Small Business

SIC stands for the Standard Industrial Classification Code. It is a four digit number assigned to identify a business based on the type of business or trade involved. The first two digits correspond to major groups such as construction and manufacturing, while the last two digits correspond to subgroups such as constructing homes versus constructing highways. A company can determine its SIC number by looking it up in a directory published by the Department of Commerce, or by checking in the SIC book in the reference section of a local library. SBA size standards are based on SIC codes.

You can request a report from a search company that will check records in the US Patent and Trademark Office, state registers and various other business sources. There usually is a fee for this service. Some companies are: CSC, The US Corporation Company, 1090 Vermont Ave NW, Washington DC 20005, 800 241-6518. Thomson and Thomson, 500 Victory Road, North Quincy MA 02171-3145, 800-692-8833.

A college professor was overheard telling his class, "There are three basic principles for a successful business, location, location, location". You can have the best business in the world, but if it is located in a desert, your business will probably fail. Time and effort devoted to selecting your business location will mean the difference between success and failure. The kind of business you are in, the potential market, the availability of employees and the number of competitive businesses in your neighborhood should all be determining factors in your choice of location.

The Comparable or Guideline Company Approach is a method that the appraiser collects data on recent sales of similar companies and calculates the valuation multiples such as the price to earnings, price to revenue, price to cash flow. It is assumed the valuation multiples derived inherently represent the financial markets expectations of future earnings and assessments of future risk. The appraiser reviews the multiples to determine which ones are applicable to the subject entity. The guideline entity used in the final valuation analysis must bear some very similar behavioral characteristics as those of the subject entity. Speak to your local CPA or business broker for more information about valuing a business and on your pending purchase or sale.

The discounted future earnings method calculates the value today (discounted for time) of the businesses earnings in the future. The evaluator must forecast revenues, expenses, profits and cash flows. The appraiser must carefully analyze all factors and uncertainties that can impact a business’s ability to generate future earnings. Risk assessment is the most important aspect of the analysis. The discount rate, which is a percentage number usually between 15% and 100%, quantifies risk. Usually, the applicable discount rate correlates directly with yields on publicly available securities such as treasury bills, shares of publicly held companies or corporate bonds. The higher the discount rate the riskier the business. For small businesses, such as restaurants, liquor stores, convenience stores, bars or cleaners, a variety of other methods, ratios and formulas are used. These methods are unique to the circumstances and usually cannot be supported by straight forward theoretical documentation. Speak to your local CPA or business broker for more information about valuing a business and on your pending purchase or sale.

Valuing a business is a tricky process with the end result being to ascertain the fair market value of the business. Fair market value is the amount at which the property would change hands between the buyer and seller when neither are under compulsion to buy and when both have reasonable knowledge of relevant facts concerning the business. You can use the Asset Approach to determine a value indication of a business's assets and or equity interest. This method is based directly on the value of the assets of the business less liabilities. Goodwill is determines as total sales price minus the estimated assigned asset values. The asset approach is appropriate when the profits of a business are small in comparison to the assets employed to generate that business's profits. Speak to your local CPA or business broker for more information about valuing a business and on your pending purchase or sale.

There is no simple answer or formula for evaluating the price of your business. There are business brokers or appraisers that specializes in valuing a business. Some brokers believe that cash flow is the most important factor to consider. Some brokers use one of three possible calculations to determine cash flow. Earnings plus Interest plus Taxes = cash flow. Earnings plus Interest plus Taxes plus Depreciation plus Amortization = cash flow. Earnings plus Interest plus Taxes plus Depreciation plus Amortization plus Owner's Salary = cash flow. Other important factors to consider include competition, industry trends, balance sheet, income statement, gross margins, type and condition of equipment, customer base, growth opportunities for company, owner's role, financial needs and goals, difficulty of someone else learning the business and how other companies of similar size in the industry perform. Speak to your local CPA or business broker to assist you in selling your business.

You should initially apply online. Go to www.irs.gov/businesses and click on employer ID numbers. Your local IRS service center can also assist you in getting a Federal ein. The phone number is 1-800-829-4933:

Some aspects to consider are licenses required, zoning laws and other regulations that vary from state to state and business to business. Depending on the type of business you are running, you may also need establishment licenses, liquor licenses, delivery and or transport licenses. Your local SBA office or chamber of commerce will provide you with general information. You must decide about your form of organization. You must choose to be a sole proprietorship, corporation, s-corporation or partnership. Speak to your local CPA for advice specific to your business and location.