Business Valuation Pheonix Arizona
How are Phoenix, AZ Businesses Valued?
Have you ever assessed the value of your Phoenix business? Finding that number can be a difficult process involving a whole slew of factors, from where you’re located to what “value” means to you. While the precise “value” of a business is a somewhat nebulous concept, there are consistent methods of assessment that can set you on the right track if you’re trying to find the value of your business. If this sounds technical, don’t worry. 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 Business Valuation Services in Phoenix
Call Redwood Valuation Partners for your next business valuation (206) 660-1295
Why Get Your Phoenix Business Valued?
A business valuation could be conducted for several reasons, but often it is done because a business’s owner wants to know how much the company is worth. Don’t try to go into business negotiations about selling a business before you’ve gotten a valuation from a skilled accountant who’s an expert in the field.
A business valuation can also help show you where your business’ value comes from. The value of any one business could come from entirely different sources than a different business. It might be surprising to learn that a business with a very high value in Phoenix is perhaps not as highly valued in a different city. By the same token, hidden value may lurk in a business that doesn’t seem as impressive at first glance. It all depends on your perspective.
That’s why expertise is crucial in a business valuation. In addition to understanding your business, an accountant doing a valuation should know the ins and outs of finance, venture capital, tax law and other fields. 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.
What Approaches Are There to Business Valuation?
When assessing the value of any business, there are three broad approaches that are considered standard. There could be other approaches to business valuation, but the three described here encompass the most common methods. These methods apply to an array of businesses, whether they’re in Phoenix or elsewhere. Each business has its own particulars that will ultimately determine the approach that is the most appropriate for it.
Looking at Assets
While it may sound obvious, there are actually a few approaches to looking at a business’s assets In this approach, a business’s investments are added up to determine value. An accountant going forward with an asset-based mindset is theoretically attempting to imagine what it would cost to set up another, identical business. This reveals what that original business is worth (what kinds of assets it has) and what liabilities it has. The difference between the assets and the liabilities of the company is the business value.
Of course, this approach is deceptively simple. This process gains complexity when the accountant has to decide which assets to include. A going concern asset-based approach or a liquidation asset-based approach will help you move forward with this appraisal.
A going concern asset-based approach is a little more straightforward. Value here is determined based on the value of the assets the accountant finds in the business contrasted with the cost of any liabilities. 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. For example, a sole proprietorship in which assets are in the name of the business’ owner are not good candidates for 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
It can be useful in a valuation to look at the bigger picture and see what a business is worth compared to the rest of the market. For example, you could compare your business to others located in Phoenix. The goal is to see what your business would be worth by comparing it to other similar businesses.
An approach that is concerned with the market as a whole takes a much more detailed view of factors outside of just the details of your business’s finances. 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.
It would be great if the sort of information necessary for this approach was easy to obtain, but it is not always the case that competing businesses will divulge the necessary figures. Private and protected information such as non-competition clauses can prove a barrier to obtaining some of the information needed to make a valuation.
Making a Valuation Based on Income or Earnings
This approach to business valuation looks at potential and future value in order to draw conclusions. However, this method starts in the present, looking at the earnings of the business today to try to predict its future earnings.
Of course, assessing value this way comes along with the risk of assumptions and predictions that invite uncertainty. There is, however, reliable data to back up the value assessment made through this method. One method to smooth the bumps in the road in this method is to “normalize” a business’s earnings so there are no remarkable costs or windfalls that could skew figures. The market itself can produce spikes and dips that require an additional capitalization factor to be figured into the assessment.
There are, as with other methods, additional considerations here, such as the type of business you run. If a business is strongly linked with its owner and that owner sells or leaves the business, an evaluation based on past performance could lose its validity depending on how customers react to the change.
What Kinds of Valuations Exist?
The types of valuations possible go beyond those meant strictly for businesses trying to sell. A business valuation is not the only type of assessment that is possible. A different reason for a valuation could include something such as intellectual property.
409A Valuations
A 409A valuation is conducted for the purpose of evaluating the stocks associated with the company. Many businesses offer stock to their employees and contractors. 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.
It’s not as confusing as it seems. 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. The fair market value determined by this valuation is a benchmark at or above which employees given stock must be able to sell. If your company issues other forms of deferred compensation, including things like bonus plans, then this type of valuation may be required by law.
Sometimes it is a matter of compliance with the law to get a 409A valuation for your business. Additional 409a valuations could be required at the end of a new round of funding or once a year, even if you have gotten this type of valuation in the past already.
While you can do a 409A valuation yourself, a skilled accountant can guide you through the process with expertise to make sure you don’t hit any bumps along the way. 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.
Business Valuations/Looking at Business Valuations
Some of the reasons for a business valuation include things such as entity discussions and business negotiations, but they are also useful while planning a business or estate. Perhaps you are interested in finding the likely selling price of your business on the market. Others desire a business valuation when researching things such as tax liability.
Whatever the reason, a skilled valuator can help you get equity and enterprise valuations. At Redwood, we’ve seen our clients’ needs expand as our own business has expanded. We years of experience and a comprehensive team, we are prepared to take on a host of business valuations needs. Business valuation could include tax or financial reporting, assessment of fair market value or for purchase price allocations.
The intimate details of IRS regulations, business and finance can be a complex maze to try to sort through. You know your business, but evaluating your business against all applicable laws, regulations and financial considerations takes an expert in the field of business valuation.
IP and Patent Valuations
Finding the value of intellectual property and patents is a specialized field. 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. But you might also seek an IP and patent valuation in order to plan, secure a merger or acquisition, or during litigation.
Don’t neglect to protect your valuable intellectual property or patent by getting a valuation of it. It is sometimes complicated to find the value of these intangible assets. 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.
Purchase Price Allocations (ASC 805)
Purchase price allocations, or ASC 805, may be necessary for your business. 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. Of course, the overall goal is to figure out the purchase price for an acquisition.
A purchase price allocation ultimately comes down to determining what various parts of a purchased business are worth, including assets and liabilities. In a transaction, a lot of smaller pieces of a company can be traded and purchased and it’s important to understand the value of all of these.
Getting a Business Valuation Done Right
Here at Redwood Valuation Partners you will find the expertise you need for your valuation. Whether you are comparing your business to others in Phoenix or looking elsewhere, a business valuation can show you the fair market value of your business and assets and keep you in compliance with any tax code regulations.
Knowing the fair market value of your business can help your future. This may be because you intend to sell your company or because you want to stay in compliance with 409A. You also could seek a business valuation in order to protect a patent. The intricacies can seem overwhelming. That’s where experienced accountants come in to help inform and guide you. We know how to assist you with a business valuation whether it is for tax issues, value assessment or any other reason.
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.
Whatever your reason for getting a business valuation, we can offer client focus, experience and expertise that can make the process as easy as possible for you. We go beyond the standard valuation to offer a free consultation, as well as audit defense and customized reports. We will even help you get started if you aren’t sure. And our customized reports will include all the detail you need to make business decisions based on your valuation. See both subjective and objective elements of your valuation with an in-depth look at your business. Plus, you can take one less burden off your plate with audit defense that guarantees audit defense at any time without high additional costs.
If you do want to find the value of your business or assets, having skilled assistance can be a boon. 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 Phoenix, AZ.
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 Pheonix
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
