Business Valuation Update
- How to Review a Report’s Valuation Methodology
- Ideas for Solving Two Problems in the BV Profession
- How Do Your Firm’s Benefits Stack Up?
- Using Rule of Thumb Data to Uncover Cooked Books
How to Review a Report’s Valuation Methodology
This is part of a series on quality control for valuation engagements, which has emerged as the No. 1 concern at valuation firms and practices, according to BVR’s Benchmarking Survey. The article contains a checklist for an overall review of the income, market, asset, and excess earnings approaches.
Ideas for Solving Two Problems in the BV Profession
The business valuation profession needs to be more attuned to academic finance research, according to a letter to the editor of the ASA’s Business Valuation Review by Victor E. Jarosiewicz (Quid Valorem LLC), the chair of The Appraisal Foundation’s Business Valuation Resource Panel. He also has some ideas about attracting more young people to the profession by targeting colleges and universities. Feedback is wanted on the issues and his suggestions.
How Do Your Firm’s Benefits Stack Up?
“Flexibility” is the most important aspect of a benefits plan BV firms should be offering to employees, reveals a BVR survey. Also, a look at the levels of signing bonuses BV firms are doling out is presented.
Using Rule of Thumb Data to Uncover Cooked Books
In addition to using rule of thumb data to corroborate a value conclusion reached using other methods, the data are also helpful for validating historical financials—particularly for cash-intensive businesses. An example and some metrics for cash businesses are presented.
A Channel Analysis Is Key When Valuing a Fast-Food Restaurant
There has been a seismic shift in the operations of limited-service restaurants since the pandemic—and there’s no sign of reverting. Channels of revenue have been upended. Therefore, an analysis along these lines is important when valuing these entities, advises an expert in this space.
Practice-Building Tips From the AICPA FVS Conference
The largest event of 2024 was the AICPA & CIMA Forensic and Valuation Services (FVS) Conference. While there were many excellent technical sessions, there was good attendance at sessions that related to the management of a valuation or forensics firm or practice—a topic that is gaining in importance in the profession. This article is a recap of those sessions.
BV News and Trends May 2024
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
Global BVU News and Trends May 2024
Business valuation news from a global perspective.
Popular Real Estate DLOC Database Is Not Going Away
Valuation analysts who use the Partnership Profiles real estate database for estimating a discount for lack of control for family limited partnerships have expressed concern about the future of the database. This is a letter from Bruce Johnson with some important news about the database and some recommendations for adjusting methodology.
Key Points From Hitchner’s Annual BV Update
A recap of Jim Hitchner’s look at the major issues in BV over the past year, including long-term growth rates, the three-stage DCF, normalizing the risk-free rate, cost of capital, plagiarism, lack of liquidity on a 100% interest, and more.
What to Glean From the IRS Hiring Binge for BV Experts
The IRS needs to hire 31 business valuation experts, and the job announcement provides an interesting perspective as to the valuation issues that are on the agency’s radar.
Mercer Extols the Virtues of Writing as a Valuation Career Builder
Chris Mercer (Mercer Capital) says writing was an important activity that contributed to his success, and he urges practitioners to do the same. He lays out his 12-step plan for a first-time writer (and BVR adds a few comments).
The BV Profession’s ‘Silver Tsunami’ Is More Like a Trickle
We keep hearing about the “silver tsunami” in the business valuation profession, meaning a huge wave of retirements as veteran practitioners ride off into the sunset. But it’s not happening quite yet, according to data from BVR’s benchmarking survey.
BV News and Trends April 2024
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.
Global BVU News and Trends April 2024
Business valuation news from a global perspective.
Perception Grows of Bias in U.S. Valuation Experts
During a recent webinar out of Canada, a speaker observed that litigants are bringing in valuation experts from the U.S. because of a “creeping tendency toward bias.” In the U.S., some judges are citing studies they say confirm their feelings about bias in some valuation experts.
Tax Valuations Are the Main Profit Driver for BV Firms, Per BVR Survey
Valuations for income, estate, and gift tax purposes are the most profitable for business valuation firms, according to a BVR survey. These valuations leap-frogged over litigation services and valuations for transactions/M&A purposes, which topped the list in 2018.
Damodaran Looks at Intangibles—and Tosses Some Dynamite
It is always a pleasure to listen to Aswath Damodaran (Stern School of Business, New York University) talk about valuation. BVR invited him to do a webinar on intangibles, and he didn’t disappoint, giving his perspective and dropping a few bombshells in his inimitable style.
‘Landmark’ Update Released of the International Valuation Standards
Two years in the making, the International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC) has published a new edition of the International Valuation Standards (IVS), which are effective for valuations performed on or after Jan. 31, 2025. The new set of standards is available for download through IVS Online (subscription required for nonmembers).
Review of Surveys on Cost of Capital Data Sources and Inputs
The Kroll Cost of Capital Navigator continues to be widely used and accepted for estimating cost of equity (COE). But BVR’s Cost of Capital Professional has been gaining considerable steam since its launch in 2018, according to a BVR survey. Some other resources for estimating the cost of capital have also seen an uptick in usage.
More Perspectives From Young BV Practitioners
For the past few years, NACVA has been giving a forum to young business valuation professionals so they can give their perspectives on the profession and what keeps them interested and motivated. At the December NACVA Super Conference, a panel discussion continued this tradition.
Is Your Subject Business Still Feeling the Effects of COVID-19?
The pandemic is over, but the symptoms may linger for a long time. For valuation analysts, the concern is whether the businesses they are appraising will be impacted over the long term—an impact that could be positive or negative. An example is the limited-service restaurant business, such as fast-food, pizza, coffee shops, and the like.
BV News and Trends March 2024
A monthly roundup of key developments of interest to business valuation experts.