Don’t Guess What Your Business Is Worth: Get an EOV or a BAMA
Imagine a parent who never once checked their child’s grades. Not in grade school. Not in high school. Not in college. No report cards. No feedback.
You’d call that irresponsible.
And yet, many business owners treat their largest financial asset the same way. Cornerstone’s national research found 61% of owners have never received a certified valuation or even a market-based analysis of what their company is worth. Even more concerning, 55% said they would accept an unsolicited offer without getting a valuation, simply because the price “seemed reasonable.”
That is a risky way to make a life-changing decision.
Because your value isn’t just a number. It shapes retirement, legacy, family transitions, and the options you have when opportunity knocks. And without a reality-based understanding of what your company is worth today, you’re making those decisions blind.
Selling is different. You only get one chance.
Selling your business is unlike any other transaction you will ever make. For most owners, it’s the single largest financial event of their lifetime. You get one chance. No do-overs.
That’s exactly why value clarity matters before you’re under pressure.
Why “one offer” is not a market
Unsolicited offers can feel flattering. A buyer praises what you built and puts a number on the table. Sometimes it’s even a “perfect fit” buyer.
But here’s the truth: with only one bidder, the leverage is theirs, not yours. And leverage decides the outcome.
There are a few reasons unsolicited offers routinely underperform:
- No competition = no leverage. One buyer controls pace, price, and terms.
- The “haircut effect.” Even when a buyer starts high, they often chip away during due diligence. Every issue becomes a reason to reduce price.
- Risk shifts to the seller. Earnouts, contingencies, and deal terms often favor the buyer’s goals, not yours.
- They do this for a living. Professional buyers look at thousands of deals. Most owners sell once.
An unsolicited offer is not “proof of value.” It’s a starting point. And if you respond without an independent valuation, you’re negotiating off their number.
What an EOV is (and what it isn’t)
There are a lot of “valuations” out there. Some are fast. Some are flattering. Some are basically a calculator dressed up as a report.
That’s not what DealCoach is built for.
An Estimate of Value (EOV) is DealCoach’s independent valuation designed to reflect how your company would be viewed in an actual transaction. It’s meant to separate myth from truth and give you a credible value anchor for smart decision-making.
Just as important, an EOV is not:
- A free online calculator that spits out a number from a few inputs
- A back-of-the-envelope estimate
- A sales pitch disguised as a valuation, designed to tell you what you want to hear
Owners get burned when they accept fantasy numbers. They plan their future around a valuation that doesn’t survive the real market. Then reality shows up late, when time and options are limited.
An EOV helps you avoid that.
EOV vs. BAMA: which one is right for you?
DealCoach offers two paths, depending on your timeline.
Estimate of Value (EOV)
An EOV answers one question:
What is my business worth in today’s market?
It’s a strong fit if you:
- Received an unsolicited offer and need to know if it’s reasonable
- Want a reality-based value anchor for planning, partners, succession, or financing decisions
- Are thinking about a sale sooner (or want to be prepared if the right opportunity shows up)
Business and Market Analysis (BAMA)
A Business and Market Analysis (BAMA) is built for owners who aren’t selling today, but want to sell at the best value later.
It answers two questions:
- What is my business worth today?
- What should I do next to increase value and improve salability over the next few years?
This aligns with what the research points to: owners benefit most when they understand value early and identify the few actions that can move value the most.
Ready for a reality-based number (and a plan if you want it)?
If you need a credible valuation now, start with an Estimate of Value (EOV). If you want to increase value before selling, choose a Business and Market Analysis (BAMA).
Why BAMA is often the smarter move when you’re not ready to sell
Most owners don’t wake up one day and sell a business the next. They sell after years of planning, whether intentional or not.
If you’re not selling today, that is an advantage. It gives you time to work on the specific factors buyers reward (and discount). Things like owner dependence, customer concentration, quality of financial reporting, and documented processes.
A BAMA is meant to help you spot those pressure points early and prioritize the few improvements that can make the biggest difference in value and salability.
If you don’t like the number, that’s not the end
It’s the starting point.
A good valuation doesn’t just hand you a number. It helps explain why the market sees your business that way and where the biggest opportunities are.
Maybe your revenue is concentrated. Maybe too much depends on you. Maybe your reporting won’t hold up under scrutiny. These are common. They’re also fixable, but they usually require a plan and time.
The worst time to find out is when you’re already in a one-buyer negotiation and the buyer is using due diligence to renegotiate the deal.
A simple rule: if the number matters, the method matters
Owners don’t get in trouble because they “didn’t know their value.” They get in trouble because they trusted the wrong inputs, the wrong incentives, or the wrong assumptions.
An EOV or BAMA gives you the truth early, when you can still act on it.
Want to protect your leverage and make smarter decisions?
Start by getting an independent view of what your business is worth.
- Get an Estimate of Value (EOV) if you need a clear valuation now (especially if you received an unsolicited offer).
- Get a Business and Market Analysis (BAMA) if you want to improve value before you sell.
Ready to find out what your business is really worth? Contact DealCoach at dealcoach.com to learn more about our EOV and BAMA valuation services.
About the Author
Dan Hansher
Dan Hansher is a Co-Founder of DealCoach & an Investment Banking Associate at Cornerstone Business Services, specializing in Main Street and Lower Middle Market M&A advisory. With 100+ business valuations completed and extensive marketing leadership experience, he brings a rare combination of financial analysis and operational expertise. Dan has led major brand integrations, including a $2B acquisition, driven digital transformation initiatives, and developed brand positioning strategies across multiple industries. He helps business owners understand what drives value and prepares them for successful exits. Dan holds an MBA from UW-Whitewater and specializes in translating complex financial concepts into clear, actionable strategy.