Business Valuation & Planning

Q: Why do I need an independent business valuation?

An independent business valuation provides an objective, well-supported view of what your business is worth — informing strategic decisions, supporting transactions, satisfying regulatory requirements, and giving buyers, lenders, and advisors confidence in the analysis.

Q: What valuation approaches do you use?

Houlihan Capital applies the three standard approaches: income (discounted cash flow); market (guideline public companies, precedent transactions, and prior transactions in the company's own securities); and asset-based. The weighting of each approach is determined by the reliability of the approach, specific purpose, industry, and available data.

Q: How is business value different from personal goodwill?

Business value reflects the value of the enterprise as a going concern — including its assets, customer relationships, processes, and brand. Personal goodwill represents the value attributable to the skills and relationships of a specific individual. Separating the two can be significant in transactions and succession planning.

Q: How long does a business valuation take?

Timeline depends on the complexity of the business, the purpose of the valuation, and the availability of information. Most engagements are completed within 3–6 weeks. We recommend engaging early to allow adequate time for analysis and review.

Q: What information do you need to complete a business valuation?

Helpful materials include recent financial statements, management projections, an overview of the business and its competitive environment, and the cap table or ownership structure. Houlihan Capital works with the information available and outlines specific requirements at the outset of each engagement.

Q: How do you handle valuations for businesses in specialized industries?

Houlihan Capital has deep expertise across speciali z ed industries including crypto and digital assets, healthcare, and financial services. We understand the industry-specific factors: regulatory complexity, non-traditional assets, and sector-specific risk — that drive value in these markets.

Independent Enterprise and Business Valuations for Strategic Planning, Ownership Transitions, and Advisory Support

Houlihan Capital provides independent business valuations for a broad range of purposes: from strategic planning and ownership transitions to tax and estate planning and regulatory compliance. Our analyses are grounded in rigorous methodology and clearly documented, giving clients and their advisors confidence in the credibility and supportability of the valuation.

Whether you are evaluating a potential sale, planning a succession, meeting a regulatory requirement, or simply seeking an independent view of value, our team delivers senior-level attention and analytical rigor on every engagement.

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What We Do

Business Valuation Services

Enterprise Valuations

Independent enterprise valuations for strategic planning, M&A transactions, financing, and general advisory purposes, grounded in rigorous income, market, and asset-based methodologies.

Ownership Transition Valuations

Valuations supporting ownership transitions, including family succession, management buyouts, partner buyouts, and minority interest transfers.

Regulatory & Compliance Valuations

Valuations for regulatory compliance purposes, including ERISA, SBA, and other regulatory frameworks requiring independent business value determinations.

Minority & Marketability Discount Analysis

Independent analysis of minority interest and marketability discounts for closely held business interests, supporting tax, financial reporting, and transaction purposes.

Solvency & Capital Adequacy Analysis

Independent analysis of a company’s financial condition and solvency for transaction, planning, and regulatory compliance purposes.

Our Experience

Proven Across Complex Transactions

Representative Engagements

Venture-Backed Software Company: Gift & Estate Planning Valuation

The founders of a venture-backed software company engaged Houlihan Capital to determine the fair market value of their common and preferred shares for gift and estate tax planning. The team applied both the income (discounted cash flow) and market (guideline public company) approaches and analyzed discounts for lack of control and lack of marketability, delivering a fair market value opinion prepared in accordance with IRS Revenue Ruling 59-60. Giving the founders and their advisors a well-supported basis for their estate planning.

Houlihan Capital has also been recognized as the #1 Top Valuation Provider by crypto fund managers in back-to-back independent surveys (2023, 2024 and 2025).

Why Houlihan Capital

Independent Analysis. Senior Attention. Credible Results.

Houlihan Capital delivers independent business valuations built on transparent, well-documented methodology: structured to support board review, regulatory scrutiny, and transaction execution.

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Senior-Level Engagement

Direct access to experienced valuation professionals who understand transaction timelines and decision-making requirements. Your engagement is led and delivered by senior professionals from kickoff to delivery.

Businessman analyzing data charts and graphs on laptop with holographic interface showing artificial intelligence brain icons cloud computing and digital transformations in office | Houlihan Capital

Industry-Specific Expertise

Deep knowledge across crypto, healthcare, business services,tech, and other specialized sectors. Our team understands the factors that drive value in your specific industry.

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Institutional Rigor

Consistent methodology and professional standards from initial engagement through final opinion delivery, structured to support the most demanding board, auditor, and regulatory review.

Common Questions

Questions Business Owners and Their Advisors Ask Us

Why do I need an independent business valuation?

What valuation approaches do you use?

How is business value different from personal goodwill?

How long does a business valuation take?

What information do you need to complete a business valuation?

How do you handle valuations for businesses in specialized industries?

Strategic Insights

Guidance for Business Owners, Investors, and Their Advisors

Personal Goodwill in Business Transactions

An analysis of how personal goodwill is identified, valued, and treated in the context of business sales and succession planning.

Read the Article

Valuation Services Overview

A broad overview of Houlihan Capital’s valuation capabilities across financial reporting, tax, and transaction advisory.

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Need an independent business valuation?

Speak with an advisor about your specific situation.