ServicesBusiness Valuation
Business Valuation in Jonestown
We work out what your business would realistically sell for, using your actual earnings, the expenses a new owner would not carry, and the details buyers check first. It is free and confidential, and you get a clear number with the reasoning behind it.
A number you can actually plan around
A business valuation answers one question: what would a qualified buyer pay for this business today, and could they get the deal financed? Tax returns alone rarely tell the story. Most owners run personal expenses, one-time costs and their own salary through the books in ways that hide true earnings.
We rebuild the numbers so they show what the business earns for an owner. Then we compare that to how similar businesses are priced and test it against what a lender would support. The small items are where values drift: a missed add-back, a lease with two years left, inventory counted at retail.
Owners call us when they are thinking about selling, planning an exit years out, buying out a partner, or simply want to know where they stand. Every valuation is free and confidential, and nobody learns about it unless you tell them.
What goes into your valuation
- 01
Recast earnings
We start with your last three years of financials and adjust them to seller's discretionary earnings. That means adding back your salary, personal vehicle costs, one-time legal bills and similar items, each one listed so you can see it.
- 02
Add-back documentation
Every adjustment needs proof a buyer's accountant will accept. We note which add-backs are well supported and which ones are likely to be questioned, so there are no surprises later in the deal.
- 03
Market comparison
We look at what comparable businesses in your industry and size range have actually sold for, not asking prices. That gives a realistic multiple instead of a hopeful one.
- 04
Assets, inventory and lease review
Equipment, vehicles and inventory are counted at what a buyer would pay for them. We also read your lease, because remaining term and transfer terms can move value more than owners expect.
- 05
A financing check
Most buyers use outside financing. We test whether the earnings would cover debt payments at the suggested price, since a value no lender will back is not much use.
- 06
A plain-English walkthrough
You get the number, the range around it, and a conversation about what is pushing it up or down. Nothing is hidden in jargon.
Questions about Business Valuation?
Call(512) 270-6224Signs it is time for a valuation
You are thinking about selling
Even if the sale is a year or more away, knowing your value now gives you time to fix the things that would lower it.
A buyer has approached you
Unsolicited offers are common. Without your own valuation, you have no way to tell if the number is fair or a lowball.
A partner wants out
Buyouts go smoother when both sides start from the same independent number. See our Partner Buyouts and Succession page for how that process works.
Your books mix business and personal
If your accountant has kept taxable income low for years, your true earnings may be much higher than they look on paper. A recast shows the difference.
You are planning retirement
Your business may be your largest asset. A valuation lets you plan an exit around a real figure instead of a guess.
How a valuation works with us
- 1
A short first call
You tell us about the business, why you want a valuation and your timing. We explain what documents we need. Everything stays confidential from the first conversation.
- 2
Gathering the records
We ask for three years of tax returns and profit and loss statements, a current balance sheet, an equipment list and your lease. You can share them at our office or by video.
- 3
Recasting and research
We go through the financials line by line, build the add-back schedule, and pull comparable sales. Questions come back to you rather than being guessed at.
- 4
Reviewing the results together
We meet in person, by phone or by video to walk through the value range and what drives it. If you decide to sell, the same work becomes the base for your listing.
What moves the value of your business
Your valuation is free, so the real question is what raises or lowers the number. These are the factors that tend to matter most for owners around Jonestown and the Lake Travis area. Some you can improve before a sale.
- Clean, documented earnings
- Buyers and lenders pay for earnings they can verify. Well-kept books with clear add-backs support a higher multiple than records that need explaining.
- Owner dependence
- If customers, vendors and key decisions all run through you, the business is worth less to someone else. Trained staff and written procedures raise value.
- Customer concentration
- When one or two customers bring in a large share of revenue, buyers see risk. A broad customer base usually earns a better price.
- Lease and location terms
- A long, transferable lease at fair rent protects a buyer. A short lease or one the landlord can block lowers what a buyer will pay.
- Trend and condition
- Steady or growing revenue counts for more than one strong year. Well-maintained equipment matters too, since a buyer will price in anything that needs replacing soon.
Common questions about valuations
Does the valuation actually cost nothing?
It does. Every valuation we do is free and kept confidential. If you decide to list with us afterward, nothing is due up front, and you won't see retainers or hidden fees. Our pay comes only when the seller gets paid.
Could my staff or customers learn about it?
They shouldn't. The work stays confidential, and we speak only with you and anyone you bring in. We can meet at our office or by phone and video, so no one has to see us walking through your business.
Isn't this the same thing my accountant does?
Not quite. Your accountant keeps your reporting accurate and your taxes right. We read the business as a buyer and a lender would, recasting the earnings and checking them against real sales. Each view fills gaps in the other.
Am I committing to a sale by getting a valuation?
No. Plenty of owners use it to plan an exit that is years off or to choose what to work on first. Listing is never required.
What happens if the value comes in lower than I expected?
We give it to you straight and show the reasons. The shortfall usually traces back to a handful of items, such as thin documentation or a lease near its end, and we can go over what closing that gap would take. The longer-range view is on our Exit Planning page.
Do you value franchises or businesses that own their property?
We do. A franchise carries transfer rules and fees that change its value, and any real estate gets valued along with the business. See our Franchise Resales and Business and Property Sales pages for more on each.
Find out what your business is worth
One call starts a free, confidential valuation built from your real numbers. We will tell you what to gather and walk you through the rest.