Business Valuations
Buying or Selling a Business?
Do You Need a Business Valuation
Meet our Certified Valuation Team
One of the most important questions in this process is, "What is the Business Worth?"
At Axis we have an In-House Certified Valuation team that can give you the most accurate answer to that question and create the most powerful Reports and Pitchbooks which can accelerate sales closings on average 3 months faster than without.
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Download our Sample Valuation Report
Our easy-to-understand, professional reports adhere to NACVA standards, which empower our clients to move forward with confidence.
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Are You Confident in the Value of Your Business?
Your company depends on you to propel it into the future, and you depend on it. Whether that involves transitioning it to new ownership, securing capital funding for its growth, or reaching a new partnership agreement – your hard work requires and deserves a qualified, independent business valuation you can bank on.
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Buying or Selling a Business? You Need a Valuation
With a business valuation, you can move forward with important transactions and enter into negotiations with ensured reliability, reduced financial risk, and unparalleled confidence. Through our strategic alliance with our affiliate partner with over 20 years’ experience, we’ll help position your business for the most favorable outcome in the following areas:
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Mergers and Acquisitions
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Sales and Divestitures
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Buy/Sell Agreements
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Share Redemptions
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Business Planning
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Retirement/Succession Planning
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Employee Benefit Plans
Which Valuation Report is Right for You?
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Business valuation reports can be prepared for many different purposes. That's why we offer two types of business valuation reports: Informational Valuations (Broker Opinion of Value Reports) and Certified Valuations. Below is a summary of what these two reports entail, how they differ, and when you might benefit most from each.
Broker Opinion of Value
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About Broker Opinion of Value Reports
BOV Reports are less time-intensive to produce and more affordable. 20-30+ pages, these reports provide valuable insight to establish a market price, support exit planning or inform internal business planning decisions. This report is best suited for individuals who don’t need a certified valuation and are comfortable with more limited procedures and reporting. All reports are prepared by financial analysts of our valuation team.
Common Uses:
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Buying a business
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Selling a business
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Partner buy-in/buy-outs
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Exit planning
Essentials Informational Valuation Report:
20+ pages; includes valuation summary based on market and asset approaches. Market approach includes sales and SDE multiples. Available for businesses with less than $2M in revenue.
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Price: $1,900
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Turnaround: 5 Business Days
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Standard Informational Valuation Report:
35+ pages; includes everything in the Essentials Report plus EBITDA multiples (if applicable), capitalization of cash flow method, multi-stage growth method, financials and industry benchmarking ratios. Partner (you) or client collects required data and completes financials spreadsheet in the BizWorth portal. Also includes assurance services such as SIC/NAICS code validation, owner’s compensation analysis, state tax verification and financials confidence check. Available for businesses with less than $2M in revenue.
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Price: $2,900
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Turnaround: 5 Business Days
About Certified Valuation Reports
Certified Reports are prepared by a certified business appraiser. Include in-depth written analysis of the nature & history of company, industry & economy, financial analysis and conclusion of value. This type of report is best when you expect a lot of scrutiny over the value or when there is a high level of interest in detailed support and explanation of the valuation.
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Price: $7,500 (Typical size company. Request a quote).
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Turnaround: 4 Weeks
Common Uses:
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Gift / estate planning
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Employee benefit plans
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Litigation
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Partner dispute resolution
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Bank loans
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Divorces
Due Diligence Reports
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Due diligence is a vital step when buying a business. A thorough review of the target’s financial records, legal issues and market positioning is important to ensuring you don’t stumble into a costly post-transaction surprise. Due diligence can also help you confirm your perception of the target’s value to your business, arrive at an appropriate offer price and structure a favorable transaction.
Pitch Book (note: you may prefer to identify this reports as a Confidential Information Memorandum or CIM)
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A Pitch book is a 25 +/- page marketing document, typically sent to potential buyers, that is used to convey important and sometimes confidential information about the history, key employees, products and services, market conditions and financials of a business.
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Price: $2,500
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Turnaround: 2 weeks
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Quality of Earnings Report (QoE)
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Quality of Earnings (QoE) reports provide a more affordable and value-added way to estimate the future performance of a business to support the due diligence phase of an acquisition. The QoE report includes a careful analysis of historical revenues and expenses, sales and major customer concentrations and expense add-backs. All reports are prepared by our team of NACVA-certified Master Analysts in Financial Forensics (MAFF).
