Independent Business Valuations

Evidence - Based, Market - Focused, IVS -Compliant

Discover the true value of your business with our complimentary business appraisal. Uncover insights and understand what your business is truly worth in the current market.

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Whether you are preparing to sell, navigating a family law property settlement, restructuring your company, or simply need to understand where your business sits in the current market — an accurate, independent business valuation is the foundation of every good decision.

At Accelerate Business & Franchise Sales, we deliver market-based business valuations grounded in real transaction evidence, industry data, and the internationally recognised International Valuation Standards (IVS) framework. Our valuations are prepared by a Registered Business Valuer (RBV) accredited with the Australian Institute of Business Brokers (AIBB) and draw from hands-on experience selling hundreds of businesses across Australia.

When Do You Need a Business Valuation?

Business valuations are not just for sellers. There are a range of circumstances where knowing the true market value of a business is critical for making informed, defensible decisions.

Business Valuation for Market Sale

If you are considering selling your business, a professional valuation establishes a realistic and defensible asking price grounded in current market conditions. It ensures you do not underprice your life’s work or overprice it to the point where buyers walk away. Our market sale valuations assess normalised earnings (PEBITDA), apply industry-appropriate multiples, and benchmark against comparable recent transactions to determine what the market will genuinely pay for your business today.

Business Valuation for Family Law

In family law property settlements, the value of a business interest must be determined as part of the asset pool available for division. Whether the matter is before the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia or being resolved through mediation, an independent, evidence-based valuation provides the objective foundation that both parties and their legal representatives need to reach a fair outcome.

Our family law valuations address both fair market value and value to owner considerations, depending on the instructions from the parties or the Court. We work cooperatively with family lawyers, forensic accountants, and mediators to ensure the valuation serves the needs of the matter.

Business Valuation for Company Restructure

When restructuring ownership — whether transitioning from a sole trader to a company or trust structure, introducing new shareholders, facilitating a management buyout, or restructuring equity between partners — an independent valuation establishes the value at the point of transfer. This is essential for tax compliance (particularly capital gains tax), stamp duty calculations, and ensuring all parties are treated equitably.

A valuation at the point of restructure also protects against disputes down the line by documenting the agreed value at the time the structural change was made.

Business Valuation for Market Positioning & Strategic Planning

Not every valuation is driven by a transaction. Many business owners engage us to understand where their business currently sits in the market — relative to industry benchmarks, competitors, and their own long-term goals. A strategic valuation identifies the key drivers of value in your business, highlights areas of risk or underperformance, and provides a clear roadmap for building value ahead of an eventual exit.

Other Valuation Purposes

  • Partnership disputes and shareholder buyouts
  • Succession planning and intergenerational transfers
  • Insurance assessments and business interruption claims
  • Investor or lender due diligence
  • Estate planning and deceased estate administration
  • Buy-sell agreement triggers

Our Approach: Market Evidence, Not Guesswork

We are not accountants. We are business brokers and M&A specialists who value businesses based on what they actually sell for in the real market — not theoretical models disconnected from buyer behaviour.

Our valuations are grounded in the practical reality of what buyers are willing to pay, informed by our direct experience facilitating business sales across industries including hospitality, retail, trades, professional services, manufacturing, distribution, franchises, and childcare.

This means every valuation we prepare is informed by:

  • Real comparable transaction data from recent business sales in your industry
  • Current market multiples observed in actual buyer-seller negotiations
  • Industry benchmarks drawn from ANZSIC-coded datasets
  • Normalised earnings analysis (PEBITDA) that reflects true owner benefit
  • Practical buyer appetite — what types of acquirers are active in your sector and what they are paying

Why Market-Based Valuations Matter

A business is ultimately worth what a willing buyer will pay a willing seller in an arm’s-length transaction. Theoretical models that ignore market evidence can produce valuations that look impressive on paper but collapse when tested by real buyers. Our valuations are designed to withstand scrutiny — from buyers, lawyers, courts, and the ATO.

The International Valuation Standards (IVS) Framework

All Accelerate business valuations are prepared in accordance with the International Valuation Standards (IVS) issued by the International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC). The IVS is the globally recognised framework for professional valuations and is accepted by courts, regulators, financial institutions, and professional bodies across more than 100 countries.

What Is IVS?

The International Valuation Standards provide a comprehensive, principles-based framework for performing valuations of businesses, assets, and liabilities. The standards are designed to promote transparency, consistency, and competence in valuation practice worldwide.

