Business Valuation Jacksonville Florida
How are Jacksonville, FL Businesses Valued?
Do you know how much your Jacksonville business is worth? Assessing the value of your Jacksonville business can be more complicated than just working out the value of its assets. The value of a business means different things to different people, but there are some core principles of business valuation that can help you get the right valuation done for your Jacksonville business. This might seem complicated, but we can help. Our experts at Redwood Valuation Partners have years of experience in business valuation and are eager to help you through the process from start to finish.
409A Valuation, IRC 409A Valuation, Purchase Price Allocation in Jacksonville, FL
Call Redwood Valuation Partners for your next business valuation (206) 660-1295
Why Get Your Jacksonville Business Valued?
There are a myriad of reasons to get your business valued, but perhaps the most obvious one is in order to see how much it will sell for. If you are considering selling your business, it’s critical to get a valuation first so that you can go into negotiations with potential buyers armed with knowledge and data.
A business valuation shows not just overall worth, but also where that value originates from. Teasing out all the reasons a business is valuable is complicated, though. A local business that is important to the community in Jacksonville may have a high value for that particular community, but not for a potential buyer. By the same token, hidden value may lurk in a business that doesn’t seem as impressive at first glance. The particulars of a business will determine the outcome.
That’s why expertise is crucial in a business valuation. Getting your business valued requires knowledge of finance, tax law, venture capital and the audit process, as well as of your business. If you are interested in stock compensation, expenses or selling price, you will see a lot of benefits from a well-done business valuation. However, any advantages of doing a valuation are up to you and your business. We at Redwood offer a free consultation for clients who need advice getting started with a business valuation.
Approaches to Business Valuation
An accounting doing a business valuation will likely take one of three main approaches to assessing the value of a business. There could be other approaches to business valuation, but the three described here encompass the most common methods. No matter where your business is located, these methods can help you find your business’s value. The right approach for you depends on you, your business and what you hope to get out of a valuation.
Looking at Assets
While it may sound obvious, there are actually a few approaches to looking at a business’s assets The aim of an asset-based approach is to total the investments of a business. An accountant going forward with an asset-based mindset is theoretically attempting to imagine what it would cost to set up another, identical business. Assets and liabilities are much easier to see through this theoretical new business. The difference between the assets and the liabilities of the company is the business’ value.
Of course, this approach is deceptively simple. In practice, determining which assets and liabilities to include, and how, is a tricky process. A going concern asset-based approach or a liquidation asset-based approach will help you move forward with this appraisal.
The first option is a going concern asset-based approach. Simply put, the accountant can subtract the value of any liabilities from the assets that the business has. In the other approach, a liquidation asset-based approach, the accountant first imagines that all the assets and liabilities were paid off, as though the business was liquidated. After a real liquidation, the business would receive cash; this now becomes the business’s value in a valuation.
The specifics of your business may reveal whether this sort of approach is right for you. Asset-based approaches are not appropriate for all business. As one example, a business that is owned in the name of a single person ퟀ�” a sole proprietorship ퟀ�” should be advised not to take this approach. By contrast, corporations spread out the ownership of assets throughout the company and could benefit more greatly from a valuation based on assets.
Determining Value Based on the Market
Sometimes it is important to take in the whole picture, meaning the entire market, and not just your one business. For example, you could compare your business to others located in Jacksonville. A method that uses comparison to determine value take into account other factors impacting the market as a whole.
This approach has the benefit of viewing overall market conditions rather than having a more narrow focus. In this approach, it is also very important to consider what a buyer in the market would currently pay for your business and what the fair market value would be.
Unfortunately, it is not always easy to get competitors with your business to reveal the sort of information needed for a market-based valuation. Private and protected information such as non-competition clauses can prove a barrier to obtaining some of the information needed to make a valuation.
Looking at Income or Earnings
This approach to business valuation looks at potential and future value in order to draw conclusions. By looking at the income of the business in the present day, it is possible to make a strong prediction about future value.
It is not an exact science to predict the future of a business and therefore an earning-focused approach can invite an element of risk. However, they can use hard data to back up this prediction. Often, a valuator will “normalize” current earnings, removing abnormal costs and windfalls, to try to get a reliable set of figures to work with. Sometimes, these predictions are divided by capitalization factors that fluctuate based on the market.
Again, sole proprietorship and the exact style of business can impact the ultimate valuation here. How customers view a business is a factor that is not captured in income figures or market values but that can impact a business’s value.
Types of Valuations
The types of valuations possible go beyond those meant strictly for businesses trying to sell. Business valuations are just one type of valuation that is possible. Someone with a patent, for example, may also seek a valuation of their property.
409A Valuations
A 409(a) valuation looks at stock as it relates to the value of your business. Stocks are frequently given to employees and contractors as part of their earnings from working. Stocks given to employees are regarded by the IRS as deferred income given to someone in one year but actually paid in a different year.
This may seem overwhelming. It simply means those stocks have to be accounted for. A benefit of this form of business valuation is that it can determine a company’s fair market value. Any employee offered stock as part of their compensation must be able to buy equity in your company at or above the fair market value determined through this valuation. If your company issues other forms of deferred compensation, including things like bonus plans, then this type of valuation may be required by law.
