Guides
Quick Tools & Checklists
Fast diagnostic pages to check eligibility, benchmark your range, or compare instant calculators with adviser-led valuation.
Sometimes you do not need a 5,000-word guide, you need a 5-minute check. These short tools are designed to give you an honest read on where your business sits before you book a longer conversation.
Free indicative valuation
Three years of accounts, a 20-minute conversation, and a written indicative range delivered confidentially within 5 working days. No obligation, no buyer approaches, and no marketing follow-up beyond the report itself.
Eligibility and benchmark checks
Our eligibility checklist confirms in 2 minutes whether your business is a fit for the free service. The benchmark page shows the typical multiple band for your sector and size so you can sanity-check anything you have already been told.
Instant calculator versus adviser judgement
We publish an instant calculator because owners want a starting number now. We also publish, in the same place, the four reasons an instant figure will diverge from an adviser-led range, customer concentration, owner dependency, recurring revenue, and earnings adjustments, so you can read the calculator output for what it is.
Topic deep dives
In-depth guides on the specific questions UK owners ask most often in this area.
- Free Indicative Valuation Eligibility Criteria for UK SMEsFree indicative UK SME valuation eligibility: size band, sector, filed accounts, ownership structure, information requirements, turnaround timetable.Read guide
- Instant Calculator Versus Adviser-Led Valuation for UK SMEsInstant calculator versus adviser-led valuation for UK SMEs: accuracy gap, normalisation gap, structural-risk pricing, when each output is fit for use.Read guide
- UK SME Valuation Benchmarks by Sector in 2026UK SME EBITDA multiple ranges by sector in 2026: distribution, services, software, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, recurring-revenue bands.Read guide
Related service pages
- Free Business ValuationConfidential, no-obligation indicative range.Read more
- Eligibility ChecklistIs a free valuation a fit for your business?Read more
- Your Valuation BenchmarkUnderstand your likely range before speaking to us.Read more
- Instant Business ValuationCalculator output versus adviser judgement.Read more
Frequently asked questions
Is the free valuation really free?
Yes. The indicative range, the 20-minute call, and the written summary are all free with no obligation. We charge only if you instruct a formal written report or transaction advisory work.
How accurate is the instant calculator?
Within a sensible orientation band, usually plus or minus 30%. It applies a sector multiple to your stated profit, it does not adjust earnings or weight risk, so use it as a starting point, not a final answer.
What qualifies for the free service?
UK-incorporated trading businesses with at least three full years of accounts and EBITDA of roughly £100k to £5m. The eligibility checklist confirms in two minutes.
What happens after I request a free valuation?
We confirm receipt within one working day, schedule a confidential 20-minute call, and deliver the written indicative range within 5 working days of receiving the accounts.
Want a real number for your business?
Free, confidential indicative valuation from the BusinessValuation.co.uk team.