The IVS framework covers the entire valuation process, from establishing the scope of work and defining the appropriate basis of value, through to selecting and applying valuation approaches, assessing data quality, and reporting the valuation conclusion.

Why IVS Matters for Your Valuation

  • Globally recognised — accepted by courts, the ATO, financial institutions, and legal professionals in Australia and internationally
  • Ensures transparency — the framework requires full disclosure of assumptions, limitations, and methodology
  • Promotes consistency — standardised definitions (such as Market Value) ensure all parties are speaking the same language
  • Defensible — IVS-compliant valuations are structured to withstand challenge in legal proceedings, mediation, and negotiation
  • Ethical framework — requires professional scepticism, competence, and independence throughout the valuation process

Key IVS Standards We Apply

  • IVS 101 — Scope of Work: Defines the asset being valued, the purpose, the intended users, the valuation date, and all assumptions and limitations. Agreed in writing before the valuation commences.
  • IVS 102 — Bases of Value: Establishes the definition of value being applied — most commonly Market Value for business sale purposes, defined as the estimated amount for which an asset should exchange between a willing buyer and willing seller in an arm’s-length transaction after proper marketing.
  • IVS 103 — Valuation Approaches: Requires consideration of all three recognised approaches — the Market Approach, Income Approach, and Cost Approach — with selection and weighting justified based on the nature of the business and available evidence.
  • IVS 104 — Data and Inputs: Mandates that valuers maximise the use of observable, market-based inputs and apply professional scepticism to all data, particularly information provided by the business owner or management.
  • IVS 106 — Documentation and Reporting: Requires that the valuation report contain all information necessary for the intended user to understand the valuation, including methodology, data sources, assumptions, and the conclusion.

Valuation Methods We Use

We apply multiple valuation methods and cross-check the results to arrive at a well-supported conclusion. The methods selected for any given valuation depend on the nature of the business, the availability of data, and the purpose of the engagement.

Capitalisation of Future Maintainable Earnings (FME)

The most widely used method for valuing established Australian SMEs. This method determines the business’s normalised earnings — typically expressed as PEBITDA (Proprietor’s Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation) — and applies an appropriate capitalisation multiple derived from market evidence. The multiple reflects the risk profile, growth prospects, and market conditions specific to the business and its industry.

Comparable Transactions (Market Approach)

We benchmark your business against recent, verifiable sale transactions of similar businesses in your industry and region. This method provides a direct market check on value and is particularly powerful when combined with the FME method. We draw comparable data from industry databases, our own transaction history, and market intelligence gathered from active buyer engagement.

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF)

For businesses with significant growth trajectories, variable cash flows, or capital-intensive operations, the DCF method projects future cash flows over a defined period and discounts them to present value using an appropriate discount rate. This method captures value that may not be fully reflected in historical earnings.

Asset-Based Valuation

Where the value of a business is primarily driven by its tangible assets — such as in manufacturing, transport, or property-intensive operations — an asset-based approach values the net tangible assets at fair market value and adds any identifiable intangible value, including goodwill.

Multiple Methods = Greater Confidence

We rarely rely on a single method in isolation. By applying multiple approaches and cross-checking the results, we arrive at a valuation conclusion that is robust, defensible, and reflective of what the market would genuinely pay.

Your Valuer: Shweta Sharma, RBV, CPBB

All Accelerate business valuations are prepared by Shweta Sharma, a Registered Business Valuer (RBV) and Certified Practising Business Broker (CPBB) accredited with the Australian Institute of Business Brokers (AIBB).

Shweta brings over 12 years of hands-on experience in business sales and M&A advisory, having been directly involved in the valuation, marketing, negotiation, and settlement of hundreds of businesses across Australia. Her valuations are not produced from behind a desk — they are informed by the lived reality of what buyers pay, what sellers accept, and what drives value in the Australian SME market.

Shweta’s experience spans a diverse range of industries including hospitality, food and beverage, retail, professional services, trades and construction, manufacturing, distribution, franchises, childcare, and allied health. This breadth of industry knowledge means she understands the specific factors that drive value — and risk — in your sector.

