Small Business Valuation Resources
We have compiled links to resources on business valuation and planning a business sale or purchase that you may find useful. Check back often, as we update this section regularly with new and valuable items.
Getting Professional Help
If you need professional help with your business valuation, consider consulting a skilled appraiser. One resource is the members of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA).
You may also wish to ask your accountant or attorney for a suitable referral.
Professional business appraisal organizations
There are a number of professional business appraisal organizations that train and certify their members in business valuation.
- A chapter of the Institute whose CPA members are involved in business valuation.
- Search for a business appraiser by specialty and location.
- The leading professional business appraisal organization in Canada. Includes member listings.
- Offers information about business valuation in Australia and New Zealand.
Business valuation standards bodies
These organizations are involved in developing and publishing professional business valuation standards.
- Publishes the annual Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
- Publishes financial accounting and reporting standards. Statements SFAS 141 (Business Combinations) and SFAS 142 (Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets) are important for business valuation.
- Publishes international financial reporting standards.
- Publishes the International Valuation Standards affecting valuation of real property and businesses.
Business valuation standards
Standards governing the development and reporting of professionally performed business valuations.
- Specifies the standard of performing valuation of businesses, intangible assets and securities.
- Published by the International Valuation Standards Council. Accepted as national valuation standards in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Made part of the national valuation standards in the UK and Ireland.
- Annual compilation of requirements for professional business appraisals. Standard 9 describes the business valuation process. Standard 10 outlines business appraisal reporting.
Industry and business type classification
Widely accepted industry classification systems to identify the type of any business or professional practice. Essential if you plan to value your business using the market comparisons.
- A comprehensive industry classification standard for the financial community.
- A newer alternative to the venerable SIC system.
- Unique codes for all types of businesses.
Business valuation and risk assessment data
There are excellent business valuation risk assessment data sources available on the market. You will find these resources essential for valuing a business or professional practice.
- A wide range of investor information, market analysis tools and services
Business broker associations
Many business brokers maintain on-line presence and often provide description of their services, geographic scope and current business for sale listings.
- A leading international organization for business intermediaries. Check out their business broker directory.
Small business financing
Check out the SBA website to review the SBA loan programs used for financing a business purchase and other needs. Search the list of SBA lenders in your area.
Resources for business appraisers, owners and buyers
You will find the following services very useful for business valuation, business buying or selling process: when doing your market analysis, industry research, and due diligence.
- Economic analysis, industry statistics data and forecasting information.
- Business merger and acquisition activity filings in EDGAR database maintained by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Includes data on acquisitions of private firms by public companies.
Government resources
Major national government websites that collect and distribute key economic and demographic data.
- US Department of Commerce service collecting national and regional economic statistics.
- US Department of Labor information on employment, compensation, and industry outlook data.
- Key demographic, economic, and housing data.
- The service publishes revenue rulings such as Ruling 59-60 that provide important guidelines for business valuation.
- Public company filings. Maintains the EDGAR database of public company filings, including filings on tender offers, mergers and acquisitions of private companies.
- The Canadian national agency which compiles data on business, economy, and social conditions.
- The Australian government agency collecting national demographic and economic data.
- The Australian government body enforcing the corporation and financial markets regulation on behalf of consumers, investors and creditors.