Business valuation
Know what your business is truly worth
Whether you’re planning a sale, succession, or growth strategy, understanding your business’s value is essential. A business valuation gives you a clear, data-backed picture of where you stand – and what you can do to increase value before you transition.
Is this you?
You’re guessing at your value
You have a number in mind – but it’s based on hope, not data
You’re planning an exit
You need a defensible valuation for sale, succession, or partnership changes
You’re ready to grow value
You want to know where your business stands today and what’s holding back your multiple
You’re protecting your wealth
You want an accurate valuation that aligns with tax, estate, or retirement goals
Where you are
- You’ve never had a formal valuation or it’s outdated
- Your financials are incomplete, inconsistent, or not ready for review
- You don’t know what drives value in your business
- You’re unsure how the market would assess your company today
Where you want to be
- You have a clear, data-backed understanding of what your business is worth
- Your financials and operations are ready for investors, buyers, or successors
- You know how to increase value over time, not just report it once
- You’re confident your valuation supports your goals and exit strategy
How we get you there
- We clarify your valuation objectives and what’s driving the need
- We strengthen financials and processes before numbers go under review
- We identify operational gaps that reduce value and turn them into growth opportunities
- We use industry standards and certified methods to ensure accuracy and credibility
What happens during implementation
We provide clarity around what your business is actually work and partner with you to improve that number to meet your goals.
Identify valuation objectives
Start with purpose.
We clarify the reason for your valuation – sale, succession, divorce, or estate – and align the process to your specific goals.
Value mapping & improvement
Turn insight into action.
We identify operational risks and growth opportunities to strengthen business value over time, not just report a static number.
Financial review & refinement
Build confidence in your numbers.
We ensure balance sheets and income statements are accurate, verified, and defensible.
Operating profit analysis (EBITDA)
Define real earning power.
We analyze historical financials and apply market-appropriate formulas to uncover true profit potential.
Certified business valuation
Get official credibility.
We engage certified experts and brokers for official valuations, preparing you for the market and giving your number weight where it counts.
How business valuations fit within the Profit Platform®
Business Valuations sit at the intersection of Strategic Planning, Measurement, and Succession Planning.
A certified valuation provides the data you need to plan exits, acquisitions, or investment decisions with confidence. It supports Tax Planning by aligning valuation with structure, and strengthens Operations by revealing what drives long-term profitability.
One client discovered through Cogent’s valuation process that underperforming divisions were lowering their overall value by nearly 20%. By restructuring and improving margins, their next valuation jumped, increasing potential sale value by seven figures.
Portrait of Life
The human side of business valuations
What implementation does for your life:
You know exactly what your business is worth and why.
Your financials are clean, your operations efficient, and your value defensible.
You can plan succession, sale, or investment from a position of strength.
You’re leading with insight, not speculation.
What business owners ask us about Business valuation
What is my business worth?
Your business’s value depends on factors like profitability, assets, growth potential, and market conditions. Cogent helps you calculate, verify, and improve that value, starting with our [Business Valuation Calculator].
How do I sell my business?
It starts with knowing what it’s worth. From there, Cogent helps you prepare financials, streamline operations, and build a transition plan that maximizes sale price and minimizes risk.
How do I calculate the value of my business?
You can get a preliminary estimate using our [Business Valuation Calculator], then we’ll refine the number using a full financial review, market data, and certified valuation standards.
What circumstances require a certified business valuation?
Formal valuations are often required for sales, succession, divorce, estate settlement, partnership buyouts, or legal disputes. Cogent provides certified valuations recognized by financial institutions and legal entities.
What’s the difference between a certified business valuation and an indication of value?
A certified valuation is performed by a credentialed expert and accepted by lenders, courts, and buyers. An indication of value is an estimate – useful for planning but not legally binding. Cogent can provide both, depending on your goals.
Ready to know (and grow) your business value?
You’ve built the business, now it’s time to understand what it’s truly worth.