Match the professional work to the purpose
A business owner comparing an offer, a shareholder transferring an interest and a founder issuing options have different valuation questions. Explain the actual use before selecting a report. Relevant professional competence and a clear engagement matter more than a generic promise of a certified number.
What prepared by an ICAEW Chartered Accountant means
The valuation is prepared by an ICAEW Chartered Accountant within the agreed scope. Financial information is analysed alongside the business context and the rights being valued. The professional credential belongs to the accountant; it does not mean ICAEW endorses the transaction or approves the valuation conclusion.
Define certified before commissioning
There is no single deliverable established simply by typing certified business valuation into a search engine. Ask the recipient what they require: a signature, stated credentials, a particular form, a specific valuation basis or an appointed expert. Provide those instructions at the outset so suitability can be assessed.
A report-quality checklist
Check that the output identifies the business or shares, date, purpose and intended readers. It should explain the information used, approach, important adjustments and limitations. Where assumptions are material, ask what would change the result. A signed report without a transparent reasoning process may still fail to answer your question.
An independent view rather than a target price
The work should follow evidence, with potential conflicts and independence requirements reviewed before acceptance. Tell us about existing adviser relationships or other parties to the transaction. An independent conclusion may differ from the figure an owner hopes to achieve; actual offers also depend on financing, negotiation and terms.
Get a proportionate quote
An affordable business valuation starts with avoiding an unsuitable brief. Organise the key records and explain what your reader needs before commissioning. We discuss fees and deliverables in advance; no universal low price, instant certification or guaranteed third-party acceptance is advertised.
Your valuation contact: Kishen Patel, BFP ACA
Enquiries are handled by Kishen Patel at Consult EFC, an ICAEW Chartered Accountant. View Kishen Patel’s ICAEW member profile. The professional membership belongs to the practitioner; it does not imply ICAEW approval of a particular report.
Before work starts, agree the company or interest being valued, valuation date, purpose, intended readers, information required and fee. Any conflicts, independence requirements or specialist appointment conditions must be considered before acceptance.
For a written deliverable, use our valuation report scope checklist. Bring the key valuation documents and explain any specific recipient requirements.
What to ask a business valuation accountant before commissioning
Professional credentials matter, but the engagement still needs to fit the decision. Ask who performs the work, what experience is relevant to the assignment and which matters require another specialist. Qualification alone does not establish that every possible tax, dispute or asset assignment is within scope.
- What business or holding is being valued, and at what date?
- Which records will be reconciled and which facts will be relied on as supplied?
- How will methods, adjustments and material assumptions be explained?
- Who may use or rely on the output?
- What conflicts, information limits or external requirements need addressing?
Compare proposals against the same brief. An indicative planning discussion and a report for specified third-party use can involve different work. Our valuation quote comparison guide explains the questions to put alongside the fee.
Ask for a conclusion you can trace
A useful output should connect the instructions, financial starting point, adjustments, selected methods and final conclusion. Ask how reported earnings became the measure used in the assessment and how cash, debt or share rights were treated.
A figure can be precisely calculated while still relying on uncertain evidence. Discuss the effect of missing records and any additional work needed. Neither the word independent nor certified guarantees acceptance by HMRC, a lender, another shareholder or a court. Identify the relevant recipient’s requirements before commissioning.
Enquiries are handled by Kishen Patel, BFP ACA, at Consult EFC. Verify the ICAEW membership entry and explain your valuation purpose through the enquiry form.
Your starting checklist.
- What the recipient means by certified or independent
- Required valuation date, scope and report format
- Available financial and ownership information
- Any appointment terms or third-party reliance needs
Start with the purpose. Confidential documents can follow through an agreed channel.
Further questions
What does a business valuation accountant need from me?
Start with the purpose, date, subject and intended users. After suitability and confidentiality are agreed, the adviser can request relevant accounts, trading, ownership and commercial records.
Does ICAEW membership mean ICAEW approves my valuation?
No. Membership identifies the professional qualification and contact. It does not imply ICAEW endorsement of an individual report or guarantee external acceptance.