Often, you will know you need this type of valuation because it will be legally required of your business. And if you’ve already gotten a 409A valuation, ensure you are getting re-evaluated once a year and/or any time your company closes a new funding round, in accordance with the law.
It is advised that you don’t try to do a 409A valuation yourself, even though you can, and instead let an accountant deal with unforeseen difficulties that you aren’t prepared to handle. A Redwood valuator will know the ins and outs of this type of valuation, as well as the best approach for you and your business as you undergo this process.
Valuations for Businesses
Whether you’re negotiating a transaction, planning your business or estate, or involved in entity conversations, business valuations cover a wide range of situations and companies. You may be hoping to see how much you could make by selling your company. Or you might be hoping to assess your tax liability by looking at your business’ value.
A practiced accountant can help navigate enterprise and equity valuations for businesses. As our clients have expanded, so has Redwood, increasing the size and expertise of our team. We years of experience and a comprehensive team, we are prepared to take on a host of business valuations needs. Perhaps you want to ensure compliance with tax reporting or, conversely, find the fair market value of your business.
IRS regulations, business needs and finance are complex fields that call for knowledge and specialization. A valuation is an added complexity on top of keeping your business running, so allow our accountants to handle valuations for you.
Valuations for IP and Patents
Patents and intellectual property also require their own valuations. Most businesses do have some sort of intangible property that want to protect and valuate, though. IP and patents are always under threat from competing trademarks and leaked trade secrets, as well as tax concerns. Other reasons for IP and patent valuations include business planning, mergers and acquisitions and litigation support.
Make sure your patent or intellectual property is protected by understanding what it’s worth on the market. Defining assets that are not necessarily tangible can be complex, though. But the value of IP and patents cannot be understated, especially in recent times when so much of a business’s value comes from these assets in particular.
Assessing Purchase Price Allocations for Business
Another requirement businesses encounter is ASC 805. This requirement relates to the acquisition of businesses and includes determining the fair market value of the transaction consideration, intangible assets, liabilities and certain tangible assets as of the date of acquisition. Purchase price is the crucial outcome of such an evaluation of a business.
The goal of a purchase price allocation is to tease apart the pieces of a business, such as liabilities and assets, to find its fair market value. It is not always the case that a business is sold as one whole entity; it may be sold in smaller pieces.
The Last Word on Business Valuations
Come to Redwood Valuation Partners when the time comes for your business valuation. Ensure that your Jacksonville business meets the requirements of the tax code and applicable regulations while finding the value of the assets, liabilities and intellectual property you hold.
Knowing the fair market value of your business can help your future. Whether you are looking to assess your value for the sake of selling or have yearly tax considerations, a business valuation will help. Intellectual property can be assessed and protected through a business valuation. The intricacies can seem overwhelming. A helping hand through the process of business valuation can make the process easier. Whether it’s finance, tax issues or business, our accountants are prepared to navigate the technicalities with you.
We understand the ins and outs of venture capital and auditing and take a teamwork-focused approach. Our valuation associates and analysts have worked in their field for years, becoming respected experts. Many of the people we work with come from high-pressure environments with tough deadlines. We let you get to the important work of running your business while we take care of the intricacies of business valuation.
Whether you want a valuation for selling, taxes or any other reason, we can promise client focus and years of experience when working alongside you. Along with audit defense, we will give you a free consultation before beginning your valuation, which comes with customized report. We can assist you from the very beginning if you don’t know where to start. And our customized reports will include all the detail you need to make business decisions based on your valuation. The comprehensive valuation report will include subjective and objective factors relevant to your particular business. Finally, you will have nothing to fear from audits, as our audit defense is prepared to protect you should the occasion arise.
The bottom line is that a business valuation, for any reason, is best approached with help. Get Redwood’s experienced team to assist you as you work through a business valuation for any reason. A free consultation may be the perfect starting point.
Our clients have direct access to Redwood’s managing partners and directors. You know your business better than anyone, and the valuation process includes subjective assessments that require your input. We guide you through this process, save your time, and allow you to focus on what matters – growing your business. Get a quality company appraisal in Jacksonville, FL.
The Redwood team has performed many IRC 409A Valuation Seattle engagements, and we offer a wide variety of business appraisals to Seattle. Other services include ASC 805 valuation (purchase price allocations), IP valuation, patent valuation, impairment valuation, carried interest valuation, portfolio valuations, IRC 382 valuations, and many other types of stock valuations and business valuations.
With over 50 years of combined valuation experience, we provide top-tier expertise and client service at a reasonable price. Our experience as CFOs and Controllers of venture firms and startups separates us from our competitors who lack the boots-on-the-ground experience that our clients have, which we also share.
If you plan to issue stock options in the next twelve months or have any questions about potential valuations, give us a call for a free consultation and we will give you candid advice about whether a valuation may be needed and how we might help. Our goal is to help our clients achieve their desired goals with minimal burden.
409A Valuation Jacksonville
Redwood Valuation Partners was formed behind an idea of service positioning us as one of the most well-respected companies in the industry. Our expert knowledge of finance, tax, venture capital, and the audit process helps us understand the difficulties of start-ups. We speak your language! Give us a call and learn how we can help. For information on Business Valuations follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook and find us on Google+ too! (206) 660-1295
