Business valuation provides owners, families, advisors, and other stakeholders with an independent understanding of what a privately held business or ownership interest is worth. Whether the need arises from business planning, an ownership transfer, tax or estate matters, a transaction, or another important decision, a well-supported valuation provides a foundation for informed decision- making. Our team analyzes business metrics, current trends in the financial markets, and developments in your industry. We understand your competitive advantages and can help you engage in a proven process for strengthening your business and increasing its value.
Business valuation is a core area of Keystone’s practice, not simply an extension of exit planning. Both Donald Feldman and Izabela Szymanska are Certified Valuation Analysts (CVAs) with extensive experience valuing privately held businesses across a range of industries and for a variety of purposes.
Our valuation work includes business planning, ownership transfers, buy-sell matters, estate and gift planning, transactions, shareholder matters, and other situations in which owners and advisors need an independent, supportable understanding of value. We are also actively engaged in the valuation profession, including presenting on business valuation issues at national professional conferences.
This combination of valuation and transition-planning expertise allows us to understand both what a business is worth today and the factors that can influence its value over time.
We help clients understand value for exit planning, strategic planning, purchase and sale transactions, tax and estate matters, litigation support, and other important business decisions.
We use a Fair Market Value standard for most of our valuation work. What would a reasonable buyer pay for the business understanding all the important facts about the business and industry? Business valuation is a forward-looking endeavor. A buyer wants to estimate what the business is likely to generate in future returns. This requires an in-depth understanding of all the aspects of the business including: the industry, competitive environment, historical financial performance, opportunities for growth, management depth, operations, marketing, and human resources.
We apply recognized valuation methods including the income approach, market approach, and asset approach, selecting the methods most appropriate for the facts and circumstances. Our analysis considers historical and projected financial results, market data, risk factors, growth expectations, capital structure, and relevant economic and industry conditions.
Depending on the engagement, deliverables will include a full valuation report or a calculation of value report. Each deliverable is designed to clearly explain the valuation purpose, assumptions, procedures performed, selected methods, conclusion of value, and key factors affecting the result.
Our valuation process is objective, well-documented, and tailored to the client’s needs. We provide clear analysis that supports informed decision-making, improves transaction readiness, assists with regulatory or tax requirements, and helps stakeholders resolve complex financial questions with confidence.
You have spent blood, sweat, tears (not to mention time, money and sleepless nights) in building your business and now you are looking to cash out. How can you maximize the value of your business in the eyes of a buyer? Preparation.Make sure you understand…
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EBITDA, an acronym for Earnings Before Interest, Depreciation & Amortization, is one of the most widely used terms in the world of business valuation, mergers & acquisition, and financial analysis. One hears all the time that businesses are priced as a multiple of EBITDA—e.g. five…
My business valuation clients are frequently surprised by the in-depth analysis required in order to do a business valuation. The classic statement of business value is the “present worth of future cash flows”. This statement requires determining two key variables: 1) a good estimate of…
Gain a trusted advisor skilled in business succession. Contact us today at 717-405-1012 or via email for a confidential conversation about your business planning needs.
