Business Valuation UK · Company Valuation · HMRC Accepted · CFA-Led · IVS · IFRS
Business Valuation in the United Kingdom — Independent, CFA-Led, HMRC-Accepted
Wondering how much your business is worth in the UK? Corvian Advisory provides CFA-led independent business valuation — delivering company valuation, equity valuation, and independent business appraisal for M&A transactions, shareholder disputes, HMRC compliance, EMI share schemes, management buyouts, bank financing, and FRS 102 / IFRS financial reporting. Fixed fee from £1,500. Delivered in 2–4 weeks. Reports accepted by HMRC, FCA, UK banks, and Big 4 auditors.
Direct Answer
Business valuation in the UK is the process of determining the fair market value of a company using internationally recognised methods — DCF, EV/EBITDA multiples benchmarked against UK transactions, or Net Asset Value. An independent valuation is required for M&A, shareholder disputes, HMRC compliance (EMI, CGT, IHT), bank financing, MBOs, and IFRS / FRS 102 financial reporting. Corvian Advisory provides IVS-compliant reports from £1,500, delivered in 2–4 weeks, accepted by HMRC, UK banks, Big 4 auditors, and UK courts.
Every Major UK Business Decision Starts with an Independent Valuation
A business valuation from a qualified firm is not just a number — it is the evidence base for the most consequential financial decisions UK business owners face. Here are the most common reasons UK owners commission one.
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Selling Your Business in the UK
Entering a sale without an independent valuation means negotiating blind. UK buyers arrive with their own numbers and their own advisors. A defensible, IVS-compliant valuation sets your price and protects it through due diligence and legal completion.
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Buying a Business — Acquisition Pricing
Before committing capital to any UK acquisition, you need an independent view of what the target is actually worth. Not the seller's management accounts. Not an IM prepared by their corporate finance adviser. Yours — built from normalised EBITDA and real UK comparables.
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Management Buyout (MBO)
UK MBOs require an independent business valuation to support acquisition financing, negotiate the equity split with existing shareholders, and satisfy lender due diligence requirements. We produce MBO-specific reports lenders accept at first submission.
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Shareholder Dispute Resolution
When UK shareholders disagree on value — in a partnership breakdown, s.994 unfair prejudice petition, or a contentious exit — an independent expert opinion from a credentialed firm provides the evidence base for negotiation, mediation, or UK High Court proceedings.
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HMRC Compliance — EMI, CGT, IHT
HMRC requires an independent share valuation for Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) scheme approvals, Capital Gains Tax on share disposals, Inheritance Tax planning, and divorce financial settlements. Our HMRC-accepted reports are submitted and agreed within 2–3 weeks.
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Bank Financing & Loan Collateral
UK banks require an IVS-standard independent valuation report for business equity loans and acquisition financing. We prepare reports that meet lender requirements directly — accepted by Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, and UK challenger banks.
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SEIS / EIS Startup Valuation
Pre-revenue and early-stage startups raising under SEIS or EIS — or granting EMI options to early employees — require a defensible equity valuation. We produce investor-ready reports benchmarked against UK startup transaction comparables and accepted by HMRC.
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Goodwill Impairment Testing — IAS 36 / FRS 102
UK companies reporting under IFRS or FRS 102 must test goodwill annually for impairment. We provide CGU-level impairment assessments accepted by UK Big 4 auditors — with discounted pricing for annual repeat engagements.
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How Much Is My Business Worth?
The most-searched question by UK business owners. An independent valuation gives you a documented, defensible answer using real UK market data — not a rough rule-of-thumb or an online calculator that ignores your sector, customer concentration, or deal structure.
Valuation Methodology
How We Value a Business in the United Kingdom
We select the right methodology based on your business type, sector, and the purpose of the valuation — not the method most convenient for us. Most UK mid-market valuations use at least two methods, cross-checked for consistency.
