growth potential. Individual physical assets, intellectual property (IP), and other intangible assets can be contained in smaller boxes, which can be as small as individual physical assets, IP, or other intangible assets.

The valuation specialist will use different tools depending on whether the goal is to sell the entire business, select elements of the business, or certain assets. If the company is sold to a third party or if a minority or majority shareholder decides to sell their shares, the purpose may alter. In a private firm, the value of a minority stake vs. a majority share will fluctuate. The particulars of the case and the particulars of the various aspects of the business are important. The objective of the valuation and the factors that affect valuation for that reason will determine what you look at and how you evaluate it.

The next section focuses on the various factors to consider when valuing a business, and the cases where each is applicable.

Factors That Lead To A Valuation Of A Company’s Worth

The numerous company valuation criteria that are significant for the given situation will become obvious once the aim of the assessment is known. The nine elements to consider when valuing a firm are listed below. One or more of these variables may be irrelevant depending on the valuation’s purpose:

• EBITDA: The calculation of a company’s value based on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization functions as a stand-in for the company’s enterprise value. This value eliminates the non-operating effects unique to each business and measures its financial performance. EBITDA values include common shares and equity, short-term and long-term debts, minority interest, and preferred equity. The company’s EBITDA is an important factor in cases involving the purchase or sale of the business (in part or whole) or in a stock investment, as it is a measure of company profitability. EBITDA is inconsequential in tax situations or cases where tangible or intangible assets are being sold or purchased.
• Size: The size of the company has an impact on value and is one factor in determining its EBITDA multiple. Company size matters in the purchase or sale of the enterprise, an operating unit of the company, or stock. It is not useful in figuring value for tax purposes or for the sale or purchase of assets (other than complete operating units).
• Revenue trends: The company’s revenue trends will be of interest to potential investors or prospective purchasers, but again, are immaterial for tax purposes or for the sale of physical assets. Revenue trends might be important when valuing IP, depending on the specific situation.
• Growth prospects: The company’s prospects for future growth are of great interest to investors or potential purchasers, but immaterial for tax purposes or the current value of assets.
• Earning history: Again, earning history will be of interest to investors or potential buyers, but is of no value for appraisals conducted for tax purposes or valuing assets.
• Location: The location of the company or its assets may affect its enterprise value or the value of various assets, but in most cases, it will be of most interest for tax purposes, since different jurisdictions have different tax rates.
• Staff and management: The value of staff and management will be of importance only in the valuation of going concerns; for businesses in liquidation, the value of this intangible is immaterial. Therefore, as a business valuation factor, staff and management are only of value in investment or purchase/sale contexts.
• Reputation: Another intangible asset that only has value in a going concern context is reputation. The reputation of the business (if it is good) will have value to investors or potential buyers.
• Competitive advantages: The value of a company’s competitive advantages is important primarily in the context of investment or purchase/sale of the business. It may also come into play if the valuation is for the purpose of the sale of certain tangible assets or IP, insofar as those assets confer competitive advantage. For example, a business location in a high-traffic area may give the company a competitive advantage; this location will be of greater value in a sale than a business location in a lower-traffic area. The same holds true for valuable intellectual property when it constitutes the primary competitive advantage of the business.

The importance of each of the company valuation variables described above will be determined by the goal of the valuation, as shown. The aim of a company evaluation will always be the beginning point for deciding not just the valuation approach or approaches to use, but also the relative importance of each of these business valuation components in the valuation process. Professional business valuation professionals, such as the Taqeem team, will always start by determining the goal of the evaluation in order to determine the most important value methodologies and factors.

Need help determining the value of your business?

Taqeem has helped companies in a variety of industries attain accurate enterprise and asset valuations. For a wide range of enterprises and situations, we have vast expertise applying all valuation methodologies. Our valuation and transfer pricing experts have worked with some of the world’s top corporations.

Contact us to see how we can help your company with your valuation and transfer pricing needs.