Business valuations by a Chartered Business Valuator
Independent business valuations and appraisals for owner-managed companies in BC and Alberta, prepared by a Chartered Business Valuator (CBV).
Over $500M in transactions completed over the past 5 years
Prepared by a CPA and Chartered Business Valuator (CBV), the highest valuation credential in Canada
Reports built to hold up with buyers, lawyers, partners, and the CRA
Fixed fees from $4,000, quoted after a free, confidential first conversation
Get a business valuation
Strictly confidential. We respond within one business day.
KitsWest Capital
595 Howe Street, Suite 306
Vancouver, BC V6C 2T5
Not sure if you need a formal report yet? That is fine. Many conversations start with a quick scoping call. Every enquiry is strictly confidential.
Mike Busch, CPA, CBV · Managing Partner
Mike brings nearly a decade of experience across investment banking, corporate finance, valuations, and restructuring. Before KitsWest, he worked in corporate finance and valuation at Grant Thornton, mid-market investment banking at Kluane Partners, and restructuring at KPMG and The Bowra Group, advising businesses across Canada and the United States on sales, acquisitions, capital raises, refinancings and restructurings. Mike is a member of CPABC and CBV Institute.
Verify his designations: CPABC Member Directory | CBV Institute Membership Lookup
What you get
A written valuation report that states a defensible value, or value range, for your business and shows the reasoning behind it: the approach we used, the assumptions we made, and the adjustments we applied to your financials. It is built to hold up in front of a buyer, a partner, the CRA, or a court, and it is yours to use as the situation requires. We walk you through it so you understand not just the number, but why it is the number.
The first step is always free: a short, confidential call about your situation. You pay nothing unless you decide to engage us.
| Report level | Level of assurance | Typical use cases | Fee range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calculation | Minimum level of assurance. Limited review with reliance on management-supplied information. | Internal planning, preliminary value indications, early-stage tax planning. | $4k - $7k | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Estimate | Moderate level of assurance. Independent verification of key inputs with multiple methods applied and peer benchmarking. | Most tax filings, shareholder transactions, succession planning. | $7k - $12k | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Comprehensive | High level of assurance. Thorough corroboration, management interviews, and site visits where relevant. | Contested litigation, fairness opinions, situations requiring the highest scrutiny. | $12k+ | 6 to 20 weeks |
Fee ranges are guidance only. We quote a fixed fee after the first call, based on the complexity of the business and the number of entities involved.
Why owners get an independent valuation
Owners are usually too close to their own business to see it the way an outside party will, and the people on the other side of any negotiation value it for a living. A guess, a rule of thumb, or last year’s estimate will not survive a real buyer, a litigation file, or a CRA review. An independent valuation replaces the guess with a number that is built, documented, and defensible, so you can make the decision in front of you from knowledge rather than hope.
The wrong number is expensive. Price a sale too low and you leave money on the table; too high and the deal stalls. Get a tax or estate number wrong and the CRA can reassess. In a dispute, an unsupported figure will not survive opposing counsel. Against any of these, the fee for a proper valuation is small.
Why owners trust our valuations
We’ve done this at real scale.
Our view of value is grounded in real transactions, not theory. With over $500M in deals completed by our partners, across manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, food and beverage, construction, and business services, we know what buyers actually pay and what makes one business worth more than another. That market reality is built into every valuation we prepare.
We value businesses for a living.
There is no single price tag on a private business; value depends on what is being measured and why. We work through the three established approaches, income, market, and asset, and apply the ones that fit your business. The result is a normalized, evidence-based figure with the assumptions shown, not a number pulled from a multiple someone read online.
A report built for its purpose.
A valuation for a sale is not the same as one for the CRA or a courtroom. We scope the level of report to what you actually need, from an internal planning figure to a comprehensive report that withstands the highest scrutiny, so you are not underprepared or overpaying for assurance you do not need.
The number is the number.
Your valuation is prepared to professional standards and documented step by step, with no incentive pulling it up or down. If you later decide to sell, refinance or buy out a partner, we can act on it with you.
We tell you the truth.
If the value is not what you hoped, we will tell you why and what drives it, not flatter you with a number that falls apart under scrutiny. A valuation is only worth something if it holds up when it is tested.
How an engagement works
A valuation engagement usually moves quickly once we have your financial information. Here is what the process looks like with KitsWest.
Step 1: A short, confidential conversation
We learn about your business and what the valuation is for, then quote a fixed fee with no obligation.
Step 2: Information and normalization
We review your financial statements and adjust for one-time, non-market, and owner-specific items to find the true earning power of the business.
Step 3: Analysis
We apply the relevant valuation approaches, test the result, and benchmark it against real market evidence.
Step 4: Draft and discussion
You see a draft, we walk you through the assumptions, and you can ask anything before the valuation is finalized.
Step 5: Final report
You receive a clear, defensible valuation you can put in front of a buyer, a partner, a lawyer, or the CRA.
There is no cost and no obligation to the initial conversation.
How a business is valued
Business valuation is grounded in three primary approaches, each suited to different circumstances and used individually or in combination. The approach selected depends on the nature of the business, the quality and reliability of its financial data, the purpose of the engagement, and the level of assurance required.
In practice, most small to mid-market business valuations in BC and Alberta rely primarily on the income approach, cross-checked against market data where available. The asset approach serves as a floor valuation and is often applied in combination with one of the other approaches.
When owners need a valuation
Most valuations we prepare fall into one of these situations.
Partner buyout
One shareholder is buying out another and the shareholders’ agreement calls for fair market value. An Estimate Report gives both sides an independent number to settle on.
Succession and estate freeze
An owner is passing the company to the next generation through an estate freeze. The valuation sets the value of the shares at the freeze date, documented to the standard the CRA expects.
Tax reorganization
An owner is moving operating company shares into a holding company ahead of a future sale. The reorganization relies on a supportable fair market value for the shares transferred, and the report provides it.
Separation or divorce
A business has to be valued for the division of family property. The report is prepared to hold up if the matter goes to court.
Planning a sale
An owner is 2 to 3 years from selling. A Calculation Report gives a planning figure and identifies what is holding value back, so it can be addressed before going to market.
Shareholder dispute
Minority shareholders say the company has been run against their interests, and a court will set the value of their shares. A Comprehensive Report is prepared to withstand cross-examination and an opposing expert.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be selling to get a valuation?
No. Plenty of valuations are for planning, a buyout, tax, or a dispute, with no sale involved. The first conversation is confidential and carries no obligation.
Are conversations confidential?
Completely. Nothing is shared, and there is no obligation to proceed.
What is the difference between a business valuation, an appraisal and an evaluation?
They are usually the same thing in plain language. The formal term is valuation: a documented, defensible estimate of fair market value, prepared by a qualified valuator.
What does a valuation cost?
We quote a fixed fee after a short scoping call, so you know the cost before you commit. The fee depends on the purpose and the level of report you need; the report-level table above sets out the ranges.
How long does a valuation take?
It depends on the purpose and complexity, but most engagements move quickly once we have your financial information. We give you a timeline upfront.
What drives the value of my business?
Sustainable earnings, how reliable those earnings are, growth, customer and supplier concentration, how dependent the business is on you, and what comparable businesses actually sell for.
Will the report hold up for the CRA or a court?
Yes. Reports are prepared to the professional standards expected in tax filings, financing, and litigation.
Find out what your business is worth
If you are weighing a sale, a buyout, succession, or a tax or legal matter, the right place to start is a defensible number. The first conversation is confidential and carries no obligation.
Use the form to request a confidential valuation. We respond within one business day.