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A true business valuation goes far beyond looking at the bottom line of your statutory accounts. It is the process of establishing the real, maintainable earnings power of your company.
Owner-managed businesses in Surrey and the South East often run expenses through the company that a corporate buyer would not. Conversely, owners often take below-market salaries to reinvest in growth. This means your filed accounts rarely show what your business is truly capable of yielding.
At Consult EFC, we start by forensically adjusting your accounts. We establish a "maintainable earnings" figure — the realistic, ongoing profit level a buyer could expect. Only then do we apply a sector-appropriate multiple based on current M&A data.
Every report is prepared and personally signed off by an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. No automated calculators. No guesswork.
Maintainable Earnings
The normalised, recurring profit a buyer could realistically expect — stripped of owner salaries above market rate, one-off legal costs, and non-trading items.
EBITDA Multiple
A market-derived multiplier applied to your normalised profit. Multiples vary wildly across traditional sectors like manufacturing, logistics, and professional services. We use live market data to apply the correct figure.
Net Asset Value (NAV)
For asset-heavy SMEs (like property holding firms or heavy engineering), the value of the physical assets on the balance sheet often exceeds the value generated by earnings.
We work with founders across the South East at critical inflection points. From preparing to sell your life's work, to resolving partnership disputes.
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 specific drivers that actually move your multiple.
Passing the business to your leadership team requires a delicate balance. Both sellers and management teams need a credible value to structure the MBO fairly and satisfy commercial lenders.
If you want to incentivise key staff with tax-efficient share options, HMRC requires a formal valuation. We prepare reports to SAV standard, ready to submit directly to HMRC.
When directors fall out or wish to part ways, you need an independent valuation prepared to an expert witness standard to resolve the deadlock fairly.
Entering a fundraising round without a credible, independent valuation means negotiating blind. A well-supported number prevents unnecessary dilution.
Where a business forms part of matrimonial assets, the courts and solicitors require a robust, independent valuation to ensure fair division of the estate.
We select the approach — or combination of approaches — that best reflects how your business actually generates value. We do not use a one-size-fits-all spreadsheet.
Because we are an independent boutique, we move faster than traditional high-street accounting firms. We can conduct meetings via video call or at your premises in Surrey.
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, 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. 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 local advisers, respond to HMRC queries, or update the valuation if your circumstances change.
Yes. While our valuation process can be handled entirely remotely via secure data rooms and video calls, we frequently support SMEs across the South East. Because we operate an agile boutique model, we bring City-level corporate finance expertise to local businesses without the inflated agency fees.
All our valuations are fixed fee, agreed before we begin. The fee depends on the complexity of the business, the purpose of the valuation (e.g. HMRC vs. M&A), and the methodology required. We will give you a clear number on the discovery call — no hourly billing, no surprise invoices.
If you are selling equity, issuing options, or resolving a dispute, the size of the business is irrelevant—you need a defensible number to protect yourself. We typically work with SMEs turning over anywhere from £500k up to £50m. If you are unsure, book a free call and we will advise if a formal report is necessary.
Online calculators cannot normalise your earnings, apply sector-specific multiples, or account for revenue quality. The moment a calculator output goes outside your business to a buyer, investor, HMRC, or court, it will be dismantled. You need a professionally prepared report.
Yes — and this is actually where a professional valuation adds the most value. Messy accounts often hide real earnings power behind owner costs and non-trading items. Part of our normalisation process is unpicking that so the valuation reflects the true economics of the business.
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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.
