What, How & Art of Identifying and Improving A Business’s Value:  The “Value Drivers”

The most critical step in both valuing and selling a business is to know how much it is worth. The first question is usually, just what is fair market value to a buyer?

Fair Market Value is defined as:

“The price a willing seller and a willing buyer, both possessing complete information, agree on; when there is no undue pressure to act on either side.”

The reality however, is your business will be valued by how much the new owner thinks he can make from operating it, today and in the future.  NOT what you think he should be making!  So a ‘text book’ definition maybe nice, a real world perspective is oftentimes different.

So what makes a buyer pay more?  The better a performance from your company in the following areas called the “Value Drivers” will increase a multiple application and therefore produce a higher sale price for the business. These elements – drive the value of a business.

A buyer’s evaluation of these following areas is the “art form”,  an individual’s or company’s subjective assessment, in the valuation process. The more you can improve each “Value Driver” to the eyes of that buyer, the higher the multiple and more valuable and desirable the business.

There are different types of buyers, an individual entrepreneur, a Strategic or Synergistic buyer, or an investment group. Each prices a business differently, each applies a multiple to cash flow differently –  because the acquisition provides value to each differently.

Remember, even if you are currently not considering to sell your business, or are just starting one – the better developed and managed each one of the following “Value Drivers” – the more successful, more profitable and more valuable your business will become.

The following are the ten most common value drivers, not necessarily in order of importance, but each is critical to increasing the value, performance and salability of a company.

1. Clean, Reliable Financial Information:

The valuation process and a company’s critical daily management practice starts here – the Financial Statements. This is used as the foundation for all buyers to begin determining value. The ability to see clearly from an accurate statement all revenues and owner economic benefits. Financial statements validate the business’s profitability and demonstrate the Seller’s Discretionary Cash Flow (“SDCF”) – to which a multiple is applied. The SDCF is also known as “adjusted EBITDA”.

The buyer needs to see and understand the stated numbers. If a owner/seller says he generates total financial benefits of $1M, $2M, or $3+ million, he must prove it! How does it happen? Where does it come from? Where does it go?

A Seller/owner should always attempt to understate financials, should there be doubts concerning  amounts of an owner’s/company’s economic benefits. Experienced buyers know how to review financial statements and Tax Returns.  If a mistake or over-statement occurs, chances are the buyer, or one of their advisors will find it, will have questions – and may begin to doubt everything stated from that experience forward. And from that point, if enough doubt emerges and remains, you usually have lost your buyer.

If there is an oversight or miss-statement discovered, much rather it be a pleasant surprise for the buyer.

The lack of integrity in the production of the financial records is the single most common downfall and deal killer of the transaction process.

2.  Sustainable and Increasing Year to Year Cash Flows: 

When buyers review business listings, the first thing they usually look for is the Seller’s Discretionary Cash Flow, “adjusted EBITDA”.  The higher and more reliable the business cash flow – the greater the interest. This is the attention grabber!  A business with a historically proven and growing cash flow will attract many buyers and bring a premium price when sold. The sale price associated with acquiring a company and its produced cash flow is directly related to risk through time. The lower the risk of losing that cash flow (post transfer of ownership and the years going forward) the higher the multiple and therefore the higher a valuation and sale price.

Buyers are willing to pay a premium when their perception of a business’s cash flow is – predictable, sustainable and scalable into the future.

3. Market and Growth Potential: 

Is there a there – tomorrow? Is the company sustainable and the cash flow scalable after it is acquired?

Buyers will apply a go-forward strategic plan that, if implemented and successfully executed, will lead to a business’s higher profitability and future value.

Buyers will look at and question the following areas of the business and this opportunity:

• Is the business in a growth industry?
• Are there new markets that management could pursue?
• Are there new products or services that existing customers may need?
• How strong is the customer base and are they satisfied with the total “buyer experience” cycle?
• Will new distribution channels spur growth opportunities?
• Is there available pricing elasticity to expand profit margins?
• Will new, refreshed marketing campaigns and sales efforts increase growth?
• What is the possibility of developing new products and reaching new customer bases?
• Can growth come from expanding reach to new territories or countries?
• Are there operational redundancies that an acquisition’s assimilation will eliminate?

The more positively a buyer translates these questions into the acquisition, the higher the price a business will bring. Simply, this is why someone is buying the business. The buyer understands today’s market situation, but wants prosperity in the future and if he/she senses it, or better yet, sees it on the financial results, – they will pay for it!