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Price: $12,900 (typical size company; request a quote)
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Turnaround: 6 weeks
What is a Business Valuation?
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Business valuations are commonly referred to as business appraisals that are performed by certified valuators who adhere to published valuation standards set forth by well-known, accredited organizations. A business valuation report issued by a firm with certified valuators holds credibility. Our valuation experts are certified by the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA) – the most recognized and esteemed organization in the valuation industry.
When Do You Need a Business Valuation?
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Whether you are a business owner contemplating the sale of your business, raising bank capital or investor equity, pursuing a legal claim, preparing your succession or planning any array of accounting and IRS-related reporting events – you will want to obtain a valuation report that is credible and protects you against others from discrediting the valuation.
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If you are facing any of these life events or at risk of possible IRS-related penalties, then we highly recommend the insight provided by a business valuation report.
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Your business valuation report will:
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Inform the list price and provide the fair market value of your business if you’re selling
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Deliver the credible and reliable value of your business if buying out a shareholder
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Provide the value of your shares, as reported to the IRS, if gifting to a family or friend
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Add valuable credibility during negotiations or legal proceedings
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In some instances, you may choose to provide the valuation report to your counterparty to further strengthen the reliability of the valuation and remove barriers. In other cases, you may be required to disclose the valuation report as required by the IRS when gifting shares or purchasing a business.
Meet Our Leading Valuation Experts
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Shelia Darby, MBA, CVA, MAFF
Affiliate Valuation Expert
Shelia Darby has 20+ years as an experienced valuation and financial professional. Ms. Darby is a recognized thought leader valuing complex initiatives and companies. She has worked on projects ranging from asset to company valuations. Past projects have included work for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small, privately held businesses.
Ms. Darby provides certified valuation reports that deliver the insight and credibility needed to facilitate deal making and successful resolutions. As a certified business appraiser, she adheres to the high standards set forth by well-recognized, accredited organizations.
For Axis Business Advisors, she provides the highest level of third-party financial analytics and valuation assistance.
Ms. Darby provides certified business valuations of closely-held businesses. Her 20+ years of valuation experience spans numerous industries, ranging from energy/mining, construction/real estate, retail/wholesale and manufacturing to finance/insurance, services, professional and health. Ms. Darby formerly served as the Assistant Treasurer of Transocean and held various valuation, finance, and strategy roles at ConocoPhillips, AGL Resources, and Enron Corporation. While at ConocoPhillips, she led the strategy and finance department of the company’s largest business unit in Norway. She also enjoyed teaching the valuation and economic modeling course to over 250 employees located throughout North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. During her tenure, Ms. Darby was responsible for reviewing the valuation and finance approvals for over 100 acquisitions and dispositions.
Ms. Darby holds an M.B.A. from Rice University, a B.B.A. in Finance from Baylor University, and professional certifications from the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA), including the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) and Master Analyst in Financial Forensics (MAFF) designations. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
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Ms. Darby is a current board member of the Ethics and Oversight Board of NACVA and President of the NACVA Houston State Chapter. She is also the Treasurer of the Texas Association of Business Brokers – Houston Chapter. Personally, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family where she is often found in the stands at a softball field watching her daughter play.
Meet Our Certified Valuation Expert & Analysis Team Lead
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Robert Brand, CVA
Lead Valuation Expert
Robert Brand is an experienced valuation and financial professional. Mr. Brand provides certified valuation reports that deliver the insight and credibility needed to facilitate deal making and successful resolutions. As a certified business appraiser, he adheres to the high standards set forth by well-recognized, accredited organizations. Mr. Brand takes pride in working with business owners, financial professionals, business brokers, and legal professionals to provide airtight, credible and comprehensive valuation reports.
For Axis Business Advisors, he provides the highest level of financial analytics and valuation service to our clients.
Mr. Brand provides certified business valuations of closely-held businesses. Prior to working in the valuation field, Mr. Brand was a non-commissioned officer in the United States Army, serving two tours in Afghanistan leading an operations team and training foreign allies in route clearance techniques and procedures.
Mr. Brand holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) certification from the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA).
Mr. Brand is a member of the NACVA. Outside of the office, he spends most of his time cooking, playing golf, and spending time with his two dogs.
