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What it is worth

Business valuation and goodwill assessment

An independent, documented view of what your business is worth — and how much of that is goodwill rather than assets.

What is included

An assessment of value: earnings, asset or market approach

Normalised earnings a buyer would actually inherit

Goodwill and intangibles, including how much sits in your balance sheet

A written report you can hand over to a buyer, lender or lawyer

Scenario comparison rather than a single figure

Where the value is today against where you need it

How it works

What working with us looks like

01

We establish the purpose

A sale, a shareholder buyout, a lender and tax planning are different exercises with different numbers.

02

We normalise and analyse

Several years of financials adjusted to show the underlying economics, set against your sector.

03

We report, and then we talk

A valuation that is delivered and not discussed is a document rather than a decision.

Who it is for

Is this the right service for you?

You are thinking about selling and want to know the starting point.

A shareholder is coming in, or going out, and the price must be defensible.

You are planning family succession and need a number the tax treatment can rest on.

You have an offer and no independent view of whether it is fair.

You want to know which parts of the business are creating the value.

Questions

Questions about Business Valuation

Is this a formal valuation report?

This is a CPA valuation assessment. It provides a clear, practical valuation designed for real-world business decisions without the high cost of a litigation-grade report.

What our report is used for:

•

Securing Bank Financing: Lenders routinely accept CPA reports and normalized earnings analysis for commercial loans.

•

Buying or Selling: Setting listing prices, negotiating deal terms, or evaluating potential acquisitions.

•

Succession & Tax Planning: Structuring internal buyouts, partner exits, or family transfers.

Formal CBV reports are required specifically for court litigation, matrimonial asset division, shareholder disputes, or contested CRA audits. If your situation requires a formal CBV opinion, we will let you know upfront and coordinate a referral.

How far back do you need to look?

Usually three to five years of financial statements, plus whatever explains the anomalies in them. A year distorted by a one-off contract or by a pandemic is not a problem — an unexplained year is.

Will the number be what we can sell for?

Not exactly. A valuation establishes a defensible view of worth. A price is what a specific buyer will pay on specific terms on a specific day, and it is shaped by how motivated they are and how much of the business walks out with you. The valuation is what tells you whether an offer is reasonable.

Does the owner being central to the business reduce the value?

Generally, yes, and it is one of the most common findings. A business that cannot run for a month without you is harder to sell and sells for less, because the buyer is purchasing a job rather than an asset. It is also one of the more fixable problems, which is why doing this early is worth so much more than doing it late.

Ready for a conversation?

A first conversation carries no obligation.

Local Ledger

A specialized CPA firm dedicated to the financial health of small and medium enterprises.

Contact Info

320 Plains Road East
L7T 0C1 Burlington

hello@localledgercpa.ca 825-888-0777

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