Knowing the value of your business is critical no matter who you plan to sell or transfer to. The primary three exit paths are:
1. Transfer your company to a family member
2. Sell the business to one or more key employees or co-owner(s)
3. Sell to an outside third party

Third Party Sale

Let’s look first at sales to third parties. If you plan to sell to an outside third party, you will need an accurate valuation to determine if, after the business is sold and taxes are paid, you will have enough money to achieve your financial goals. A valuation performed in advance will help you decide whether to begin the time-intensive and expensive sale process.

You will also need a business valuation based in reality; rather than on rules of thumb, or what your neighbor sold his business for or any of the other many sources of misinformation. Without a realistic, objective business valuation, how can you make a sound decision?
Retaining a certified valuation specialist to perform this valuation gives you an unbiased valuation. These specialists do not try to sell you a “bill of goods” only to encourage you to list the business for sale.
If you learn that the business is not valuable enough to achieve your definition of financial independence, the valuation specialist should be able to point out areas where the business performance could be improved. Following his or her advice, you can then work to increase the value of the company.

Insider Sale

If you plan to sell the business to an “insider” (a child, employee or co-owner), a valuation provides all parties with a sense of the true fair market value of the business. Based on the valuation, your advisors can create a plan to provide you with the full value while describing the most tax-advantaged method of how the insider and business can use the cash flow to pay for the business.

Often, to facilitate these sales, minority discounts or marketability discounts are used to place the largest possible amount of total after-tax cash in the departing owner’s hands. If discounts are used, they must be substantiated by a certified valuation specialist.

Transfer to Child

If you plan to give even part of the business to children, be aware that the IRS wants to know what valuation method was used. It is concerned that the gift may be undervalued. Therefore, a valuation specialist should substantiate these gifts in anticipation of an IRS inquiry.

In short, in all but the very simplest and low value scenarios, successful Exit Planning requires a valuation that can be relied upon by you, your advisors, and often, the buyers.

Article presented by T. Ray Phillips, CFBS, AEP, ChFC with The Family Business Legacy Co., LLC, is a member of Business Enterprise Institute’s Network Of Exit Planning Professionals™. © 2009 Business Enterprise Institute, Inc. To contact T. Ray Re: subject matter in this article, call (317) 208-6312 OR e-mail trphillips@finsvcs.com

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article is general in nature and is not legal advice. For information regarding your particular situation, contact an attorney or tax advisor. This newsletter is believed to provide accurate and authoritative information related to the subject matter. The accuracy of the information is not guaranteed and is provided with the understanding that none of the providers of this newsletter, including Business Enterprise Institute, Inc., is rendering legal, accounting or tax advice. In specific cases, clients should consult their legal, accounting or tax advisors.

The example provided is hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. It includes fictitious names and does not represent any particular person or entity.

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