While preparing your succession or estate plan, you should value your family business both internally and externally because your company has multiple values depending on the valuation standard used.

The different results can help you determine whether to keep the family business, pass it on to the next generation, or sell it to an outsider.

Two Common Valuation Standards:

1. Investment value

This gauges internal value, which represents the value to a particular investor based on individual investment requirements and expectations. In layman’s terms, it identifies what the business is worth to the current owner(s).

2. Fair market value

This measure indicates the external value and refers to the price in terms of cash equivalents at which the property would change hands between hypothetical willing-and-able buyers and sellers if:

• They act at arm’s length in an open and unrestricted market;
• Neither is under any compulsion to buy or sell; and
• Both have reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts.

In layman’s terms, this quantifies what you can expect to get when you place your business on the market to sell to a qualified buyer.

Value Differences:

The relevance of these two valuations lies in their differences. The investment value of an operating business could be higher or lower than the fair market value. The actions “control owners” take in their best interests drives the difference. Owners controlling a family business can often take advantage in the areas of compensation, fringe benefits, related-party relationships and transactions, and changes in capital structure.

Compensation

Owners have the flexibility to pay themselves higher-than-market compensation. A buyer in a fair market transaction has to pay only what the market requires to replace the owner’s compensation. In a family business, family members on the payroll may receive more than market compensation. In addition, these family members may be employed only because the business is held in the family. If the business is sold, the new owners might not pay the family members high salaries or keep them on.

Fringe benefits

Owners in control of a family business can also manipulate fringe benefits. For example, they and family members may have life insurance, disability insurance, or health insurance that the company pays for. A new owner may not be able or willing to match that benefit. The business might also own an airplane or a vacation home and offer a liberal expense policy. These ownership benefits are not likely to be retained by a buyer and that creates a difference between the investment value and the fair market value.

Related-party relationships and transactions

A family business might rent its business property from a related party, often for an amount higher or lower than the fair market rent. If the business is sold, the property might be at some economic risk. The attractiveness of the property to an outside buyer should be taken into account as these related-party transactions can have an impact on fair market value.

Changes in capital structure

Owners controlling the business have the power to maintain or change the capital structure of the business. In many cases, the capital structure is not ideal for the business. It often under-utilizes debt and that deflates value on a fair market basis.

Determining the next step:

Bottom line, these variations generate a difference in the value to the current owner (the investment value) and the value to a potential buyer (the fair market value) that you need to account for in arranging succession, exit, and estate plans.

Your business and estate planning advisors can be a valuable asset in making the assessments and determining the effect of selling compared with retaining ownership within the family. Please contact a Hantzmon Wiebel team member if you would like assistance in valuing your business or determining your next steps.

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