In family law property settlements, the valuation of a privately held business is often one of the most influential, and most contested, issues in the overall asset pool. For Australian business owners, the outcome can turn on how a business valuation is prepared, what level of market evidence is available, and whether the valuer applies […]
A shareholder buy-out is one of the most valuation-sensitive events in a privately held business. The price paid for the departing owner’s interest should reflect the business’s maintainable earnings, growth prospects, risk profile, and the rights attached to the shares or units being transferred. In an Australian valuation engagement, the question is not simply what […]
Earnouts are a common feature of Australian business sales where part of the purchase price is deferred and linked to future performance. For a business valuer, an earnout is not just a deal term, it is a pricing mechanism that can materially affect enterprise value, equity value, risk allocation, and the final consideration a seller […]
Plant and equipment can materially affect the value of an Australian business, but only when they are assessed correctly. For valuation purposes, the key distinction is between written-down value in the accounts and market value in a sale context. Written-down value reflects accounting depreciation, while market value reflects what a willing buyer would pay for […]
Key-person risk is one of the most common reasons a privately held Australian business is worth less than its headline revenue or earnings may suggest. In a business valuation, owner dependence is not a side issue, it directly affects maintainable earnings, forecast reliability, customer retention, key supplier relationships, and the discount a prudent buyer would […]
In Australian business sales, goodwill and going-concern value are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing in valuation terms. For owners, buyers, and advisors, the distinction matters because it affects how much of the sale price is supported by identifiable tangible and intangible assets, how the business is valued under APES 225, […]
Interest rates have a direct and measurable impact on business valuations in Australia because they influence discount rates, capitalisation rates, buyer required returns, and ultimately the multiples paid for profits and revenue. When the cash rate rises, valuation calculations generally become more conservative, as investors and lenders demand a higher return for taking risk. When […]
Owner’s add-backs and normalisation adjustments are central to any rigorous business valuation of an Australian SME. They determine whether reported earnings reflect the true maintainable earnings of the business, which in turn affects EBITDA multiples, SDE calculations, discounted cash flow outcomes, and ultimately the price a buyer or lender may treat as fair market value. […]
Preparing an Australian business for sale in 2026 is not just a transaction exercise, it is a valuation exercise. Before a buyer will pay a premium, the business must demonstrate defensible earnings, clean financial reporting, sustainable growth, and a clear risk profile. For owners, the practical question is not simply how to sell, but how […]
APES 225 is the professional standard that shapes how Australian valuers deliver valuation services, and it matters because business owners, buyers, lenders, accountants, and courts rely on those valuations to make material decisions. For privately held businesses, the standard helps distinguish between a full valuation engagement, a limited scope valuation engagement, and a calculation engagement, […]