Income Approach
Discounted Cash Flow (DCF)
Values the business based on the present value of projected future free cash flows, discounted at a risk-adjusted WACC. The most rigorous methodology for UK businesses with stable, forecastable earnings. We build independent financial projections — we do not accept the seller's model. UK terminal value assumptions reflect domestic GDP and sector growth rates.
Best for: Profitable UK businesses with 3+ years of trading history and forecastable cash flows.
Market Approach
EV/EBITDA Multiples & UK Transaction Comparables
Values the business relative to comparable UK-listed companies and recent UK and European mid-market transaction precedents. We apply appropriate size, liquidity, and control discounts or premia based on your specific facts — not generic public market averages from the US or elsewhere. UK mid-market premiums and discounts differ meaningfully from quoted market data.
Best for: Most mid-market UK businesses — provides a market-grounded cross-check on DCF conclusions.
Asset Approach
Net Asset Value (NAV)
Values the business based on the fair value of its net assets — assets minus liabilities. The right approach for asset-heavy UK businesses, property holding companies, investment vehicles, and early-stage businesses where earnings-based methods are inappropriate. We restate book values to fair market values under IFRS or FRS 102 as required.
Best for: UK holding companies, property entities, early-stage businesses, and asset-heavy operations.
Conglomerate Approach
Sum-of-the-Parts (SOTP)
Values each business segment, subsidiary, or asset class separately using the most appropriate method for each, then aggregates to a group value. Accounts for conglomerate discounts and cross-segment synergies. Widely used for UK family holding structures and diversified SME groups with trading companies, property, and investment assets under one umbrella.
Best for: UK group structures, family holding companies, and entities with distinct asset classes or subsidiaries.
Pricing
Business Valuation Pricing UK — Fixed Fee. No Surprises. Published Upfront.
We publish our pricing because most advisory firms don't. Every engagement starts with a fixed-scope proposal — no hourly billing, no scope creep, no surprises at invoice. GBP, EUR, and USD accepted.
SME & Simple Structure
£1,500 – £5,000
approx. USD 1,900 – 6,300
Single entity, straightforward financials, one or two valuation methods.
✓HMRC EMI share valuation
✓CGT & IHT share valuation
✓Shareholder agreement valuation
✓Single-entity UK SME businesses
Most Common
Mid-Market Business
£5,000 – £15,000
approx. USD 6,300 – 19,000
Multiple methods, normalised EBITDA, UK & European transaction benchmarking.
Our commitment: Every engagement begins with a fixed-scope proposal agreed and signed before work starts. The fee you see is the fee you pay. No hourly billing, no scope creep. GBP, EUR, and USD accepted.
Why Choose Corvian Advisory
Independent UK Business Valuation — Principal-Led, Not Junior-Delegated
Corvian Advisory is a specialist business valuation firm serving the UK market. Every engagement is led directly by a CFA Charterholder, Chartered Accountant, and FRM — with 15+ years of Big 4 and global consulting experience across EMEA and APAC markets. No junior delegation. Ever.
Our reports are prepared to IVS and IFRS / FRS 102 standards and are accepted by HMRC for EMI, CGT, and IHT purposes, UK commercial banks and lenders, Big 4 auditors, FCA-regulated entities, UK courts, and London arbitration panels — because they are built by a credentialed principal who can stand behind the methodology in any forum.
"We deliver Big 4-quality valuation at a fraction of the cost — because UK mid-market businesses deserve institutional-grade work without institutional-grade fees."
CFA
CFA Charterholder — Gold Standard of Finance
ACA
Chartered Accountant — ICAEW & CA standard
HMRC
EMI, CGT & IHT valuations accepted by HMRC
Big 4
Reports accepted by all Big 4 UK audit teams
Our Process
How We Deliver Your UK Business Valuation in 4 Steps
A disciplined, transparent process — agreed upfront, delivered on time, documented to HMRC and court standards.
1
Initial Consultation
No-obligation call to understand your situation, purpose, UK regulatory context, and timeline. Fixed fee agreed and documented before any work starts.
