Business Appraisals

Have you thought about what your business is worth today versus a year ago?  A lot of things affecting all businesses change constantly – competition, interest rates, the unemployment rate, and overall economic conditions to name a few.  For many of us, events such as 9/11/01 and the War on Terrorism have shaped our thinking both personally and from a business perspective.  Knowing how much your business is worth is the first step toward making it worth more in the future – whether you intend to sell or not sell it.  We appraise businesses – contact us for details on how we can determine the value of your business today; we can also suggest steps you can take to make it more valuable in the future.  If you’re going to work hard, why not get more for the effort? Establishing the value of a business is important and necessary for: Business Sellers      Business Buyers Divorce Succession Planning Business Planning Estate Planning Establish Value for Estate Tax Purposes Partner/Owner Buy-out/Buy-in An Appraisal/Valuation starts by defining the purpose and use of the Appraisal.  Next is the process of understanding the Business, what it is, what it does, and the Income and Cash Flow it produces.  One or more approaches to value will be used - Asset Approach, Income Approach, and Market Approach.  Within each Approach there are a number of valuation Methods that will be selected and used as are appropriate under the circumstances. Our experience with many types of closely held businesses, not only as an appraiser and business broker, but also with experience as a buyer, operator, and seller, provides the basis to find and evaluate all of the elements that contribute to or detract from the value in each business.  We believe the appraisal process is both a science and an art that need to be combined to properly determine value. John W. Zoellner - Business Appraiser Qualifications Employment.   Mr. Zoellner is currently President of Zoellner, Garten & Company (see below).  His experience includes over 17 years in commercial banking; 14 years with The Central Trust Company, N.A. Cincinnati, Ohio from 1973 to 1987 (Central Trust was a commercial bank which was acquired by PNC Bank in 1987).  Duties there were commercial lending, specifically in the area of financing personal property assets via term loans, equipment leases, tax exempt financing, and tax shelter financing.  Business Ownership/Operations Experience includes numerous years of personal involvement, both by himself and with others, in the start-up, purchase, and transfer of businesses.  This includes starting a financial service bureau, starting an equipment leasing company, starting a screen printing company, purchasing a publishing company, purchasing a wholesale flooring company, several partnership involvements, and selling the screen printing, publishing and flooring companies. Mr. Zoellner started Zoellner, Garten & Company in 1988.  Zoellner’s business is representing business Owners that wish to sell their businesses, representing buyers of businesses,  Business Appraisals/Valuations, Machinery & Equipment Appraisals, and Consulting Services in the areas of Business Planning and Financial matters. Mr. Zoellner has partially completed the requirements to obtain the Professional Designation of Certified Business Appraiser (CBA).  The CBA designation is awarded by the Institute of Business Appraisers (IBA), The Premier Professional Society of Business Appraisers located in Plantation, Florida.  He has passed the written exam and satisfied the requirements that include having a 4-year college degree or equivalent and character screening; he has not as yet submitted for critical review two comprehensive appraisal reports that demonstrate the applicant’s ability to perform original appraisal work of superior quality.  Education: 1975  Masters of Business Administration-Finance, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio 1970  Bachelor’s Degrees in both Business & Economics University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, Wisconsin Memberships: Lifetime Member – Institute of Business Appraisers (John W. Zoellner) NEBB Certified Machinery & Equipment Appraiser National Equipment & Business Broker’s Institute Business Appraisals/Valuations Completed These are examples of the Appraisals we have completed.  Each Appraisal is done for a specific Purpose and Use; the Standard of Value determined – whether Fair Market Value, Fair Value, or Investment Value, is also different for each Appraisal.  Please contact us with questions and for more information. Distribution Distributor of Building Supplies Beverage (Beer & Wine) Distributor Commercial Scale Sales & Service Distributor Distributor of Perishable Foods Window/Door Distributor Manufacturing Building Sprinkler Manufacturer/Installer Manufacturer/Installer of Theatrical Draperies & Stage Rigging Consumer Goods Manufacturer Commercial/Industrial Fan Manufacturer Machine Job Shop Printing Companies – Forms, Screen, Commercial, Thermograph Millwork/Casework Manufacturer Retail Retailer of Fitness Equipment Motorcycle Franchise Dealer Bars & Restaurants of all types Movie Theater Coin Laundry/Tanning Salon Bread Franchise Dairy Queen Restaurants/Franchises Niche Furniture Store Service Advertising Typography Business Language School (Gift Purposes) Property Damage Appraisal Business Personnel Employment Agency Office Services/Shared Office Business HVAC Contractor Gas Station/Repair Business Hospital Storage Company Full Service Gas Station Hearing Care Services Other Notes held by an Estate Real Estate Holding Company Niche Children’s Publication Shares Held by an Estate (Tax Purposes) Group Home