ServicesBusiness Valuation
Business Valuation in Bee Cave
We tell you what your business is worth and why. We look at your real cash flow, your books, your lease and the permits and licenses a buyer will ask about. You get a plain number with the reasons behind it, free and kept confidential.
A number you can explain to a buyer
A valuation is our best read on what a qualified buyer would pay for your business today. We start with what the business earns for its owner, then look at what makes that money safe or shaky in a buyer's eyes.
Most owners know their sales. Fewer know their seller's discretionary earnings, the figure most small-business buyers and lenders actually price from. We build that number with you, line by line, so nothing is guessed.
We also look at the paperwork early. A health permit or liquor license that will not carry over to a new owner can stall a deal or cut the price. A certificate of occupancy or sales tax registration that has lapsed does the same. We would rather you hear about it from us now than from a buyer's lawyer later.
What the valuation covers
- Owner earnings rebuilt
- We go year by year through your recent federal returns and the income statements your bookkeeper keeps. Owner salary, personal costs paid by the business and one-off expenses get added back. What is left is the cash a new owner could count on.
- Comparable sales
- We line your business up against sales of similar companies, matched by industry and size. That sets a realistic range for the multiple buyers tend to pay.
- Permit and license check
- We list each license, registration and state filing the business depends on. For each one we note whether it moves to a new owner, needs a fresh application or has an open problem. A lapsed franchise tax report turns up here, not at closing.
- Lease and asset review
- We read the lease for years remaining, renewal options and whether it can be assigned. We also inventory equipment, stock and anything owned free and clear, because those affect both the price and how a buyer pays for it.
- Your value report
- We hand you a short report with the range, the math behind it and the few changes most likely to push it up. Everyday words, no filler.
When it makes sense to get a valuation
A sale is on your horizon
Plans to sell in two or three years still benefit from a number today. It leaves time to fix the things that pull the price down.
Someone made you an offer
Offers that show up out of the blue tend to run low. With a valuation in hand, you can judge one on facts instead of a hunch.
A partner is ready to leave
A buyout needs a price both sides can live with. Our Partner Buyouts and Succession page explains how that kind of deal gets put together.
Your tax returns understate profit
Buyers and lenders price off what the returns show, not what you say you make. We help you see the gap and figure out what can be backed up with records.
Your filings have not been checked in a while
If it has been years since you looked at your licenses, registrations or state filings, a valuation is a good reason to review them before a buyer does.
What drives your business's value
You pay nothing for the valuation. The price a buyer offers is another matter, and a few things decide it. These are the ones we look at hardest.
Earnings you can prove
Buyers pay for cash flow they can verify. Profit backed by tax returns and bank statements carries much more weight than figures on a spreadsheet.
How much runs through you
When customers, suppliers and staff all depend on the owner, a new buyer sees risk. Written procedures and a capable manager lift the number.
Lease length and terms
Lenders get nervous about a lease with little time left or one that cannot be assigned. Several years remaining plus renewal options support a better price.
Compliance and paperwork
Current permits, clean state filings and a valid certificate of occupancy make a business easier to buy and finance. Open violations or unapproved build-outs get priced in as risk.
Sales trend and customer spread
Steady or growing revenue from many customers is worth more than flat revenue that leans on one large account.
How a valuation works with us
- 1
Start with a private phone call
Tell us what the business does, how long you have run it and what prompted the question. What you share stays with us. We finish with a short list of documents to collect.
- 2
Send us your records
Tax returns, financial statements, the lease and your license list are the core. We can meet at our office or work by phone and video, whichever fits your schedule.
- 3
We run the numbers
We rebuild earnings, check them against comparable sales and go through the license and lease items. Any gap in the records gets a question from us, not an assumption.
- 4
Review the results together
We go over the range and what drives it. If selling makes sense, our Sell a Business page lays out what comes next. If you decide to wait, the report is yours and you owe us nothing.
Business valuation questions
Is there really no charge?
None. We offer free, confidential valuations to any business owner who calls. Listing with us afterward is entirely your choice.
Can I keep this quiet from my staff and customers?
Yes. Your name and numbers stay private with us, and we can meet by phone or video outside business hours. Owners around Bee Cave and Lakeway often prefer evenings for that reason.
How is this different from a formal appraisal?
Ours is a broker's market valuation. It shows what a real buyer would likely pay for your business as the market stands right now. Some estate, divorce or lender situations require a formal appraisal from an independent appraiser. If yours does, we will say so up front.
What if my records are messy?
Plenty of owners start there. We work from what you have, usually tax returns and bank statements, and show you what a buyer will expect to see. Tidying the books before a sale often comes back to you in the price.
Why do you check licenses and permits?
Because buyers and lenders will check them too. Some transfer with the business and some do not, which means the new owner may have to reapply. Finding that out early lets us plan the timing so the deal does not stall.
Learn what your business is worth
Start with a phone call. We will tell you what to gather and keep every detail private.