2
Information Gathering
3–5 years of UK statutory accounts, management accounts, and business documentation collected via our secure data room. HMRC submission checklist provided where relevant.
3
Analysis & Draft
Principal-led financial normalisation, method selection, UK and European comparables benchmarking, WACC derivation, and sensitivity analysis. Management discussion where required.
4
Final Report Delivery
Professionally presented IVS-compliant valuation report delivered within agreed timeline — accepted by HMRC, UK banks, Big 4 auditors, FCA, and UK courts.
Client Feedback
What UK Business Owners Say About Corvian Advisory
★★★★★
"Corvian produced an independent valuation for our UK technology group exit. The report was accepted by both the trade buyer and our solicitors immediately — no pushback on methodology whatsoever. Delivered in 14 days, exactly as promised."
Founder, UK Technology Group
Software & SaaS — London
★★★★★
"We used Corvian for a pre-acquisition valuation of a UK business. The EBITDA normalisation identified £2M in adjustments the seller's IM had obscured. That finding alone more than paid for the valuation engagement many times over."
Investment Director, UK Private Equity Fund
Mid-Market PE — London
★★★★★
"Needed an independent valuation for a shareholder buyout in our UK manufacturing group. Corvian delivered a fully documented IVS-compliant report in 16 days. Both shareholders accepted it as the negotiation basis — we avoided costly litigation entirely."
CEO, UK Manufacturing Group
Industrial & Engineering — Midlands
Frequently Asked Questions
Business Valuation UK — Questions We Get Asked Every Day
How much does a business valuation cost in the UK?+
Business valuation fees at Corvian Advisory range from £1,500 to £15,000+. SME and single-entity valuations (including HMRC EMI share valuations): £1,500–£5,000. Mid-market M&A valuations: £5,000–£15,000. Complex group or litigation: £15,000+. All fees are fixed-scope and agreed before any work begins — no hourly billing, no surprises at invoice.
What is the best business valuation company in the UK?+
Corvian Advisory is a CFA Charterholder and Chartered Accountant-led boutique valuation firm with Big 4 training and 15+ years of experience. Every valuation is led directly by a principal — not delegated to juniors. Reports follow IVS, IFRS, and FRS 102 standards and are accepted by HMRC, UK banks, Big 4 auditors, and courts.
Does HMRC accept independent business valuations?+
Yes. HMRC accepts independent business and share valuations for Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) scheme approvals, CSOP valuations, Capital Gains Tax on share disposals, Inheritance Tax planning, and divorce financial settlements. The valuation must be prepared by a suitably qualified independent expert. Corvian Advisory prepares HMRC-accepted valuations from £1,500, with most EMI valuations agreed by HMRC within 2–3 weeks of submission.
What is an EMI valuation and why do I need one?+
An EMI (Enterprise Management Incentive) valuation is an HMRC-accepted assessment of the unrestricted market value (UMV) of shares for the purpose of granting EMI options to employees. HMRC requires this valuation to be agreed before options are granted, to ensure option exercise prices meet the qualifying conditions and employees benefit from the intended tax advantages. Corvian Advisory provides HMRC-accepted EMI valuations from £1,500, with submissions typically agreed within 2–3 weeks.
How long does a business valuation take in the UK?+
Most UK business valuations are completed within 2 to 4 weeks from receipt of financial information. HMRC EMI valuations take 2–3 weeks from our submission to HMRC agreement. Complex engagements involving multiple entities, litigation support, or limited historical data may take 4–8 weeks. The timeline is agreed in the engagement letter before work begins.
What methods are used to value a business in the UK?+
The main methods are: Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) for businesses with stable earnings; EV/EBITDA multiples benchmarked against UK and European comparable transactions; Net Asset Value (NAV) for asset-heavy businesses and holding companies; and Sum-of-the-Parts (SOTP) for diversified groups. Most UK mid-market valuations use at least two methods, cross-referenced for consistency.
