Key Takeaways
- Business valuation pricing varies widely based on scope, complexity, and intended use.
- The type of report you need — Conclusion of Value vs. Calculation of Value — is one of the biggest factors affecting cost.
- A brief scoping call is usually the fastest way to get an accurate, fixed-fee quote for your valuation.
If you’re exploring a business valuation or equipment appraisal, you probably want a straight answer on pricing before committing to a phone call. We get that — and we believe you deserve it.
At BGH Valuation, we quote most engagements on a fixed-fee basis and share indicative pricing upfront so you can evaluate fit before we ever get on the phone. Below, we break down what drives valuation costs, what you can expect to pay by engagement type, and how to determine the right level of service for your situation.
What Determines the Cost of a Business Valuation?
No two engagements are identical, but the same handful of variables drive pricing across nearly every project.
Business size and complexity.
A single-entity service business with clean financials is a different project than a multi-entity holding company with intercompany transactions, related-party leases, and non-standard accounting. More entities, more complexity, more time.
Purpose and intended use.
A valuation used for a cooperative partner buyout doesn’t need the same level of documentation and defensibility as one filed with the IRS or presented in court. The intended use directly affects scope — and scope drives the fee.
Report type.
We offer two primary deliverables. A Conclusion of Value is a full, independently supported opinion — the kind that holds up under IRS review, in litigation, or with third-party stakeholders. A Calculation of Value is a limited-scope engagement based on agreed-upon assumptions — faster, more affordable, and well-suited for cooperative transactions where both parties are aligned. Knowing which one you need is the single biggest factor in pricing.
Financial data quality.
If your books are clean, current, and accrual-based, we work more efficiently. If financials need restatement, normalization, or significant adjustment, expect additional time and cost.
Timeline. Standard turnaround is typically 2–4 weeks for a full Conclusion of Value, and often faster for Calculation engagements. Rush timelines (under 2 weeks) may carry a premium. Our specific SBA Compliant Business Valuation turnaround times are typically 7-14 Days.
Indicative Pricing by Engagement Type
The ranges below reflect typical engagements. Final pricing is based on a brief scoping conversation — these numbers are meant to help you budget and evaluate whether we’re the right fit.
SBA & Bank Lending Valuations
SBA 7(a) loan valuations, conventional lending support, and acquisition financing. Fair Market Value on a going-concern, controlling, privately-marketable basis. SBA SOP 50 10 8 compliant where applicable.
Typical range: $2,000 – $3,000 (SBA 7a) | $1,500 for Calculation reports
Mergers & Acquisitions
Pre-sale planning, buy-side diligence, pricing support, and investor or lender decision-making. Income and market approaches with transaction-specific assumptions and scenario analysis as needed.
Typical range: $5,000 – $10,000 | Larger or complex transactions: $10,000 – $20,000+
Partner Buyouts & Shareholder Disputes
Buy-sell agreement execution, partner exits, ownership redemptions, and dispute resolution. Control vs. minority analysis with marketability and control considerations tailored to the agreement’s provisions.
Typical range: $5,000 – $12,000 | Disputed or expert-support matters: $12,000 – $20,000+
Divorce & Litigation
Marital dissolution involving business interests, shareholder disputes, mediation, settlement, or trial preparation. Court-defensible methodologies with clear separation of facts, assumptions, and opinion. Expert-ready documentation positioned for neutrality and independence.
Typical range: $7,500 – $15,000+ | Expert testimony or rebuttal billed separately (hourly)
A note on billing structure: Many litigation and divorce engagements are billed on an hourly basis rather than a fixed fee. These matters tend to be exploratory in nature — the scope can shift as discovery unfolds, new information surfaces, or opposing experts raise issues that require additional analysis. Hourly billing ensures you’re paying for the work actually required rather than a fixed estimate that may not reflect how the case develops. We’ll discuss the best billing approach for your specific situation during the scoping call.
Estate & Gift Tax Valuations
Lifetime gifting, estate tax reporting, family succession, and ownership transfers. Fair Market Value under IRS Rev. Rul. 59-60 with minority interest and marketability discount analysis (DLOC/DLOM) where warranted. Defensible for IRS review.
