- Scale
- Valuations
-
Exit
Exit & M&A Investment Banking for SMEs Exit Planning Adviser Due Diligence Preparation Financing Debt Financing Advisory
- Insights
- Contact
A business valuation is the process of establishing what a company is worth, expressed in pounds, at a specific date. It is not guesswork and it is not a figure plucked from a comparable deal you heard about at a networking event.
Value is an opinion — but it must be an opinion grounded in evidence, financial analysis, and sector experience. A properly prepared valuation sets out exactly how the number was reached. It can stand up to challenge from buyers, HMRC, courts, other shareholders, or their advisers.
At Consult EFC, we start with three to five years of historic accounts, adjust for one-off costs and owner-specific expenses, and establish a maintainable earnings figure — the realistic, ongoing profit level a buyer could expect to inherit. From there we apply the most appropriate methodology for your sector, deal context, and purpose.
Every report is prepared and personally signed off by Kish Patel, ICAEW Chartered Accountant. No junior analysts. No templated output.
Maintainable Earnings
The normalised, recurring profit a buyer could realistically expect — stripped of owner salaries above market rate, one-off costs, and non-trading items.
EBITDA Multiple
A market-derived multiplier applied to normalised EBITDA. Multiples vary by sector, growth rate, revenue quality, and deal size. Getting this right requires current market data — not last year's rules of thumb.
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF)
A forward-looking method that values the present worth of future free cash flows. Central to SaaS and high-growth company valuations where current EBITDA understates long-term value.
Business owners come to us at very different stages and for very different reasons. What they have in common is a need for a number that will hold up under scrutiny — not a rough estimate that falls apart when the other side pushes back.
Whether you are 6 months or 3 years from going to market, knowing your real value early lets you work on the right things — the drivers that actually move your multiple.
HMRC requires a formal valuation before you can grant EMI options. We prepare reports to SAV standard, ready to submit directly to HMRC so your scheme is protected from day one.
When shareholders disagree on value — buy-outs, unfair prejudice claims, or partnership separations — you need an independent valuation prepared to expert witness standard.
Entering a fundraising round without a credible, independent valuation means negotiating blind. A well-supported number prevents unnecessary dilution and strengthens your position in term sheet discussions.
Both sellers and management teams need a credible, independent value to structure an MBO fairly, satisfy lenders, and protect everyone from a challenge down the line.
Where a business forms part of matrimonial assets, the courts and solicitors require a robust, independent valuation to ensure fair division of the asset.
Get a free indicative valuation powered by Big Four frameworks — takes less than 2 minutes.
Get My Free Valuation →ICAEW Regulated · Big Four Trained · Confidential
No two businesses are the same, so no two valuations should use the same method. We select the approach — or combination of approaches — that best reflects how your business actually generates value and how a buyer or HMRC would look at it.
We keep the process straightforward. The better your data pack on day one, the faster and sharper the valuation. Here is what to expect from start to finish.
We spend 30 minutes understanding your business, the purpose of the valuation, and your timeline. We will tell you exactly what we need from you and give you a fixed fee before we begin.
We send a straightforward data request: three to five years of accounts, current management accounts, forecasts if available, and your cap table. Most clients send everything within 48 hours using our secure file share.
Kish personally analyses your financials, normalises earnings, researches comparable transactions, and builds the valuation model. Where required, we will come back to you with specific questions rather than make assumptions.
You receive the draft report within the agreed timeframe. We walk you through the findings on a call — the number, the methodology, the key value drivers, and any adjustments made — so you fully understand what the valuation says and why.
The final report is issued on Consult EFC letterhead, personally signed by Kish Patel. We are happy to share findings with your solicitors, advisers, or HMRC directly. The report is yours to use however you need it.
Valuations do not always end at the report. We remain available to discuss findings with your advisers, respond to HMRC queries, or update the valuation if your circumstances change.
All our valuations are fixed fee, agreed before we begin. The fee depends on the complexity of the business, the purpose of the valuation, and the methodology required. We will give you a clear number on the discovery call — no hourly billing, no surprise invoices. Book a free call to get a quote specific to your business.
Most valuations are completed within 7 to 10 working days from receipt of your data pack. If you have a specific deadline — a board meeting, an HMRC submission, or a deal closing — let us know on the discovery call and we will structure the timeline around it.
Only if you are granting EMI options or dealing with a specific tax matter that requires HMRC clearance. For sale, investment, dispute, or planning purposes the valuation is for your own and your advisers' use. Where HMRC submission is required, our report is prepared to SAV standard and ready to submit without amendment.
Online calculators are useful for getting a rough sense of range, but they cannot normalise your earnings, apply sector-specific multiples, account for revenue quality or concentration risk, or produce a report that anyone will take seriously in a negotiation or legal proceeding. If the valuation stays inside your own planning, a calculator might do. The moment it goes outside the business to a buyer, investor, HMRC, or court, you need a professionally prepared report.
The core data pack is: three to five years of filed accounts, your most recent management accounts, a simple forecast if you have one, and your cap table or shareholder register. For SaaS businesses we will also ask for MRR/ARR data, churn, and gross margin by cohort. We send a clear checklist after the discovery call so nothing is missed.
Yes — and this is actually where a professional valuation adds the most value. Messy accounts often hide real earnings power behind owner costs, non-trading items, and inconsistent treatment of expenses. Part of the normalisation process is unpicking that so the valuation reflects the true economics of the business, not just what was filed. We will tell you on the discovery call if there are issues that need addressing before we can produce a defensible number.
Management Buy-out Valuation: How to Value Your Business for an MBO
Why Your Business Valuation Calculator Number Is Killing Deal Credibility
Professional Business Valuation vs Free Online Calculators (UK Guide 2026)
How to Increase Business Valuation UK: 5 Expert Strategies (2026)
Want to understand what your business is worth?
Book a free call with Kish and we will give you a straight answer — no jargon, no obligation.
