Mergers and acquisitions can be stressful for entrepreneurs who have invested blood, sweat and tears in their businesses — or second-generation owners who are selling their parents’ legacies. Setting the asking price and understanding the deal terms, including complex tax matters, can be overwhelming. Fortunately, a business valuation professional has the financial knowledge and real-world experience…

You may understand some of the theory behind business valuation, but you probably don’t know the procedures involved in the analysis and preparation of a report. Clients and attorneys who understand how the valuation process works can anticipate their experts’ needs and appreciate why valuators need to ask so many questions and review so many documents….

Value is relative. Some assignments call for an appraisal of the entire entity on a controlling basis. Others require the valuation of a minority interest that may lack control and “marketability.” How do these situations differ, and how do business valuation professionals account for these differences? Level of Value The ability to control a business has…