Austin · Valuation
Where can I get an Austin business appraisal for exit planning?
How an appraisal fits into exit planning for an Austin owner: when to get one, what to do with the number, and how often to update it.
By Michael D. Rubin, CEO & Founder · September 2026 · 806 words
For exit planning, an Austin owner can start with a free, confidential opinion of value from MDR & Associates, or a formal third-party valuation if a CPA, lender or partner needs a written report; the best time is a few years before you want to sell, and at least 12 to 24 months ahead. Our advisors come to you in Austin; the firm's corporate office is in Frisco.
The point of an appraisal at this stage is not the number itself. It is the gap between that number and what you need, and the list of things that would close it.
Why exit planning starts with a value
Exit planning means deciding when, how and to whom you will leave your company, and preparing it so you get what you need. Without a value, the plan is guesswork. Owners often carry a number in their heads based on what a friend sold for or what they need for retirement. Buyers pay for neither. An early appraisal replaces the guess with a range based on your actual financials.
It also answers practical questions. Is a sale to an outside buyer realistic, or would a sale to managers or family fit better? Could you afford to stop working at today's value, or do you need to grow first? How much time do you have to make changes?
Which kind of appraisal fits the planning stage
For most planning, the opinion of value is enough to start. Add the formal report when your CPA or estate attorney says one is required. Our business valuation page describes both.
- A quick range. An online tool gives a rough starting point in minutes. It is useful for curiosity, not for decisions.
- An opinion of value. After reviewing three years of financials, an M&A advisor gives a low-to-high range of what buyers would likely pay today, with the reasons. MDR & Associates provides this free and confidentially.
- A formal third-party valuation. A written report under a defined standard of value, needed for estate planning, buy-sell agreements between partners, family transfers or some lenders. It costs more and takes longer.
Turn the number into a plan
Adjusted EBITDA is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for owner perks and one-time costs. Buyers generally want to see improvements reflected in a year or more of actual results, so changes made in the final months before a sale count for less than changes made early.
The gap has two sides. You can raise the value, or you can lower what you need, for example by planning a longer transition role or keeping some real estate to lease to the buyer. A CPA or financial planner can help with that side of the calculation.
| Question | What the appraisal shows | What you do next |
|---|---|---|
| What is it worth today? | A range; most often three to seven times adjusted EBITDA for a business in the $3 million to $100 million revenue range | Compare it with what you need after taxes and debt |
| Where does it sit in the range? | The drivers holding the multiple down | Pick the two or three you can fix in time |
| How big is the gap? | The difference between today's value and your target | Decide whether to grow, fix, wait or sell now |
| How long do I have? | How long improvements take to show in results | Set a target date and plan backward from it |
Update the appraisal as you go
An appraisal done once and filed away is of little use. Revisit the value each year, or after a big change such as a major new customer, a new manager or an unusually strong year. Track the same few drivers each time: recurring revenue, customer concentration, owner dependence, margins and the quality of your records. When those move the right way, the range should move too.
Share the result with the people who need it, and no one else. Your CPA, estate attorney and financial planner should see it. Employees, and family members outside the decision, usually should not, because a value figure that gets around can create expectations and rumors you will have to manage later.
Keep an eye on outside timing as well. Buyer demand and financing conditions change, and the right time to sell depends on both the market and your personal readiness.
How MDR & Associates helps Austin owners plan
We start with a free, confidential discovery meeting and opinion of value. If you want a written report, formal third-party valuation is a separate, optional service. Our pre-exit consulting covers the 12 to 24 months before a sale. When you are ready, we sell the company for a success fee paid only at closing. For Austin owners we come to you; see our Austin page, contact us, or get a free valuation snapshot as a first reference point.
Where this fitsAustin business brokers and M&A advisors →