Understand value
What really determines the value of a private business?
Cash flow matters. So do the trend, reputation, assets, management and risks that come with the company.
Read the full article →Your business represents years of work. Understand what it's really worth.
Whether you're building for the future, thinking about a sale, or facing a difficult stretch, better decisions begin with understanding what creates—and sometimes diminishes—business value.
Find the information that fits your situation →Free business assessment
Take the Value Scorecard →How strong is your business from a buyer's perspective?
Take our 15-question Business Value Scorecard to identify strengths, potential risks, and practical opportunities to improve your company's value.
No financial statements or personal information required. About three minutes. This is an educational assessment, not a dollar valuation.
Where are you in your business journey?
You don't have to read everything in order. Start with the issue that's on your mind. We'll point you toward the most useful material, and you can change direction at any time.
Insights from the real world of business sales
Business value isn't a theoretical exercise. Buyers evaluate what they'll actually own, operate and risk after the seller leaves.
Understand value
Revenue is not value
Two companies with the same sales can have very different prospects—and very different values.
Read the full article →Build value
The owner-dependence discount
Could your business operate normally if you stopped coming to work tomorrow?
Read the full article →Build value
The management team buyers want
A company that can function without its founder is usually easier to transfer.
Read the full article →Understand risk
Customer concentration: the hidden risk
Dependence on a few accounts—or one industry—can affect what a buyer is willing to pay.
Read the full article →Understand value
Growing, flat or declining: why direction matters
Buyers care about the current results, but they also care where the business appears to be headed.
Read the full article →Our approach is straightforward: explain the factors that matter, the questions worth asking, and the tradeoffs owners face—without promising a formula that works for every business.
Explore the complete article library
Choose a topic that fits your circumstances. There is no required reading order.
Understanding What Drives Price
Earnings, risk, and the factors that influence what a buyer may pay.
What Really Determines the Value of a Private BusinessRead article →Revenue Is Not ValueRead article →Growing, Flat or Declining: Why Direction MattersRead article →Customer Concentration: Hidden RiskRead article →Understanding EBITDA: Why Sustainable Earnings MatterRead article →Understanding Working Capital and Its Impact on Business ValueRead article →
Building a Stronger Company
Make the company more resilient, transferable, and attractive to buyers.
Preparing for a Sale
Understand buyer expectations, transaction decisions, and timing.
Preparing a Business for Sale Starts Earlier Than Most Owners ThinkRead article →What Buyers Actually Look for in a Privately Held BusinessRead article →Price Is Only One Part of a Business SaleRead article →Why Buyers and Sellers See Business Value DifferentlyRead article →When a Business Is Struggling, Is a Sale Still Possible?Read article →
Lessons From Real Transactions
Practical perspectives drawn from the decisions owners face.
Additional Resources
When you'd like to explore your own circumstances
YourBizValue is an educational resource. If something here raises questions about your own business, there are several ways to explore them further.
Looking for explanations of financial and valuation concepts? Visit our practical Resources library →
Business Value ScorecardExplore the strengths and risks that may influence your business's value today. Free and private.Request a Preliminary Business Value AssessmentLearn about a more specific preliminary assessment of your business.Considering a Sale?Reach out privately if selling is something you're thinking about, now or later.
Perspective earned across the table
YourBizValue shares practical lessons from decades of business ownership, valuation, and transactions involving privately held companies.
Learn about YourBizValue →Explore more
Practical answers and real-world experiences
Explore common questions from business owners and lessons drawn from actual transactions.