What Your Business Is Actually Worth
A business valuation isn't one number pulled from thin air — it's the result of a methodical review: how much the company earns, how predictable that income is, and what happens to it without you. Here's how that's calculated, and how ValueUp does it.
Why a business valuation matters
You don't only need one before a sale. You need it when you bring in a partner or investor, when a co-owner exits and you're splitting the business, when you're planning a management handover, or simply to know whether the business is moving toward more value or less. Without a number to anchor on, every one of those decisions gets made blind.
The three valuation approaches
Value is derived from the company's future cash flows, discounted back to today's value at a discount rate. Works best for a business with stable earnings and a predictable trajectory.
The company's EBITDA is multiplied by a multiple typical for its industry and size. The most intuitive approach — but the result is only as good as the multiple you pick.
Value is based on the company's net assets. Usually sets the floor — what you could still expect even if the business were simply liquidated.
None of the three approaches produces a universally "correct" number — in practice they're weighted against each other, and where they diverge sharply, that divergence is itself a signal worth digging into.
Why financials alone aren't enough
Two businesses with identical revenue and EBITDA can be worth very different amounts to a buyer — if one runs on the owner's personal relationships and the other runs on systems, without the owner. The ValueOS methodology behind the Value Score breaks the business down across 20 factors in 4 blocks — financials, customers, sales, owner dependency — and shows exactly what's pulling the valuation down, not just the final number.
How ValueUp does it
You fill in a questionnaire (about 5 minutes) and get a Value Score from 0 to 100, computed by a fixed algorithm, for free. The money valuation range — from the three approaches above — and the full 20-factor breakdown unlock with the $29 subscription, along with a 12-month plan for what to do to raise it.
Find out what your business is worth
Free quick check, 6 questions. Full access — $29 one-time, no subscription.
Find out what your business is worth
Free quick check, 6 questions. Full access — $29 one-time, no subscription.
Key terms in plain words
- Value Score
- A 0–100 score showing how ready a business is to be sold. Calculated by an algorithm across 20 factors.
- Value Gap
- The gap between what the business is worth today and what it could be worth after its weak spots are fixed.
- Multiple
- The number your earnings (for example EBITDA) are multiplied by to get the value of the business.
- EBITDA
- Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation — the main measure of operating profit.
- Due diligence
- The buyer’s check of a business before a deal: finances, contracts, legal cleanliness, dependence on the owner.
Common questions
How long does a business valuation take?
The questionnaire takes about 5 minutes, the calculation another 2–3. It doesn't replace weeks of work from a professional valuer, but it gives a fast, methodologically grounded reference point.
Is this a certified valuation?
No. It's an indicative valuation built on a standard methodology, useful for decision-making and deal prep. For court, tax or regulatory purposes, you need a valuation from a licensed valuer.
What if I don't have exact financial figures?
You can enter approximate figures — the report's accuracy shows up in its Data Confidence score, visible right in the report.
Related reading
Business valuation in Dubai and the UAE: mainland vs free zone, AED currency and country risk — a Business Value Score and valuation range for $29.
PricingValue Up costs $29 one-time — the full report on your business: a valuation range by three methods, a Value Score across 20 factors, a 12-month value-growth plan and the PDF. No subscription.
FAQBusiness diagnostic · 20 factors · 3 methods