4. Quality of Management and Workforce Infrastructure:  

The Company’s people – the most important assets you can acquire.

Buyers will look closely at who in the company possesses the know-how and talent to both operate and help grow the business. The more dependent the business is on an owner’s day to day involvement, the more challenging it will be to sell.

Key employees are invaluable assets and can be critical to the sale of a company. Never underestimate their significance or the intrinsic value they bring to a company.

Cherish your exceptional employees!!!

The employee’s length of employment, their expertise, age and commitment to the success of the business are factors all buyers will value. Employment agreements for the critical performers and strong incentive programs only go to enhance a buyer’s comfort level with an acquisition post transaction.

5. Customer Diversity: 

A broad customer base, in which no single client accounts for more than five to ten percent of total sales revenue, helps to insulate a company from the loss of any single customer. It reduces the risk of serious cash flow disruptions if one or more customers do not continue with new ownership.

6. Operating Systems and Procedures: 

The “how to” operate your business through the creation and documentation of a company’s procedures and systems only reinforces the buyer’s comfort level with maintaining the business model and profitability post sale.

Once the buyer and the seller begin serious discussions regarding ownership transition, this always comes up, one way or another – “How do you operate this business”?

Documentation: Prepare internal control systems that include computerized records and manual detailed procedures/protocols (particularly for staff) used in the day to day operation of the business. Emphasis on internal financial controls, customer identification, how products and services are delivered and client experience history are greatly valued. Make your company into a turn-key acquisition.

7. High Barriers to Competitive Entry:  Your position in the market space.

This oftentimes is the most influential and critical value driver of them all. It is about what advantages your company has over the market. The strength of your strategic position versus your competitor or a possible future market entrant. The larger the breadth and depth of your company’s separation from a possible competitor (the bigger a moat around your castle – the business) the more value it brings to a suitor.

Examples of transferable competitive barriers would be:

• Patents
• Trademarks
• Copyrights (and their maintenance)
• Proprietary Designs, Know-how, Databases
• Brand and/or Trade Names
• Customized or Proprietary Software Programs
• Hard to acquire licenses, zoning, regulatory approvals
• Contracts with customer bases in difficult-to-penetrate business channels and entities (governments – Federal, State, Local)
• Special accredited skills or experience or education

8. Product Diversity: 

The more limited your product or service mix the more exposure to risk and the lower the valuation by a prospective buyer. An expansive product and/or service mix, a broad reach of multiple markets, the elasticity of pricing opportunities will only increase the entity’s value to a buyer.

9. Technology, Facility and Equipment Condition: 

The operation and maintenance of the highest-quality technology and equipment, compared to industry competitors, is critical to the health of any business. All too often, as a business owner approaches the horizon of ownership, the less and less of capital assets are devoted to technology. The market is changing so rapidly that without “best in class” technology, the more vulnerable a company is to a competitor or a disruptor in the market space.

In addition, business equipment and facilities need to be well maintained to be viewed as assets rather than a future liability that will require re-investment. A buyer will not pay a premium, and may very well discount an offer, for a run-down, disorganized warehouse, office or building. Seeing poorly maintained facilities and equipment may cause the buyer to perceive that other aspects of the business may be similarly disorganized (employee records, financial records, system processes and procedures, compliance records, etc.). Owners should be sure that facilities and equipment are maintained in peak condition before beginning the sale process.

10. The Ability of an Owner to Take a Vacation – At Any Time!  

That’s right, the ability to leave at any time. The more dependent a business is on the involvement of the owner, the less valuable it is to the market. Why? Owner dominance only limits the universe of potential buyers. So learn to take more vacations and develop a company infrastructure that supports it.  Your family and friends will appreciate the new found lifestyle.

Whether you are just starting a business or have reached the horizon of ownership – when these value drivers are developed, nurtured and improved – the more successful and valuable the business will be, the higher a price the business will command, and the easier it will be – – – to successfully sell!

If you would like help or more information on how to market and successfully sell your business,

Please contact directly:

Rex Rossi

rrossi@teampremier.com | 708.433.9410

rexrossi@howtosellmybusiness.com | 708.433.9410

Founder and Executive Director – howtosellmybusiness.com 

Senior Chicago Business Broker and Exit Planning Consultant: Premier Business Group LTD.

Preeminent M & A Specialist to Privately Held Companies: Manufacturing, Distribution and Service Businesses in the Chicagoland, Midwest and National markets.

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