Shweta Sharma

Qualifications and Accreditations

  • Registered Business Valuer (RBV) — Australian Institute of Business Brokers
  • Certified Practising Business Broker (CPBB) — Australian Institute of Business Brokers
  • Member, Australian Institute of Business Brokers (AIBB)
  • Member, Real Estate Institute of South Australia (REISA)
  • Director, Accelerate Business & Franchise Sales

What Sets Shweta Apart

Unlike accountants or forensic valuers who may have limited exposure to the transaction market, Shweta works at the coalface of business sales every day. She knows what buyers are looking for, what multiples the market is currently supporting, and where the value gaps exist between what a seller believes and what a buyer will pay. This practical, market-facing perspective produces valuations that are realistic, evidence-based, and actionable — not theoretical exercises.

What You Receive

Every Accelerate business valuation engagement delivers a comprehensive, professionally presented valuation report that includes:

  • Executive summary with the valuation conclusion and key findings
  • Scope of work defining the asset valued, purpose, basis of value, and valuation date
  • Business overview covering history, operations, staff, market position, and competitive landscape
  • Financial analysis including normalised earnings (PEBITDA), revenue trends, and profitability assessment
  • Industry and market analysis with ANZSIC benchmarks and sector outlook
  • Valuation methodology with detailed application of each method, comparable evidence, and multiple derivation
  • Sensitivity analysis showing how the valuation responds to changes in key inputs
  • IVS compliance statement confirming the valuation has been prepared in accordance with International Valuation Standards
  • Assumptions, limitations, and qualifications as required by professional standards

Our Valuation Process

We keep the process straightforward, efficient, and confidential.

  1. Step 1 — Initial Consultation: We discuss the purpose of the valuation, the nature of your business, and any specific requirements (such as family law instructions or restructure timelines). This consultation is confidential and obligation-free.
  2. Step 2 — Information Gathering: We provide a tailored checklist of the financial and operational documents required. Typically this includes three years of profit and loss statements, balance sheets, BAS data, lease agreements, and staff details.
  3. Step 3 — Analysis and Valuation: We normalise earnings, apply the selected valuation methods, source comparable market evidence, and prepare the valuation conclusion.
  4. Step 4 — Report Delivery: You receive a comprehensive, professionally presented valuation report. We walk you through the findings and answer any questions.

Turnaround is typically 10–15 business days from receipt of all required information, though expedited timelines can be accommodated for urgent matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a business valuation cost?

Fees depend on the complexity of the business, the purpose of the valuation, and the level of analysis required. We provide a fixed-fee quote after the initial consultation so there are no surprises. Contact us for a confidential discussion.

A business appraisal is typically a high-level, indicative assessment of value — often provided free of charge as part of the listing process. A formal business valuation is a comprehensive, evidence-based analysis prepared in accordance with professional standards (IVS) and suitable for use in legal proceedings, negotiations, and financial reporting. Our valuations carry the weight and rigour that appraisals do not.

Yes. Our valuations are prepared by a Registered Business Valuer in accordance with the International Valuation Standards framework, and are structured to meet the evidentiary requirements of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. We work cooperatively with family lawyers and can provide valuations on either a joint expert or single-party-instructed basis.

No. We are business brokers and M&A specialists. Our valuations are market-based — grounded in what businesses actually sell for in the real market, not theoretical accounting models. We work alongside accountants and complement their financial analysis with practical market evidence and transaction intelligence.

We value businesses across all sectors of the Australian SME market, including hospitality, food and beverage, retail, professional services, trades, construction, manufacturing, distribution, logistics, franchises, childcare, allied health, and technology. Our cross-industry experience means we understand the specific multiples, risk factors, and buyer dynamics in your sector.

Typically 10–15 business days from receipt of all required financial and operational information. Expedited timelines are available for urgent matters, including family law and time-critical restructures.

PEBITDA stands for Proprietor’s Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation. It is the standard measure of normalised business profitability used in Australian SME transactions. PEBITDA strips out owner-specific costs and non-recurring items to reveal the true economic benefit available to a buyer. It is the earnings figure that capitalisation multiples are applied to in order to determine business value.

The IVS defines Market Value as the estimated amount for which an asset or liability should exchange on the valuation date between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm’s-length transaction, after proper marketing, wherein the parties had each acted knowledgeably, prudently, and without compulsion. This is the most commonly applied basis of value for business sale purposes.

Request a Confidential Business Valuation

Whether you need a valuation for sale, family law, restructure, or strategic planning, we are here to help. Contact us for a confidential, obligation-free initial consultation.

Phone: 1300 847 097  |  0432 591 529

Email: shweta@acceleratebsales.com.au

Offices: Melbourne (South Melbourne) & Adelaide (Hindmarsh Square)