Know your business valuation number before the buyer presents theirs

An independent, certified business valuation gives you a defensible price before you go to market. $4,900 + GST. 3–4 weeks. A 40-page report built to hold up when buyers push back.

A pre-sale business valuation is an independent assessment of what your business is worth before you take it to market, so you can set a defensible asking price and judge buyers’ offers against an evidence base. In New Zealand it’s typically prepared by a certified valuer using the income, asset and market approaches, and built to withstand a buyer’s accountant or adviser scrutinising the numbers.

Call Bruce on 021-245-8881 | Email bruce@fealty.co.nz

A word from Bruce

A credential buyers' advisers recognise

I’m one of only four Certified Valuation Analysts (CVA) in New Zealand and Australia — a credential dedicated entirely to business valuation, accredited through NACVA’s international standards.

When a buyer’s accountant or due diligence team reviews your valuation, the CVA behind it gives the report weight. It’s the difference between a number someone came up with and a number that’s been arrived at through a certified process.

I am a New Zealand business valuer and M&A adviser who has completed 86 valuations. I have worked as an M&A adviser and New Zealand partner for international mid-market M&A firms.

Certified Valuation Analyst
(NACVA)

Master of Entrepreneurship
(Otago)

BCA
(Accounting, Victoria)

$4,900 + GST, a fraction of what a pricing mistake costs you.

Fixed price. No hourly billing, no scope negotiation.

If your business is worth $2M, even a 5% pricing error is $100K. The valuation fee is a rounding error against the cost of going to market at the wrong price — or accepting an offer you can’t evaluate.

A 40-page report that answers the questions buyers will ask

Financial analysis, risk assessment, normalisation adjustments, and a defensible value conclusion — all in one report.

The report covers the income approach, asset approach, and (where applicable) market comparables. You’ll know where your value comes from and where a buyer might challenge it.

When you need a pre-sale valuation

Going to market You’re preparing to sell and want to set an asking price you can defend, not a guess based on a multiple someone mentioned at a conference.

Evaluating an approach A buyer has made contact and you need to know whether their offer is in the right range before you respond.

Sale readiness planning You’re 1–3 years from selling and want to understand your current value so you can work on improving it.

Broker engagement You’re appointing a broker and want an independent valuation before their appraisal so you have your own baseline.

Partnership exit You’re selling your share to an external party and need a defensible number that protects your position.

Capital raising You’re bringing in external investment and need a valuation to anchor the equity discussion.

Deal experience

I’ve completed valuations across a range of industries and transaction types:

Sale of a wholesale business
Acquisition of a tourism aircraft company
Acquisition of a seafood business
Sale of a commercial construction business
Hospitality group international capital raising
Merger of two services firms
Equity valuation in a manufacturing company for exit planning
Internal sale of shares in a software services company
Global architectural partnership separation

How it works: Fealty's 4-Step Valuation Process

1. Brief call We talk about your situation — what you’re selling, your timeline, and whether you’ve had any approaches. 15 minutes. No obligation.

2. Information and analysis You provide financial statements (typically 5-6 years) and background on the business. I analyse the data, normalise earnings, assess risk, and apply the relevant valuation methods.

3. 40-page report You receive a detailed valuation report covering financial analysis, risk assessment, discount and premium adjustments, and a value conclusion. I walk you through the findings in a post-report meeting.

4. Take it into the deal Use the valuation to set your asking price, evaluate offers, brief your broker, or anchor a negotiation. The report is designed to hold up when buyers and their advisers scrutinise the numbers.

Common questions

Will a buyer actually care about the valuation methodology?

Their advisers will. A serious buyer will have their own accountant or valuer review your numbers. A 40-page report with financial analysis, risk assessment, and normalised earnings gives your price a documented foundation. It’s harder to dismiss a certified valuation than a number pulled from a rule of thumb.

How long does it take?

3–4 weeks from receiving your financial information. Expedite is available for $750 + GST if timing is tight — useful if you’ve had an approach and need to respond.

What if the valuation is lower than I expected?

Then you know before a buyer tells you. That’s the point. A valuation that confirms your price gives you confidence in negotiation. A valuation that flags issues gives you time to address them or adjust your expectations — before you’re sitting across the table from someone who’s done their own homework.

How is a business valued for sale in New Zealand? A valuer normalises your earnings (removing one-off and owner-related items), then applies the income, asset and market approaches to reach a defensible value. The pre-sale report shows where the value comes from and where a buyer is most likely to challenge it.

Should I get a valuation before or after I appoint a broker? Getting an independent valuation first gives you your own baseline, rather than relying solely on a broker’s appraisal. It lets you sense-check the asking price the broker proposes and negotiate from an informed position.

Know your number before the buyer presents theirs

A 15-minute call is the fastest way to work out whether a pre-sale valuation fits your timeline. No obligation.