01 /
Specify the decision and intended use
Explain whether you need an initial commercial discussion or an assessment for a defined transaction or ownership decision. Name the business interest, valuation date and people who will use the work. An adviser needs this context to propose an appropriate scope.
Our appraisal versus valuation guide explains why two assessments with similar names may offer different levels of investigation and reporting.
02 /
Identify what could expand the work
Several entities, complex ownership arrangements, incomplete records or uncertain forecasts may require additional work. So can unusual assets, significant changes in trading or the need to examine adjustments to reported earnings.
Tell the adviser what information is ready and what will need to be assembled. Ask how additional questions, meetings or revisions would be handled. A clear change process helps both sides avoid surprises.
03 /
Compare deliverables side by side
Read the inclusions before looking at the final number. Compare the methods considered, information review, explanation of assumptions, sensitivity work and the form of the conclusion. Ask whether a meeting to explain the findings is included.
Use the valuation report outline to think through your needs. More pages do not automatically make a report more useful; the important question is whether it supports its intended decision.
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Prepare well without choosing the answer
Reconciled accounts, an ownership chart and an explained forecast make a better starting point than scattered files. Preserve the original records and label unusual items rather than silently adjusting profit to a preferred result.
The valuation preparation checklist can help organise the information. Ask for a scope and fee proposal that explains assumptions, exclusions and the process if new information changes the work.
Use this in your business
A quote-comparison worksheet
| Compare | Proposal A / proposal B |
|---|---|
| Purpose and interest | Same decision, valuation date and ownership interest? |
| Information review | Which records, interviews and follow-up questions? |
| Analysis | Methods, adjustments and uncertainty considered? |
| Report and reliance | What is delivered and who can use it? |
| Meetings and revisions | Included explanation, review and additional work? |
| Fee basis | What is included, excluded and subject to change? |
A practical example
A cheaper quote for a different task
One proposal might provide a short initial assessment for an owner's planning discussion. Another may involve a documented analysis for a specified shareholder transaction. Compare what each can be used for before assuming the price difference represents better or worse value.
Your next move
Describe your valuation purpose for a scoped discussion
Tell us why you need the valuation, who will use it and what information is available. We can discuss the scope before you decide what work to commission.
Describe your valuation purpose for a scoped discussion