Business appraisal employment is a winning proposition if you come to the company valuation table with the right credentials. While entry-level small business valuation jobs are prolific, the better paying jobs at valuation companies require financial knowledge that only comes from training and experience. To pursue a career in the company valuation industry you should accumulate as many certificates and degrees as you can.

Look for training for valuation companies through online training institutes and through contacts and connections you can make in the industry. Make valuable industry connections at trade associations while taking advantage of the professional development courses in valuation techniques. There are a number of avenues you should pursue as you continually upgrade your training for training for business valuation.

1. Peruse business valuation services training online

2. Find training in business appraisal through trade groups

3. Enlist the help of business valuation software professionals

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Watch for small business valuation training online

Take the time to regularly watch the job boards, as you look for opportunities online to advance your career in business valuations. You'll find a number of online financial training programs that will be most helpful in your search for employment. Check out the requirements and look for training to make you more suitable for the position you seek.

I recommend: Sign up for one of the many certification courses provided by the Institute of Business Appraisers. The National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts offers many professional development and certification courses.

Look for valuation of business courses through associations

While you are pursuing a career in the industry you should also be accruing a list of connections that will help you throughout your career. Trade associations are great places to get involved with more senior level company valuation professionals and make those important contacts. At the same time, most associations offer a wide variety of professional development courses that will look good on your resume.

I recommend: Check out the New York Institute of Finance for valuation courses and degrees online. The National Center for Continuing Education offers an in-depth course that will look great on your resume and prepare you for a successful career move.

Enroll with a business valuation methods course

Talk to professionals in the field to find out which courses and training will be the most beneficial to your career. While you can get a finance degree, additional specific training is required for different levels of service. Add the courses to your experience with a mentor.

I recommend: Members of the Business Valuation Association receive networking opportunities in addition to the training and certification credits needed in the industry. Start your career or find professional development courses at the Appraisal Institute.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always update your resume with any certificates or training in business valuations that you receive.

Placing an accurate value on a small business is a tricky affair. But it's also an exercise that may be necessary for a variety of reasons. Valuations (or appraisals) are a must, of course, for anyone buying or selling a business. But they are also vital for partnership deals such as yours, as well as buy/sell agreements, family business succession planning, personal and estate planning and situations where you need bank or other financing. Other reasons you might need a valuation include divorce, spin-offs, liquidation and business disputes. Top things to know or do:

1. You can determine the value of a business in many different ways, from quick and cheap software-based calculations you do yourself, to full-scope, certified valuations by professionals.
2. The price range is enormous, from as little as $15 for the simplest software, to thousands for a detailed analysis performed by certified pros. Business brokers, hoping to sell your business, may even do them for free.
3. Try to match the person or method you use for a valuation with the reason you are doing it. If the valuation is for loan purposes, for example, look for someone who's done small business valuations for that purpose.

Business.com's "What Works for Business" blog is a great way to keep up with the latest solutions, trends and strategies for small and medium business -- including business sales and valuation.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate a valuation expert quickly and easily online

Certified valuation analysts can help.

I recommend: The National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA) offers a free service online to help you find a business valuation expert in your area. NACVA provides training, certification and support for professional valuators nationwide.

Look to national sources for business valuation needs

No matter the need -- business acquisition, divorce settlement, partnership dispute, or IRS audit -- the right valuation firm can provide a smooth, professionally handled business valuation that holds up under legal scrutiny.

I recommend: Nationwide Valuations offers a variety of valuation levels for small business, depending on your needs. Arrow Business Appraisers specializes in valuations for small, privately-held businesses of all types, nationwide, from auto repair shops, construction firms and delicatessens, to movers, vet clinics and Web hosts. Halas & Associates offers a computer modeled small business valuation system based on hard numbers. The Halas method does not include subjective items such as reputation or market presence.

Try a do-it-yourself valuation solution

Value Any Business offers Do-It-Yourself Business Valuation Manuals designed for specific business types, such as flower shops, restaurants, spas, daycare centers, clothing stores, bakeries, beauty salons and others. The manuals help give you the expertise you'll need when explaining a business' value to a buyer, seller, banker, investor or client.

I recommend: Discover details of the Value Any Business manuals.

Get it done with valuation software

Dedicated valuation software can help you put an approximate value on your business.

I recommend: PriceYourBusiness.com offers simple small business valuation software you can access online.Results are quick and available anytime. Other valuation software packages include: BizPricer; Express Business Valuation and Corporate Valuation.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  One of the best reasons for tracking the value of your business, however, is simply this:So you know.
• •  Most entrepreneurs are capable of boosting the value of their businesses by 40 percent simply by paying attention to the things that make a business valuable.
• •  Too often, business owners brush aside valuations, believing them necessary only if they decide to sell. As a result, only about one in 20 small businesses have done a formal valuation, according to the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.

