For example, we determine the EV by taking a multiple of sales. The ratio of EV to sales would likely change based on the level of profitability (higher profits mean a higher multiple), as the result of the introduction of debt (tax shield), and because of taxes (government claim on cash flows).
A high valuation can be very tempting, generating positive buzz for your company. However, overly high valuations can lead to problems in attracting investors and pressure to deliver high returns, which doesn't always lead to the best decisions.
The Sharks will usually confirm that the entrepreneur is valuing the company at $1 million in sales. The Sharks would arrive at that total because if 10% ownership equals $100,000, it means that one-tenth of the company equals $100,000, and therefore, ten-tenths (or 100%) of the company equals $1 million.
The appropriate multiple for any particular business can vary, with higher multiples for more attractive businesses, and lower multiples for less attractive businesses.
A multiple of 5x means the company is valued at five times the projected annual income and that a buyer will see the investment returned over a five year period. However, if a company is actively growing, much higher multiples may be seen.
EV/EBITDA Multiple
The EV/EBITDA ratio is popular for comparing the value of a company, debt included, to the company's cash earnings minus noncash expenses. Lower ratios generally signify a more attractive valuation.
To find the fair market value, it is then necessary to divide that figure by the capitalization rate. Therefore, the income approach would reveal the following calculations. Projected sales are $500,000, and the capitalization rate is 25%, so the fair market value is $125,000.
A business will likely sell for two to four times seller's discretionary earnings (SDE)range –the majority selling within the 2 to 3 range. In essence, if the annual cash flow is $200,000, the selling price will likely be between $400,000 and $600,000.
Valuation is the true value or economic worth of your startup. Sharks invest in a startup in exchange for a certain percentage of ownership or equity. Valuation helps determine the price per share of the company and the worth of the investor's ownership of the company.
What are good ratios for a company? Generally, the most often used valuation ratios are P/E, P/CF, P/S, EV/ EBITDA, and P/B. A “good” ratio from an investor's standpoint is usually one that is lower as it generally implies it is cheaper.
When the valuation figure is higher than agreed sale price, the transaction will still go through at the agreed sale price if the buyer chooses to exercise the Option to Purchase. The idea is the moment seller issues OTP at agreed price, they are obliged to sell at that price.
Meanwhile, using multiple analysis can also lead to difficulty in comparing companies or assets. This is because companies, even when they seem to have identical business operations, may have different accounting policies. As such, multiples may be easily misinterpreted, and comparisons are not as conclusive.
Common Multiples
Retail businesses: 1.5 to 3.0 (i.e., cash flow x 1.5-3.0 multiple) Service businesses: 1.5 to 3.0 (i.e., cash flow x 1.5-3.0 multiple) Food businesses: 1.5 to 3.0 (i.e., cash flow x 1.5-3.0 multiple) Manufacturing businesses: 3.0 to 5.0+ (i.e., cash flow x 3.0-5.0+ multiple)
The Revenue Multiple (times revenue) Method
A venture that earns $1 million per year in revenue, for example, could have a multiple of 2 or 3 applied to it, resulting in a $2 or $3 million valuation. Another business might earn just $500,000 per year and earn a multiple of 0.5, yielding a valuation of $250,000.
So as an example, a company doing $2 million in real revenue (I'll explain below) should target a profit of 10 percent of that $2 million, owner's pay of 10 percent, taxes of 15 percent and operating expenses of 65 percent. Take a couple of seconds to study the chart.
Main Street Deals (Sub $3m Revenue)
Companies with under $3m in sales will typically sell for 2.5 – 3.5 X their discretionary earnings (total cash the owner could take out of the company). Smaller companies that are even more owner-reliant will even be lower than that.
In 2019, the median net worth of self-employed families was $380,000—over four times larger than the $90,000 in net worth held by the typical working family (Headd 2021).
The Revenue Multiple Method
The revenue multiple used often falls between 0.5 to 5 times yearly revenue depending on the industry. For a company doing $2 million in gross annual sales, that could equate to a business valuation between $1 million (0.5X multiplier) up to $10 million (5X yearly sales).
While $3 million in sales is certainly impressive, it doesn't automatically translate to a specific valuation. The true worth of your business depends on a complex interplay of factors, including: Profitability: Your net profit margin (after all expenses) is a critical driver of value.
Generally speaking, most businesses will sell for between 6 and 10 times their annual EBITDA depending on factors such as size, industry, competitive landscape, and geographic location.
Generally, a business with a low EBITDA multiple is great for acquisition. Investors and analysts agree that an EBITDA multiple below 10 is considered good. Then again, this is a broad estimate and could be higher or lower in some industries.
Enterprise value-to-sales (EV/sales) is a financial ratio that measures how much it would cost to purchase a company's value in terms of its sales. A lower EV/sales multiple indicates that a company is a more attractive investment as it may be relatively undervalued.