What are typical business valuation multiples in the UK?+
UK mid-market transaction multiples by sector (EV/EBITDA): Technology/SaaS 10–20×; Financial Services 8–16×; Healthcare 8–15×; Education 7–13×; Professional Services 6–11×; Logistics 5–10×; Food & Beverage 4–9×; Industrial & Manufacturing 4–8×; Real Estate Services 4–8×; Retail 3–7×. Actual multiples depend on EBITDA quality, growth rate, customer concentration, and deal structure.
How much is my business worth in the UK?+
The value of your UK business depends on sector, EBITDA, growth rate, customer concentration, and deal structure. Most UK mid-market businesses trade at 5–16× EBITDA depending on sector. A technology business with recurring revenue will attract the upper end; an owner-dependent service business the lower end. The only reliable way to know is an independent valuation using actual UK transaction comparables. Corvian Advisory provides this from £1,500 with delivery in 2–4 weeks.
Can a business valuation help with a UK management buyout?+
Yes. An independent business valuation is essential in an MBO. It provides the management team and their lenders with an objective view of fair value, supports debt financing negotiations, and protects the incoming management team from overpaying. UK lenders — particularly in leveraged finance — require an independent valuation as standard due diligence. Corvian Advisory provides MBO-specific valuations with lender-ready documentation.
What is the difference between FRS 102 and IFRS for business valuation?+
FRS 102 is the UK GAAP standard for non-listed UK companies; IFRS is the standard used by UK-listed companies and multinationals. Both require fair value measurement in a business combination, but IFRS 3 is more detailed on intangible asset identification and measurement than FRS 102 Section 19. For goodwill impairment, IFRS uses IAS 36 (recoverable amount); FRS 102 uses an amortisation model with impairment review. Corvian Advisory prepares valuations compliant with both frameworks.
UK Market Multiples Reference
Business Valuation Multiples — UK Mid-Market by Sector (2025–2026)
Reference EV/EBITDA ranges from UK and European mid-market M&A transactions. Actual multiples vary by EBITDA quality, growth rate, customer concentration, and deal structure.
Sector
EV/EBITDA Range
Key Value Drivers
Technology / SaaS
10–20×
Recurring revenue, NRR, scalability
Financial Services (FCA-regulated)
8–16×
Regulatory licence value, AUM, retention
Healthcare & Life Sciences
8–15×
NHS relationships, regulatory approval
Education (Ofsted-rated)
7–13×
Ofsted rating, capacity, freehold
Professional Services
6–11×
Client concentration, partner lock-in
Logistics & Supply Chain
5–10×
Asset-light model, long-term contracts
Food & Beverage
4–9×
Brand strength, retail listings
Industrial & Manufacturing
4–8×
IP, export capability, capex intensity
Real Estate Services
4–8×
Management contract quality
Retail (omnichannel)
3–7×
Digital mix, margin quality, brand
How We Compare
Corvian Advisory vs Other UK Business Valuation Firms
Firm
Typical Fee
Timeline
HMRC Accepted
Who Leads
Value
Corvian Advisory
CFA-led boutique, 15+ yrs Big 4
£1,500–£15K
2–4 weeks
✓ HMRC & Big 4
Principal only
Mid-Market Focused
Global Top-Tier Advisory Firms
Big 4 & international networks
£25,000+
6–10 weeks
✓
Junior-led
High Cost
Mid-Tier Advisory Firms
Accounting-led networks – UK
£10,000–£30K
4–8 weeks
✓
Mixed
Mid Cost
UK Specialist Boutiques
Niche or sector-specific
£5,000–£20K
3–6 weeks
Variable
Variable
Variable
All UK Valuation Services
Every Business Valuation Service Available in the United Kingdom
Corvian Advisory provides the full spectrum of business valuation services for UK companies, from HMRC share valuations to complex cross-border IFRS 3 purchase price allocations.
Core Service
Business & Company Valuation UK
Full independent business valuation for M&A, shareholder disputes, bank financing, and strategic purposes. IVS-compliant. From £1,500.
