ビジネス評価とは何か、そしてそれをどのように計算するのか？

What is a Business Valuation and How Do You Calculate It? | CO- by US Chamber of Commerce RSVP NOW: Small Business Day 2026 — May 7, Online + In-Person Skip to main content Skip to footer CO– by US Chamber of Commerce Start Everything that you need to know to start your own business. From business ideas to researching the competition. Start Run Practical and real-world advice on how to run your business — from managing employees to keeping the books Run Grow Our best expert advice on how to grow your business — from attracting new customers to keeping existing customers happy and having the capital to do it. Grow Good Company Entrepreneurs and industry leaders share their best advice on how to take your company to the next level. Good Company Product Guides Let us help your business find the best tools and solutions to thrive and grow. Product Guides Sign In Sign Up Start Everything that you need to know to start your own business. From business ideas to researching the competition. 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There are multiple ways to determine the economic value of your business, with different calculations that can be used for different purposes. By: Emily Heaslip , Contributor Share Unchecked Bookmark Icon Save How do you put a price on the time, effort, and passion you've invested into building a successful small business? It can be hard to objectively assess how much your venture is worth after putting so much work in over the years. This is where business valuation calculations, ideally handled by a third-party expert, can play a role. Business valuations are used for mergers, acquisitions, tax purposes, litigation, and more. Here's how business valuations work and how to calculate the economic value of your company. [Read more: 6 Things to Consider Before Selling Your Business ] What is a business valuation? A business valuation assesses the economic value of part or all of a business. Business valuations are used in a number of circumstances, including determining the sale value of a business , establishing partner ownership, for tax purposes, and even in divorce proceedings. Generally, the valuation process analyzes all aspects of the business, including the company's management, capital structure, future earnings, and the market value of its assets. In the United States, business valuations are usually carried out by a professional who is Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV). This certification, awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), is given to CPAs who pass an exam and meet standards set by the AICPA. If you're seeking financing from lenders, investment bankers, or venture capitalists , you may need an ABV-certified professional to conduct your business valuation. If you're simply looking to understand how much your venture is worth, you can do your own analysis using one of the business valuation methods listed below. [Read more: How to Calculate a Business Valuation ] Business valuation methods There are three common methods for evaluating the economic worth of a business. These categories are: Asset-based methods : A sum of all the investments in the company to determine the value of the business. Earning value methods : The company’s ability to produce wealth in the future. Market value methods : What the company is worth based on similar businesses that have recently been sold. There are pros and cons to each of these valuation approaches. An asset-based approach, for instance, works well for corporations in which all assets are owned by the company and will be included in the sale. However, for a sole proprietor, this approach can be more difficult — which assets should be considered personal versus business-related? Generally, the two main earning value methods — capitalizing past earnings and discounted future earnings — are used when a company is seeking to buy or merge with another company. Market-value approaches are the least accurate and can lead to a business being under or overvalued. There are several ways to increase your company's value. It takes careful planning and preparation, rather than cosmetic changes, to ensure your business gets the maximum value in a sale. What you need to value a business Before you calculate your business’s value, make sure you have the right information. Key documents you’ll need include: Profit and loss statements from at least three years Balance sheets Cash flow statements Tax returns Inventory lists (that show equipment, property, etc.) Key customer metrics, such as retention rate and revenue Outstanding liabilities Patents or trademarks These are the core tangible documents to help you assess your company’s worth. Of course, intangible factors play a role in the final figure, such as market trends, geopolitical and economic stability, and brand recognition. How to calculate a business's value Often, business valuations are performed by a licensed professional. To find an ABV who can help, look for someone registered with the AICPA or a member of the American Society of Appraisers accredited in business valuation. If you simply want to get a basic idea of what your business is worth, you can take a few steps to get a rough estimate. Start by calculating your seller's discretionary earnings (SDE) . SDE is like earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), but it adds the owner's salary, benefits, and any discretionary or nonrecurring spending. To calculate the SDE, start with your net income. Next, add compensation paid to owners (including salary, profit sharing, cash distributions, etc.), benefits, depreciation and amortization, nonrecurring expenses (like legal fees or a one-time marketing expense), personal expenses (like travel or vehicles), followed by interest and taxes. Once you have your SDE, take stock of your assets, do some competitive research to see what similar businesses have sold for, and pay attention to industry trends to see if you can ask for a higher valuation. Try to use multiple methods to get the most accurate estimate of your business’s value. Running the calculations using three different methodologies can give you a more accurate estimate of the fair market value of your company. The role of financial projections in business valuation Many methods used to evaluate the worth of a business require financial projections . These reports provide insight into a company’s potential value by estimating revenues, expenses, and other key financial metrics. "Financial projections encompass several essential components that contribute to a comprehensive evaluation of a business," wrote Equitest , a valuation platform. "These components include revenue forecasts, expense forecasts, cash flow forecasts, and balance sheet forecasts." These estimates give investors and lenders deeper insight into a company's financial health, including the risks and potential opportunities to be gained by committing capital. However, reliable and effective financial projections require careful consideration. Overestimating a company's worth can lead to investor losses, shareholder frustration, and, potentially, litigation. [Read more: How to Write a Financial Forecast for Your Business ] How to increase your business valuation There are several ways to increase your company's value. Most methods focus on building a strong, sustainable foundation of profitability. It takes careful planning and preparation, rather than cosmetic changes , to ensure your business gets the maximum value in a sale. Start by working on boosting profitability. Look for ways to increase sales while simultaneously becoming more operationally efficient. "Focus on creating a diversified customer base that, ideally, generates recurring revenues," wrote the BDC . Also, invest in building a strong brand identity that fosters greater customer loyalty . Some of the most valuable companies in the world also have valuable brand identities. Building your brand value involves marketing, providing great customer service, and creating a memorable experience that boosts customer loyalty. There's no silver bullet when it comes to increasing your business’s value. However, an outside adviser can help you assess where your business can improve to increase its worth. Spend some time auditing your strengths and weaknesses before attempting a merger or sale. How does purpose influence valuation? This guide outlines the three common ways to value a business. There are others, however, that might be more appropriate depending on your purpose or your business type. For instance, asset-heavy businesses, such as those in manufacturing or real estate, tend to use book value , a method that measures your company's net worth based on its balance sheet. However, if you’re in the process of fundraising, investors prefer revenue multiples, a method that calculates your company's worth as a multiple of annual sales . “Estimating the fair value of a business is both an art and a science. Choosing the right method and appropriate inputs can be subjective or vary based on industry standards,” wrote Investope