What is your business worth?
Independent business valuations for owner-managed companies in BC and Alberta, prepared by a Chartered Business Valuator (CBV). Whether you call it a business valuation or a business evaluation, the question is the same: what is your company actually worth, and why.
Most owners only find out what their business is worth when something forces the question: a sale, a partner buyout, a divorce, an estate, or a tax reorganization. By then the number matters and there is no time to guess. A proper valuation gives you a defensible figure you can rely on, prepared by someone with the credentials to stand behind it.
Over $500M in transactions behind our view of value, across nearly a decade of mid-market work
Valuations prepared by a CPA and Chartered Business Valuator (CBV), the highest valuation credential in Canada
Independent and conflict-free: we value your business, we are not selling you anything else
Reports built to hold up with buyers, lawyers, partners, and the CRA
Our team holds Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) designations, the highest financial and valuation credentials in Canada.
Get a business valuation
KitsWest Capital
595 Howe Street, Suite 306
Vancouver, BC V6C 2T5
(604)-762-6225
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.
Whatever the reason, the first step is the same: a confidential conversation and a fixed-fee quote.
Mike Busch, CPA, CBV · Founder & Managing Partner
Mike brings nearly a decade of experience across investment banking, corporate finance, valuations, and restructuring. Prior to founding KitsWest Capital, Mike advised businesses across Canada and the United States on transactions ranging from business sales and acquisitions to capital raises, refinancings, and corporate restructurings at Big Four firms and mid-market investment banks. Mike is a member of CPABC and the CICBV.
| 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 - $8k | 2 to 4 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. | $8k - $14k | 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. | $14k+ | 6 to 20 weeks |
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 problem isn't public listings. Sometimes broad market exposure is exactly the right strategy. The problem is having no one in your corner who actually knows what the business is worth, who the right buyers are, and how to structure a process that creates real competition and maximizes value.
That is what KitsWest does. We assess your business, determine the right process for your situation, targeted outreach, broad market exposure, or both, and manage every stage from preparation through to closing. Every decision is made to maximize your outcome, not to generate a quick commission on whatever price we can get.
The difference between a well-run advisory process and a basic business brokerage listing is not just professionalism. It is often measured in hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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 behind us 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.
Independent and conflict-free.
We are not a listing platform, a lender, or a brokerage trying to win your sale. We value your business and nothing else, which means the number you receive is the number, with no incentive pulling it up or down.
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.
Selected transactions
Our team has advised on the following representative transactions:
$70M sale of waste management and technology company
$80M debt & capital raise, investment management firm
$45M acquisition and capital raise, US quick-service restaurant chain
$33M acquisition and capital raise, gravel crushing and construction company
$20M sale of private healthcare and education services college
$20M sale of sports goods distributor
$5M sale of home construction company
$7M debt & capital, industrial manufacturing company
$6M sale of brewery and distillery
$6M restructuring, debtor-in-possession financing and sale of coffee producer
Representative sample. Includes transactions completed at KitsWest Capital and predecessor firms.
How an engagement works
Selling a business typically takes six to twelve months from first conversation to closed deal. Here is what that 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 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.
Valuation methods within each approach
Each approach contains specific methods that a CBV selects based on the facts of the engagement. The choice of method, and the rationale for that choice, is documented in every valuation report.
The method selected in any engagement is driven by the facts, not by preference. A CBV documents why the chosen method is appropriate for the specific business, purpose, and intended users of the report.
Selected transactions
Selected transactions our principals have advised on across their corporate finance careers. Comprehensive listing can be found on our transactions page.
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 and a business 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.
Our credentials
All of Mike's professional designations and licenses are publicly verifiable through the regulators and bodies that issue them. His CPA designation can be confirmed through the CPABC Member Directory, his CBV designation through the CBV Institute Membership Lookup. We encourage every prospective client to verify the credentials of any advisor they are considering engaging.
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.
Call (604) 762-6225 or fill out our contact form. We respond within one business day.
KitsWest Capital: Independent M&A Advisory | Business Valuations | Debt & Capital Advisory