A good exit multiple for a UK manufacturing SME in 2026 is typically around 4.5x to 6.5x adjusted EBITDA. A multiple of 5x is a sensible benchmark for a solid, established business, whilst 6x to 7x is more likely where the manufacturer is specialist, well-scaled, profitable and supported by strong buyer demand. That range isn’t…
Selling a company, raising investment, planning an exit or setting a share price often leads to the same confusion: are you talking about enterprise value or equity value? They answer different questions. Enterprise value reflects the operating business before financing, whilst equity value is what remains for shareholders after debt, cash and other balance-sheet adjustments.…
Many SME owners are the sales director, pricing committee, customer service desk and final decision-maker. The accounts may show healthy profit, but if the owner steps away and the business stalls, management dependence business value becomes a serious issue. A buyer isn’t paying for last year’s accounts alone. They are paying for future earnings they…
Your statutory accounts show what happened. A buyer wants to know what profits they will inherit after completion. Those figures are not always the same. Normalised EBITDA Adjustments remove costs and income that are unusual, personal to the owner, or unlikely to continue. Get them right and you present sustainable earnings. Get them wrong and…
When shareholders disagree, the value of a stake can decide the price of a buyout, the terms of a settlement, or the direction of court proceedings. A quick number from an online calculator won’t carry much weight when ownership, trust and money are all in dispute. Knowing how to value shares for a shareholder dispute…
Two UK businesses can report the same sales and still be worth very different amounts. One may own valuable property, stock and equipment. The other may own little beyond laptops, yet generate stable profit from repeat customers. Asset-Based Valuation vs Earnings-Based Valuation comes down to what drives value in your business: adjusted net assets today,…
How much is your business worth when its future cash generation matters more than last year’s profit? Discounted Cash Flow Valuation for UK SMEs answers that question by estimating what future free cash flow is worth in today’s money. It is a strong method, but it is sensitive to forecasts, risk and terminal value assumptions.…
An SSAS transaction involving your business, company shares, commercial property or an employer loan needs more than a figure from an online calculator. You must be able to support the value with clear evidence of open market value, commercial terms and independence, particularly where the transaction involves the sponsoring employer or another connected party. The…
An HMRC-agreed EMI valuation has been obtained, but the option grant is delayed beyond 90 days. That creates a practical compliance issue: the valuation isn’t a permanent approval, and the company may no longer be able to rely on the agreed share value when the options are finally granted. The 90-day period runs from the…
A valuation can affect the price you accept, the shares you issue, or the outcome of a shareholder dispute. It should never rest on a calculator, a turnover figure, or one market multiple. A credible business valuation report is built on accurate records, clear assumptions, and a defined purpose. Whether you are selling, raising funding,…