Why Is a Business Valuation necessary?
Because ownership interests in privately held companies often represent a significant portion of one’s estate and/or portfolio. The value, or worth, of an interest in a privately held company, as opposed to stock in a public company, is usually unknown because there is no active market to sell or trade that interest from which to ascertain or approximate value.
Value determinations are most commonly needed to calculate estate tax upon death, split up family assets in a divorce, and negotiate value in a purchase, sale or merger of a business enterprise. Other common reasons why a holder of an interest in a privately held company might require a business valuation include:
One of the best reasons for obtaining a business valuation is to use it as a management tool. A prime objective for all business enterprises is to improve and maximize its value to the owners. A properly prepared business valuation provides management with insightful information that helps identify company strengths and weaknesses that affect value, allowing them to more effectively focus their energies in places that really count.
Periodic business valuation also serves as a measurement tool to help owners assess overall success and management effectiveness. The National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, the nation’s leading organization supporting the business valuation discipline, recommends a valuation of a business enterprise be performed every two years for management purposes, if for no other reason.
