Demystifying valuation: what is your business really worth?

In episode two of this three-part Sofa Stories x Clearwater special, we focus on valuation and unpack one of the most misunderstood parts of selling a business. Joined by Michael Loudon and Joe Dyke, both Partners at Clearwater, we explore how valuation really works in practice and why it is rarely just a number on a spreadsheet.

From EBITDA multiples and market benchmarks to scarcity, strategy and buyer psychology, this episode looks at what actually drives value in a real transaction and what can quietly undermine it.

This episode explores:

• Why valuation is as much about perception as it is financial performance
• The difference between value, price and headline multiples
• How strategic fit, competition and buyer appetite influence outcomes
• Common red flags that can damage value late in a process
• The role preparation, readiness and timing each play in maximising value
• Myths around earnouts, private equity and whether you really need to run a full process 

Whether you are questioning what your business might be worth, challenging assumptions you have heard elsewhere, or thinking about how to maximise value before a future exit, this episode offers candid insight from advisers who have negotiated valuations across a wide range of sectors and deal types.

Contact Clearwater;

Website: clearwatercf.com 

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/clearwater-corporate-finance/

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