Independence - A business valuator must be able to provide an opinion of value independent of outside influences. Barnes Wendling values independence and provides clients with unbiased conclusions of value.

Confidentiality - All aspects of a business valuation should be kept in the strictest confidence between the individual/firm and the client and his/her advisors. Barnes Wendling values confidentiality and will not disclose any information regarding a valuation without the prior express written permission of the client.

Credentials - The business valuation community has various credentials qualified professionals can obtain. When selecting a valuator it is important to review his/her credentials and ensure you are hiring a qualified individual. Click to view a list of credentials and the necessary requirements of obtaining each.

Knowledge & Experience - Does the individual or firm have the appropriate valuation and/or litigation support knowledge and experience necessary to do the job? Some firms market business valuation services, yet they have little knowledge and less experience in completing valuations. Our professionals have over 60 years of combined valuation experience and have performed valuations for a variety of reasons. Our combined knowledge and experience ensure we are qualified to perform valuations for almost any reason.

Reputation - Can the individual or firm provide references for you to call to discuss prior valuation experiences? Ask local attorneys, accountants, bankers and other professionals if they have ever dealt with the individual or firm you are planning to hire. Barnes Wendling values the relationships we have with the well-respected professionals in the area. But don't let us tell you about it - ask around.

Resources - The field of business valuations is a highly evolving area of study. It requires constant re-evaluation of methods and protocols. It is often necessary to discuss various factors and circumstances with other qualified professionals. In addition, numerous external sources including texts, database subscriptions, and continuing education are needed for a business valuator to complete a valuation correctly. Does the individual or firm have the appropriate resources, both internal and external to handle the engagement? Our eight professionals and affiliation with Financial Consulting Group and CPA Associates International provide us with a sound base of internal sources that allow us to complete quality valuations. In addition, we subscribe to numerous external databases and have a library full of valuation literature.

Ability to Testify - In certain instances, testimony is needed to support a business valuation or litigation support report. In such instances it is important to determine if the individual or firm you are hiring has such capabilities.  Four of our valuation professionals have actual court room testimony experience.

Understanding - Does the individual or firm you are hiring have a solid understanding of why the valuation is needed and any unique circumstances that may affect the valuation process. A solid understanding of these factors is necessary for a business valuation to be completed successfully. We work hard with our clients to ensure we have a full understanding of all the relevant facts.

Ability to Look Beyond the Numbers - A business valuator must understand more about a business than just the numbers. Various factors, including the capabilities of the management team, the history of the company, suppliers, customers and the competitive environment in which the company operates must be fully understood for an appropriate value conclusion to be reached. Barnes Wendling performs a qualitative as well as quantitative analysis in reaching an opinion of value, providing clients with a defendable report able to withstand challenges from outside parties.