Buying a small business requires a valuation that balances hard financial data with intangible risk factors. Most small businesses trade for their annual earnings, though high-growth or asset-heavy industries can reach significantly higher multiples. 1. Gather & Normalize Financials
Professionals typically use a combination of three main approaches to triangulate a fair price. How to value a business | British Business Bank buying a small business valuation
Before applying any valuation method, you must verify at least of financial history to ensure the records are clean and representative of the business's true performance. Buying a small business requires a valuation that
Examples : Owner's salary (above or below market rate), personal vehicle leases, one-time legal fees, or non-recurring repairs. 2. Choose a Valuation Approach Gather & Normalize Financials Professionals typically use a
: Collect profit and loss (P&L) statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and tax returns.
: Small business owners often run personal or one-time expenses through the company. You must "add back" these non-operational costs to see the "normalized" earnings.