HMRC Service
HMRC EMI Share Valuation UK
Unrestricted market value (UMV) assessment submitted to and agreed by HMRC for EMI option grants. CSOP, SIP, and unapproved scheme valuations also provided. From £1,500.
Tax Service
CGT & IHT Share Valuation UK
HMRC-accepted share valuations for Capital Gains Tax on disposal, Inheritance Tax planning, business property relief, and divorce financial settlements. From £1,500.
Startup Service
Startup Valuation UK — SEIS / EIS
Pre-revenue and early-stage startup valuations for SEIS/EIS fundraising rounds, Series A investor decks, and EMI option pool sizing. Investor-ready. From £1,500.
ESOP Service
ESOP & Employee Share Scheme Valuation
HMRC-accepted valuations for all UK employee share schemes: EMI, CSOP, SIP, SAYE, and unapproved options. Restricted share valuations (s.431 elections) also provided.
IFRS Service
Purchase Price Allocation — IFRS 3 / FRS 102
Fair value allocation of the purchase price across acquired assets and liabilities for IFRS 3 or FRS 102 Section 19 accounting. Intangible asset identification and measurement. Big 4 accepted.
Annual Service
Goodwill Impairment Testing — IAS 36
Annual CGU-level impairment assessment under IAS 36 for IFRS-reporting UK companies. Accepted by all Big 4 UK audit teams. Discounted pricing for annual repeat engagements.
Specialist Service
Intangible Asset & IP Valuation UK
Fair value measurement of customer relationships, technology IP, brands, trademarks, databases, and licence agreements for IFRS 3 PPA, transfer pricing, and dispute purposes.
Brand Service
Brand & Trademark Valuation UK
Relief-from-royalty and income approach brand valuations for M&A, licensing, transfer pricing between group entities, and litigation support. UK IP-specific methodology applied.
Related Service
Looking for UK M&A Advisory Rather than Valuation?
Business valuation and M&A advisory are separate disciplines. If you are planning to sell, acquire, or merge a business in the UK — and need buy-side or sell-side advisory, not just a valuation report — see our dedicated UK M&A Advisory page.
M&A Advisory Services — United Kingdom
No retainer. Success fee of 2%–5% on deal close. Buy-side, sell-side, and cross-border M&A advisory for UK businesses.
The UK is one of the world's most intangible-intensive economies. London's fintech and AI clusters, the university spinout pipelines out of Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial, and the UK's deep creative and media industries all produce businesses whose value is held in patents, software, algorithms, brands, and data rather than physical assets. When these companies raise capital, grant EMI options, or sell, the valuation question is fundamentally an intangible asset question.
Corvian Advisory values the full range of intangible assets recognised under IAS 38, FRS 102, and IVS for UK businesses: patents and university spinout technology, software and source code, AI and machine learning models, trademarks and brands, copyrights and content libraries, customer relationships and contracts, licensing agreements, databases, and trade secrets. Each asset class is valued with the accepted method — relief-from-royalty for brands and licensed technology, the multi-period excess earnings method (MPEEM) for customer relationships and core technology, and replacement cost for internally developed software — reconciled to enterprise value and documented for IFRS 3 purchase price allocation and IAS 36 impairment testing.
Typical UK engagements include: purchase price allocation after technology and services acquisitions; IP valuations supporting spinout licensing and equity splits; brand valuations for franchising and intercompany licensing with transfer pricing implications; fair value support for venture and growth equity portfolios; and valuations for UK businesses being acquired by GCC investors — a corridor where we work on both sides.
Start a Confidential Conversation About Your Valuation or Transaction
Every engagement begins with a confidential discussion – no pressure, no obligation. Tell us what you need: an independent valuation, a deal you are working on, or a transaction you are evaluating. We respond within 24 business hours. All communications are strictly confidential.
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates Serving UAE · KSA · Qatar · Kuwait · Bahrain · Oman · EMEA · APAC