We find it perplexing how often S corp. owners—who invest in their business with an eye on the future and carefully analyze the cost/benefit of every decision—take a short-term, simplistic approach to reasonable compensation: Just pick the lowest possible number to minimize payroll taxes. Read more >>

Back in 2012, BVWire ran a news item reporting that the era of the business valuation generalist was over. Since then, this notion was reinforced in ongoing coverage. For example, we reported in 2015 that attorneys look for specialized skills when engaging an appraiser. Today, the advice to specialize continues to resonate. Read more >>

The first major multiday, multitrack conference of the year, the NACVA and the CTI’s 2020 Business Valuation and Financial Litigation Super Conference, was held online over five full days in June. Business Valuation Update attended, and we found excellent speakers and interesting sessions, and the technical details all went smoothly. COVID-19 was a hot topic of discussion in a number of the sessions, so, here we present 10 takeaways on dealing with the pandemic’s impact on business valuation. Read more >>

Business valuations prepared for divorce purposes can be much more challenging than valuations can be for other purposes because the rules differ among jurisdictions. There are no clear valuation guidelines for divorce in most states. For example, there’s no specific definition of value in state statutes governing divorce. Also, divorce courts exercise a great deal of discretion—even if there is an abundance of judicial precedent (which can be confusing and contradictory). Read more >>

Vertical IQ is the leading provider of industry intelligence for those advising small- and medium-sized businesses, and their research team is working to provide updates on how COVID-19 affects industries, sectors, and economies. As the situation surrounding coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to develop, industries are experiencing the impacts in various ways. Read more >>

COVID-19-related business interruption cases are winding their way through the court system, and one state court, in a matter of first impression, recently issued a decision against the business owner. Read more >>

Since the onset of COVID-19, organizations are reassessing their intercompany agreements to include force majeure clauses. Force majeure is an “Act of God” clause that allows involved parties to renegotiate or terminate an agreement if an unforeseen or unpredictable event occurs. Read more >>

Business Valuation Resources recently published EBITDA multiples by industry in our DealStats Value Index (DVI). DVI presents an aggregated summary of valuation multiples and profit margins for nearly 40,000 sold private companies listed in our DealStats platform. Read more >>

NACVA recently held the first major multiday multitrack conference of the year online, and BVWire attended via the Zoom platform. We found excellent speakers, interesting sessions, and the technical details all went smoothly (attendees even received lunch credits via GrubHub). Read more >>

The Indiana Court of Appeals and the South Carolina Supreme Court recently issued noteworthy rulings on the appropriateness of discounts in valuing minority interests. The contexts in which the issue arose were different, but both situations amounted to a compelled buyback of shares. Read more >>

When it comes to saving time and effort when performing economic research, where is the best place to start given the current climate due to the coronavirus pandemic? The Economic Outlook Update (EOU), published by Business Valuation Resources, reports digest expansive research from the leading authoritative sources into one convenient report. Get a sneak peek of our April 2020 EOU report. Read more >>

Every company—large and small alike—now faces material risks related to data security and privacy concerns that need to be addressed when performing a business valuation. This is a challenging area for valuators because it is a complex issue and there is little guidance or empirical data to help quantify these risks. Fortunately, ideas and techniques are emerging to help pave the way to better understand and measure the impact of data security and cyber liability risks on the value of a business. Read more >>

BVR is excited to announce the release of its new Guideline Public Company Comps Tool (GPCCT), a state-of-the-art, web-based platform that offers access to complete financial statements, financial ratios, and multiples for comparable companies—and even includes an Excel add-in. Read more >>

Filing a business interruption claim has become one of the go-to moves for businesses as they try to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. A discussion of two cases that were adjudicated just before the COVID-19 crisis came into relief explains the trajectory many claims, including claims arising out of the COVID-19 crisis, may take and points to opportunities for damages experts. Read more >>

As COVID-19 continues to shift everyday life and the global economy, accounting professionals are looking for information to help guide their clients through these trying times. These organizations will lean on their in-house experience and should pay close attention to the lessons learned during the 2008 market crisis. Force Majeure is a clause included within an agreement that is commonly referred to as the “Act of God” clause. Read more >>

Just as the novel coronavirus causing COVID-19 brought businesses and economic activity to a sudden halt, an ABA panel discussed the grave effects on businesses and the legal doctrines available to business owners to mitigate the economic injury stemming from business interruption and unforeseeable circumstances. Read more >>

As the world continues to feel the crippling effects of coronavirus, we can’t help but observe the ingenuity and compassion that citizens are showing for their communities. Musicians are hosting live concerts on social media, online subscriptions are discounted left and right, and events all over the world are transforming to webcast versions for all to utilize. We are entering an era of adaptation in a way the world has never seen—and BVR is here for it. Here are some ways BVR is supporting the valuation community during this unpredictable, uncertain time. Read more >>

The unpredictable coronavirus is disrupting work plans of valuation and accounting firms and impacting the global market. Conferences are being postponed and offering webcast versions, firms are limiting travel, supervisors are encouraging virtual meetings, and new ways to help prevent the spread of the disease are introduced every day. Here are some recent developments, issues, and advice that everyone should consider, including factors to favor when performing a valuation in this turbulent, uncertain time. Read more >>

When looking to appraise or value both residential and commercial construction companies, there are many unique factors to consider that set this industry apart from others. In BVR’s new special report, What It’s Worth: Valuing Residential and Commercial Construction Companies, expert Pasquale Rafanelli covers the opportunities these types of valuations can provide for business appraisers, which we’ve excerpted here. Read more >>

When looking to appraise or value paving companies, there are many unique factors to consider that set this industry apart from others: the seasonality of the business, specific bidding requirements for federal, state, and local governments, as well as contracted set asides for businesses owned by women, minorities, and veterans. There are even special rules for determining what qualifies for these ownership types. Read more >>