📊 Case Study: Doctor-Owned Practice

We reviewed a $1.4M valuation for a solo dental practice. Cash flow looked great… but: No associate No buyer in place 90% of patients came to see the doctor, not the brand We applied a personal goodwill risk premium. Value adjusted. Structure changed. Deal closed—but safely. 📌 If the business is built on a name, … Continue reading 📊 Case Study: Doctor-Owned Practice

🧠 Sin Spotlight: Goodwill That’s Too Personal

🧯 Deadly Sin: Overvaluing Personal Goodwill If the business relies on the seller’s relationships, charisma, or technical expertise—it may not transfer. And if the valuation assumes those intangibles stick around, the lender’s at risk. ✅ Enterprise goodwill = transferable🚫 Personal goodwill = fragile 📌 If the cash flow walks out the door with the owner, … Continue reading 🧠 Sin Spotlight: Goodwill That’s Too Personal

🎁 Resource Drop: Rent Normalization Memo Template

📘 New lender tool: Our Rent Normalization Memo Template Includes: ✅ What “market rent” means ✅ Where to find rent comps✅ How to adjust cash flow✅ Sample memo language for credit files 📩 Click here to grab your copy.

📊 Case Study: Overstated Value from Low Rent

A $1.8M valuation looked solid—until we saw the seller was charging their business just $1,000/month for a property worth $4,500/month in rent. ⚠️ That $3,500/month gap = $42K/year = ~$250K in overstated value We adjusted the rent. Value dropped. The loan structure changed—and the deal stayed alive. 📌 Always ask: Is the rent realistic post-sale?

🧠 Sin Spotlight: Rent Isn’t Always Market-Based

🧯 Deadly Sin: Misaligned Rent in Biz + Real Estate Deals When the seller owns both the business and the building, the rent may be: 🏷️ Below market (to reduce tax liability)💸 Above market (to inflate building income)❌ Not normalized in the valuation If the appraisal uses the wrong rent, the cash flow—and business value—are … Continue reading 🧠 Sin Spotlight: Rent Isn’t Always Market-Based

🎁 Resource Drop: WC Evaluation Worksheet

📊 Our Working Capital Evaluation Worksheet helps SBA lenders assess WC adequacy in valuations. Includes: ✅ Key WC components✅ Red flag indicators✅ Questions to ask borrowers and appraisers 📩 Click here to grab your copy.

📊 Case Study: No Working Capital in the Deal

📉 A business showed $250K in free cash flow—but no AR, no inventory, no AP transferred in the deal. The buyer would have had to inject ~$180K in operating cash just to open the doors. We adjusted for working capital deficiency. Deal restructured. Crisis avoided. Earnings without operations = nothing.

🧠 Sin Spotlight: Working Capital Ignored

🧯 Deadly Sin: Ignoring Working Capital Too many appraisals focus only on earnings—and forget to analyze what’s being delivered. Working capital = the fuel that keeps the business running. If the seller walks with all the receivables and payables?The buyer might be walking into a cash trap. 📌 SBA valuations must consider working capital structure—and … Continue reading 🧠 Sin Spotlight: Working Capital Ignored

🎁 Resource Drop: Owner Compensation Normalization Guide

📘 We created an Owner Comp Normalization Guide with benchmarks and red flag scenarios. It includes: ✅ Where to find comp data✅ How to normalize for passive vs. active owners✅ Valuation report examples✅ A checklist for appraisers and underwriters Click here to grab your copy.