In 25 years as a CFO and Corporate Director (C Dir), I have never seen a wider gap between “Accounting Value” and “Strategic Reality.” As we enter 2026, the era of stable globalism is over. We have entered a period of Transactional Realism. For Ontario manufacturers, this means your business value is no longer a […]
Before you sign a letter of intent (LOI), spend 30–60 minutes on a CBV/CFO screen. It’s a small step that routinely saves buyers and sellers thousands in avoidable costs and weeks of friction. The goal is simple: make sure price and terms match risk—before momentum locks in. Where deals leak money • Working capital peg: […]
In family law, legal hours spike when facts are fuzzy. A focused Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) report clarifies the numbers that lawyers argue about—so your legal time goes where it counts. When there’s a business, self-employment income, or complex banking activity, a CBV can turn scattered statements into a clean, court-ready story. Where a CBV […]
Before you commission a valuation, ask a simple question: will it pay for itself? Owners often think of the fee as a cost. In practice, a good valuation often saves money or earns it back by improving terms, speeding the process, strengthening price, and preventing surprises. Where return comes from • Better deal terms: a […]
Courts and buyers don’t reward narratives; they reward predictable cash. The most persuasive valuation work converts risk stories into numbers—then shows how you’ll reduce those risks in the next few weeks. A simple four-week grid is often enough to demonstrate momentum. Translate risk → numbersIf customer concentration is high, price it in the multiple and […]
When you expect growth, a family trust can create future flexibility with minimal complexity. The idea is straightforward: separate fixed-value preferred shares from future growth common shares, and keep optionality for family, key employees, or charity. The objective is not tax tricks; it’s clean governance and easier transitions. When it makes sense • You expect […]
A “number” without judgment can cost you real money. Thoughtful valuations do four things well: (1) start from the business model, (2) normalize with evidence, (3) use comparables you can defend, and (4) translate risks into the math. The outcome is a Possible Value range you can explain to a buyer, a lender, or a […]
Bigger spreadsheets don’t win deals—defensible judgment does. A strong valuation is not a single number produced by a black box; it’s a transparent, evidence-based Possible Value range, supported by method choice, clean normalizations, defensible comparables, and a clear map from risk narratives to hard numbers. Start with the business model How the company makes and […]
Owner-occupied manufacturing isn’t a strip mall. Yet many models treat the plant as “redundant” real estate and plug in a market rent to make the operating company look comparable to peers. That shortcut can double-count risk and misprice value by 10–30% in special-use settings. If your production depends on power, clear heights, crane rails, line […]
Blog 4: Evolving Capital Structures in Family Businesses: Why Professional Valuation is Essential Introduction Family businesses often encounter scenarios that require changes in their capital structure, whether due to expansion, new investments, or accommodating family members’ evolving needs. Such changes are not only financial decisions but also strategic moves that can shape the future of […]