Business valuation services continue to evolve as more businesses turn to business valuation software to market their goods and services and find the true value of their property. The business appraisal services industry should be followed closely so that you can stay on top of the changes as they affect your own company valuation. Valuation companies continue to open up and offer less expensive alternatives and consultancy services that you need to follow so that you can take advantage of the best deals out there.

Find the most information you can about business valuation services by keeping up with the latest business valuation methods. Whether you run a small business or a large corporation, you need to receive regular news regarding company valuations to remain competitive. Look for small business valuation news by communicating with other business owners with similar needs. Discover numerous ways to keep up with business valuation news and trends.

1. Use trade association publications to keep up with business valuations

2. Subscribe to publications for valuation of a business

3. Sign on for email alerts and newsletters from valuation companies

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Share information with other business appraisal businesses

Blogs are increasingly becoming the media of choice for many small business owners looking for quick and efficient means to communicate with other like-minded professionals. Find an Internet blog that provides trust-worthy information and attracts reliable posting participants.

I recommend: CPA Expert will keep you up to date on the trends and news shaping the industry. Get free newsletter and webcasts to keep up with the changing business valuation landscape from Business Valuation Resources.

Read up on changes in company valuations

News about valuation techniques continues to dominate many of the financial publications available. While you may get regular email alerts and newsletters from your trade association, it's a good idea to stay on top of the industry so that you can know about changes that affect the industry as a whole.

I recommend: Subscribe to the quarterly newsletter put out by Business Valuation Review. The American Society of Appraisers provides regular news and information about current trends going on in the industry.

Receive small business valuation email alerts

You should allow information providers to get into your email with alerts about new company valuations and their latest news. Set up a separate email account to receive these publications and newsletters.

I recommend: Find links to articles, blogs and information at ValuAdder. Keep up with what the industry leaders are doing by following the news put out by American Business Appraisers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider the source when you are gathering information about business valuation news and trends. When information comes from a vendor, it will be biased toward that company's own products and ideas. Ideally, you should be getting your updates from a couple of different sources.

If you are getting ready to sell your business or if you just want to determine its economic value, then it’s time to get a business valuation from a certified professional. There are different methods to use in determining your company’s worth, but not all of them are suitable for every type of company. Becoming well-versed in business valuation key terms will ensure that you aren’t in the dark when it comes to putting a price tag on your company.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Business valuation

Business valuation is the act of determining the value of your business. There are different reasons why you may want to do this, such as if you're getting ready to sell or if you're looking to insure it.

I recommend: SCORE has a clear explanation of business valuation, as well as real-world examples and some common myths regarding valuation.

Economic value

Economic value is the maximum amount that buyers are willing to give up. It helps to determine the value of your business because if people really don't want your product or service it has low economic value and therefore it won't be worth much.

I recommend: Ecosystemvaluation.org is a great resource to learn what economic value is and why it is so important for businesses.

Market value

How does your company compare with similar companies in your area? When you gather this information along with things like industry forecasts, you are on your way to determining the market value of your business. It is a way of figuring out what your business is worth based on factors other than its sales.

I recommend: Check out ValuAdder to get some ideas about the factors you should consider when you try to determine the market value of your business. The helpful valuation tool will even do the heavy lifting for you.

Economic outlook

Will your business survive a recession? Is your industry as a whole losing business due to overseas competition? Can you get a loan with a low interest rate? These are all important factors when doing a business valuation. If you are in an industry hit hard by a recession, chances are your business will not be worth as much as it used to be. It is important to forecast what the economy will be like down the road before placing a value on your company.

I recommend: Kiplinger has up-to-date economic outlook information for you to consider when doing a business valuation.

Valuation methods

There are many different valuation methods to use, such as the book value method, which is how much equity an owner has in the company, or the discounted cash flow method, which is where a company forecasts its future cash flow and then figures out what those amounts would equal in today's dollars, keeping in mind inflation and interest earnings.

I recommend: This list on VentureLine contains comprehensive explanations of the different business-valuation methods.

Professional certifications

There are many do-it-yourself solutions so business owners can value their business themselves. But there is no substitute for a business valuator who has the professional certifications to go along with the specialized education. These certifications mean that they are serious about the task and are up-to-date on laws to ensure you are getting the best price.

I recommend: This list of the available professional certifications for valuators at the Institute of Business Appraisers is a good place to start when you are looking into the qualifications of a business valuator.