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Documents Needed for a Business Valuation

Documents Needed for a Business Valuation

When receiving a business valuation, you will need to provide various financial and business statements. The following is a list of common documents needed to perform a business valuation. For additional questions, schedule a free consultation with Peak Business Valuation.

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Financial Statements

Analysts typically require the last 3-5 years of financial statements as well as the most current period. Financial statements include a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. Financial statements enable analysts to gain a good understanding of the performance of the business over time.

 

Tax Returns

For most business valuations, the last two years of tax returns are needed. In cases like an SBA loan, a business appraisal will consider the last three years of historical tax returns. If the business is a pass-through entity, i.e. a sole proprietorship, partnership, S corporation, or LLC, the owner’s personal tax returns may also be needed.

 

List of Intellectual Capital

Intellectual capital is a very valuable intangible asset in business valuation. There are four main categories of intangible assets: human capital, customer capital, structural capital, and social capital. Examples may include patents, copyrights, trademarks, and goodwill, among others.

 

Business Forecasts and Projections

This may include forecasts for balance sheets and income statements. The information contained here provides a forecast for the direction of profits.

 

Business Plans and Organization Documents

A business plan shows the strategic direction of the company. Organization documents are also useful to present the set-up of the business. This may include articles of incorporation or organization and bylaws.

 

Owner’s Discretionary Earnings

Providing a list of the owner’s discretionary earnings will allow the analyst to correctly add back in the appropriate expenses. This helps to determine an accurate cash flow. Owner’s discretionary earnings include any personal expenses the owner ran through the business. Things like a vehicle payment as well as the owner’s salary are examples.

 

Other Potential Documents

  • Photos of the facility and equipment
  • Copies of any recent equipment appraisals
  • Any issues that may impact the value of the business including legal issues, financial situation, or ownership information
  • Copy of current lease agreement or most recent real estate appraisal, if applicable
  • Any prior transactions

 

These documents for a business valuation allow the analyst to determine the company’s past and potential future performance to determine typical profits. This information is then used to determine the value of the company. This list is not exhaustive but provides the basic information a valuation analyst will request. Documentation helps accurately determine a business value as well as maximize it.

Peak Business Valuation would love to help you with a business valuation. We work with small business owners in a variety of industries to maximize company value. Questions are always welcome. Please reach out by scheduling a free consultation today!

 

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