Insights
Business Valuation: Why You Need an Annual Business Valuation
Business Valuations are used for several reasons. You do not have to be considering a sale before you get an appraisal of your business. For example, think about how your banker views your business.
Most companies have a revolving credit line or a term loan with a lender. Lenders care about your business valuation, after all – they have a direct interest in your company’s well-being and would much rather lend to a business that has built good value versus one that has marginal value.
Securing a Loan
The balance sheet is based on cost and not on market value. Assets are based on the original cost. Bankers look at the income statement and the balance sheet to determine loan risk. One common ratio that lenders place great emphasis on is the Debt to Equity Ratio (liabilities to book value). Book value is “total assets less total liabilities.”
While the Debt to Equity ratio has merit and compares the book value to debt, it does not measure a company’s ‘real’ risk or the relationship of debt to the market value of the assets.
The ultimate measure of risk in a business is a comparison of the company’s liabilities to the business value (market value of equity). A business valuation would help determine the market value of the equity. Specifically, the Discounted Cash Flow method used in a business valuation is the best measure. The Discounted Cash Flow is the present value of the future cash flow of the business. If this amount is greater than the liabilities, it means the company can pay its obligations. As this ratio (DCF to liabilities) increases above 1, the company has an increased probability of paying its obligations. When the ratio becomes 3 to 1, it means the company can pay its obligations by 3 times.
If a company has good value, it is better to show the banker that value rather than having the lender only look at the reduced book value. Remember, the lender is loaning to a company and it is comforting to know that company has done a good job at building its market value of assets and equity.
Review Value Components
A business is often an owner’s largest investment. As such, there are many benefits in getting the ultimate report card that reflects the latest developments of a company—a business valuation. A review of how the value has changed over the past year and why the changes occurred, can be instrumental in decision making. Valuations utilize earnings performance and forecasted assumptions to define the fair market value.
Reasons for an Annual Valuation
| Review Value Components | Stay on top of performance trends and how it impacts value. |
| Determine Bonus Compensation | Compensation should be partially tied to company performance. |
| Buy – Sell Agreement | Discover market conditions and values before discussions begin. |
| Shareholder Buyouts | Review shareholder value and proposed investments early on. |
| Secure Bank Financing | Clearly identify business value and financial model for loans. |
| Planning ESOP or Estate/Gift Tax | Identify value for tax purposes or for planning ESOP purchase. |
Owners should review the main components of the valuation: a normalized income statement, the adjusted balance sheet, the projected owner’s discretionary income and how the market views your industry. To improve future value, profit and cash flow, specific targets need to be set and plans need to be made. For your largest investment, an annual valuation is well worth it.
Determine Bonus Compensation
Executive compensation is often comprised of wages and a bonus which can be tied to many benchmarks—sales, profits and other measures.
Every part of the organization, from sales, manufacturing, office personnel and marketing to accounting and purchasing, delivers results that impact the value of the business. As a way to bring the various groups together and understand how each other contributes to value, a bonus based on business value could be a positive and motivational option.
Buy – Sell Agreement
A business owner works hard and when they sell, they want to attract the right price. Careful planning is necessary to have a good exit strategy. That strategy usually involves attracting the right buyer, negotiating the right price, and finding a buyer who shares and appreciates what has been built.
To attract the right buyer and negotiate the best price, the company has to be performing at its best. The company needs to set its objectives and measure the results to appraise their progress. This should be conducted on a consistent schedule, such as at the company’s year-end.
It is important to understand the underlying components of business value: earnings, recasted financial statements, forward looking cash flow statements, discounted cash flow and the market multiples on which companies are selling.
A business valuation is a great way to tie together the essential information from which a business owner can plan and measure progress.
Shareholder Buy-outs
In small business, events can change quickly and unexpectedly, especially if there are multiple owners of a business. Often, an opportunity comes along for a person who wishes to take their money off the table and invest in another project. Maybe an owner decides they just want to take their chips off the table, and not be responsible for personal guarantees and day-to-day business operations.
It is a prudent process to have an annual appraisal of the business so all investors can agree to the dynamics of the business value or at least be familiar with the value components. Having had prior discussions on how earnings or future cash flow should be measured, reduces complexity when negotiating a partnership sale. There can be many financial terms and ideas to discuss, which is best to do in advance. For example, do some want to consider working capital changes in the owner’s discretionary cash flow, or not? Some will argue working capital is a financing issue, and others will argue that it impacts cash flow and should be considered. Technically, both are right. If a business valuation becomes part of the planning process every year, it can help improve operations and future value. Valuations are also a great tool for shareholders to understand value and the current market conditions.
ESOPs
Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) are used by businesses for a wide variety of reasons from providing incentive compensation to employees as a benefit, to selling the business to the employee base. In either case, an annual business valuation can bring insight for private companies on past and future operations.
A business valuation helps provide an accurate picture of the health of the business. A close review of value and the underlying value drivers are important components when considering whether an ESOP is a reasonable alternative for the outright sale of a business.
Also, owners might require tax planning with their advisor and need to have a valuation to discuss taxes implications, timing, and other aspects of a sale or distribution. Understanding business value allows for careful planning to ensure the success of the business and strategic estate planning.
Summary
Business valuations have a place in planning the ongoing operations of a business. The business valuation culminates in a fair market value that is based on the fundamentals of the business.
It is beneficial to understand the annual changes in the underlying fundamentals of the business, so improvements can be made.
When planning an exit strategy, the business owner is in a better position if they are familiar with their business valuation and they have spent years using one in the planning process.