An understanding of the basics of business valuation is an invaluable tool for practicing accountants to better assist clients who are considering buying or selling their business or an interest therein, contemplating estate tax planning or creating a buy-sell agreement, or dealing with the death of an owner, a shareholder dispute, or a divorce. Business valuation may also be a practice area an accountant would be interested in pursuing for increased billables.
Many forward-thinking closely-held business owners are currently looking at possibly higher capital gain rates, particularly with a Democratic regime. Take this course to be well advised and prepared in order to better assist that potential selling owner.
Learning Objectives
- Understand business valuation principles and procedures
- Be well-versed in the training and certifications needed to become a business valuation professional
Major Topics
- When a valuation in a closely held business would be needed
- Governing bodies, training, and certifications in the profession
- Standards and premises of value
- The basic approaches and methodologies used to value a business: income, market, and asset approaches
- Rules of thumb/industry valuation multiples: usefulness and limitations
- Discounts for lack of control and marketability
- The COVID-19 pandemic's impact on business valuation
- Common mistakes found in the application of business valuation approaches
- How the accountant can help during and after the valuation process
