05/14/2026
As a successful business owner, you know the importance of having a business continuity plan, but maybe you haven't done the work of creating one just yet. The first step in this process is figuring out what your business is worth, which can be more complicated than expected. As a business owner, the amount of time and energy you've put into building a successful company is invaluable. But the value you need to consider is what someone else would pay for your business.
Often, the best person to help you obtain a precise estimate is an accountant, a trained business appraiser, or a licensed business broker. Here are a few approaches they may consider.
1.) The Cost Approach evaluates your assets and liabilities to determine the net worth of your business. Within this approach, there are three possible valuations:
Book value represents the value of the underlying assets that the business owns, minus liabilities.
Adjusted book value looks at the same assets and liabilities as book value, but also considers the value of other tangible and intangible assets (property, equipment, patents, copyrights, client lists, trade contracts, etc.)
Liquidation value refers to what would be left if the business stopped operating, sold its assets, and paid off its liabilities.
2.) The Income Approach assumes your business earnings are the best indicator of value. Here, there are two main methods:
Capitalization of earnings method determines the average earnings of your business over a particular time period, then divides the amount by an industry-accepted capitalization rate. This method is generally used for companies with a stable earnings history and predictable future cash flows.
Discounted cash flow method attempts to estimate the future earnings of the company, then discounts them back to the present to determine the company's value.
3.) The Market Approach attempts to determine the value of a business by comparing the company to similar enterprises that have recently sold. Adjustments can be made to account for differences in size, risk, market position, and other factors.