Business Value Estimator | C5 Business Advisors

Business Value Estimator

What could your business be worth?

Use a few key financial figures to explore a simplified estimate—and see how earnings, growth, and risk may affect value.

Private and browser-based. No information is saved or transmitted.

Inputs

Your assumptions

$
$100K$10M
$
Enter your best estimate of pretax earnings after reasonable adjustments for owner compensation, unusual expenses, and ongoing business needs.
$25K$2M
%
Your best estimate of average annual earnings growth over the next five years.
-10%30%
%
18% is an illustrative starting point for a small private company. Higher risk means a higher rate.
10% lower risk35% higher risk
%
Expected long-term growth after the first five years.
0%5%

Results

Your illustrative estimate

Based on the earnings, growth, and risk assumptions entered.
$2.25M
Illustrative enterprise value range: $1.91M – $2.59M

This is a simplified estimate, not an appraisal. A professional valuation would also consider debt, excess cash, working capital, and other facts specific to your business.

Adjusted earnings margin23.3%
Value / adjusted earnings6.4×
Value / revenue1.5×
Projected Year 5 earnings$447K

These implied multiples are only a reference point. A professional appraiser can help determine whether they are reasonable for your industry and the specific strengths and risks of your business.

Projected adjusted earnings

Projections are based only on the assumptions entered. A professional valuation would also consider your company’s actual financial history, outlook, risks, and balance sheet.

Value drivers

See how key drivers may influence value

Apply an illustrative change below. Each scenario updates the estimator so you can see the effect in context.

Increase earningsIncrease adjusted annual earnings by 10%. Higher earnings, all else equal, result in a higher value.
Estimated impact
Improve growthIncrease expected annual growth by 2 points. Higher growth, all else equal, results in a higher value.
Estimated impact
Lower riskReduce the discount rate by 2 points. Lower risk, all else equal, results in a higher value.
Estimated impact

Strengthen earnings quality

Improve margins, develop recurring revenue, reduce dependence on the owner, and clearly document unusual expenses.

Make growth credible

Build growth through a strong backlog, customer retention, available capacity, and realistic market opportunities.

Reduce risk

Diversify customers, formalize processes, retain key people, and improve the quality and timeliness of financial reporting.

Professional context

What could change the estimate?

Every business is different. A professional valuation considers factors that a simple calculator cannot fully capture.

1

Business-specific risks

Customer concentration, owner dependence, management depth, recurring revenue, competitive position, and industry conditions.

2

Financial adjustments

Owner compensation, unusual expenses, working capital needs, capital spending, debt, excess cash, and nonoperating assets.

3

Purpose and circumstances

A business may be valued differently depending on the ownership interest, transaction structure, valuation date, and intended use.

Understanding these factors is often where a professional valuation adds the most value.

Ready to take a closer look?

We can help you understand the factors driving value and determine whether a professional valuation makes sense for your goals.

Connect With a Valuation Advisor
Important disclaimer: This estimator is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not a business valuation or appraisal, and the results should not be relied upon for transaction, tax, litigation, financing, or planning decisions. Results are based solely on the assumptions entered and may differ materially from the value determined through a professional analysis. This tool does not provide financial, legal, tax, investment, or valuation advice.