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In the intricate world of finance and business, clients look to accountants and advisors not only for number-crunching but for guidance, strategy, and clarity.

One of the most significant areas where your expertise can make a remarkable difference is business valuation. Accurately valuing a business is an art that blends financial metrics with market intuition.

By presenting a range of business valuation options to your client’s, you’re offering them a panoramic view of their enterprise’s worth. Here’s why sharing these seven business valuation methods is imperative for your advisory role.

Business valuation methods

Why Offering a Range of Valuations Matters

For businesses, one size rarely fits all. Diverse companies have unique needs, and business valuation is no exception. Offering a broad spectrum of valuation methods means:

  1. Diverse Perspectives: Multiple methods offer multiple angles, each providing a distinct lens to view the business’s value.
  2. Flexibility in Decision Making: Clients can make informed decisions based on different valuation outcomes, enhancing strategy formulation.
  3. Meeting Varied Objectives: Whether selling a business, buying a business, seeking investments, or strategic planning, different methods cater to different goals.

The Seven Valuation Methods Every Client Should Know

  1. Return on Investment (ROI) Valuation: Provides insights into how effectively the company generates profits relative to the resources (capital) invested in it.
  2. EBITDA Multiplier Valuation: By multiplying EBITDA with a sector-specific figure, this method offers a snapshot, especially when gauging businesses in consistent sectors.
  3. Simple Cash Payback: Clients looking at short-term projects? This method showcases the payback period, highlighting how soon an investment can be recouped.
  4. Revenue Multiplier Valuation: Especially pivotal for startups or those in growth sectors. This method allows investors to value companies based on their top-line growth potential.
  5. Discounted Cashflow Valuation (DCF): For businesses with steady cash flows, DCF reflects the time value of money by using a discount rate and accounts for the risk associated with receiving future cashflows.
  6. Cashflow Valuation: Does not take into account the time value of money and is frequently used in establishing the value where the owner is selling to family or staff.
  7. Balance Sheet Valuation: Offers a current snapshot of a company’s financial position listing assets, liabilities and shareholders’ equity and in a going concern generally indicates the minimum value of the business.

Final Thoughts: Strengthening Client Relationships Through Knowledge

As accountants and advisors, your role extends beyond calculations. It’s about building trust, fostering relationships, and guiding businesses toward a prosperous future. By introducing your clients to these diverse business valuation methods, you equip them with the knowledge and power to see their business’s worth from multiple vantage points.

Your counsel aids in transformative decisions, and the more valuation tools you provide, the clearer the path becomes for those you advise.

How VFD Pro can support your clients with Business Valuations

VFD Pro offers powerful tools for reviewing, analysing, and predicting financial data, which can be helpful in conducting business valuations for your clients. With VFD Pro, you can explore seven different business valuation models and gain in-depth insights into your clients’ financial performance. This can help you provide accurate and informed guidance to your clients when it comes to valuing their businesses.

Client Discussion Model

EVA Business Valuation Model