Typical range: $7,500 – $10,000 | Complex structures or multiple interests: $10,000 – $20,000+
ESOP & 409A Valuations
ESOP feasibility, transaction support, annual updates, and IRC Section 409A stock option compliance. Independence and regulatory compliance focus with coordination across trustees, CPAs, and auditors.
Typical range: Initial ESOP: $15,000 – $40,000+ | Annual updates: $7,500 – $20,000 | 409A: $5,000 – $10,000
Purchase Price Allocation (PPA) & Financial Reporting
ASC 805 purchase accounting, goodwill impairment testing (ASC 350), and audit support. Tangible and identifiable intangible asset valuation with clean, audit-ready documentation.
Typical range: $10,000 – $20,000 | Large or multi-entity acquisitions: $20,000 – $40,000+
Equipment Appraisals
We also provide USPAP-compliant equipment appraisals — both desktop (photo/documentation-based) and on-site inspection formats. Equipment appraisals are frequently bundled with business valuations for equipment-heavy industries like manufacturing, construction, oilfield services, and precision machining. If your engagement involves significant tangible assets, ask about combined pricing.
Conclusion of Value vs. Calculation of Value — Which Do You Need?
This is the most important decision in scoping your engagement, and it’s worth getting right.
Choose a Conclusion of Value when: The valuation needs to be defensible to the IRS, presented in court, submitted to external stakeholders, used in audited financials, or relied upon by parties who aren’t already aligned. Estate and gift tax filings, divorce and litigation matters, ESOP transactions, and contested buyouts almost always require this level of work.
Choose a Calculation of Value when: Both parties are cooperative, the transaction is informal or internal, and the priority is speed and cost over full defensibility. Early-stage M&A planning, preliminary partner discussions, and internal benchmarking are common use cases.
If you’re not sure which applies to your situation, that’s exactly what the scoping call is for.
Why Work with BGH Valuation?
We’ve completed over 2,000 valuations across more than 100 industries, for businesses ranging from $150K to $250M+ in revenue. Our credentials include NACVA (National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts), and NEBB Institute designations, and our reports are prepared in compliance with NACVA and USPAP standards.
But credentials only matter if the work product is useful and the process isn’t painful. Here’s what our clients say:
“BGH did an amazing job on a business valuation for me. Slightly ahead of schedule, reasonably priced, and exceptional in the quality of the deliverable.” — David Bradley, North Smithfield Fence (Acquisitions)
“BGH Valuation Services has been my go-to business valuation provider for several years. Strong customer service with a quick turnaround time at a reasonable price.” — Angela Kazmierski, Alerus Bank (SBA Business Valuations & Equipment Appraisals)
We’re independent, we communicate clearly, and we deliver on time. That’s the commitment.
Ready to Scope Your Engagement?
If you’ve read this far, you have a general sense of where your project might land. The next step is a brief discovery call where we’ll confirm the purpose, scope, and timeline — and give you a firm fee quote.
No obligation, no pressure, no wasted time.
Book a call: calendly.com/brandon-hall
Email: support@bghvaluation.com
Phone: 763-777-7140
FAQs
Can I get a business valuation for free?
Some online tools provide rough estimates based on revenue or EBITDA multiples. These are fine for curiosity but are not suitable for legal, tax, or transaction purposes and won’t hold up under any form of scrutiny.
Why do valuations for IRS or litigation purposes cost more?
They require stricter professional standards, comprehensive documentation, and the ability to withstand third-party challenge — which means more analysis, more support, and more time.
How long does a valuation take?
Calculation of Value reports can often be completed in 1–2 weeks. Full Conclusion of Value engagements typically take 2–4 weeks depending on business complexity and data availability. Rush timelines are available at an additional cost.
Do you handle equipment appraisals too?
Yes. We provide USPAP-compliant equipment appraisals as standalone engagements or bundled with business valuations. This is especially common in manufacturing, construction, and other asset-heavy industries.
What if I’m not sure which report type I need?
That’s exactly what the discovery call is for. We’ll walk through your situation and recommend the right scope — we’d rather right-size the engagement than oversell you.
