How much is my business really worth?

This is a question you probably ask yourself from time to time, and it's certainly an important one – it has implications for your future lifestyle and ultimately your retirement.

There are a number of circumstances that require a proper valuation of the business, including :-

• Purchase / sale transation
• Buying out a shareholder or partner
• Passing the business on to your children
• Setting up an employee share ownership scheme
• Inheritance tax
• Tax and estate planning

But the most important reason for having your business valued now, and then regularly in the future, is to see how you are doing in reaching your business objectives. All of the other reasons listed above then flow from this.

Find out what your business is worth today and then set your targets for what you want it to be worth in the future and by when. Then the fun begins as you fill in the gaps and develop your Business Action Plan to get you from where you are today to your target in the future.

So take control – get your business valued today and then start to plan out your future.