Dallas–Fort Worth · Valuation
Where can I get a confidential opinion of value for my Dallas business?
How to get a value range for your Dallas business without staff, your bank or competitors knowing, and what the opinion includes.
By Michael D. Rubin, CEO & Founder · September 2026 · 797 words
MDR & Associates gives Dallas-area owners a free, confidential opinion of value: a low-to-high range after reviewing three years of financials, discussed with you privately and shared with no one else. Your employees, customers, bank and competitors do not need to know you asked.
This article explains how to keep the process quiet from the first phone call, what you share, and what you get back.
Why confidentiality matters even at this stage
Asking what your company is worth is not the same as selling it, but people who hear about it rarely see the difference. An employee who learns you met an M&A advisor may start looking for another job. A competitor may tell your customers you are on your way out. A supplier may tighten terms.
In a close business community like Dallas, those rumors travel fast, and they can lower the very value you were trying to measure. The safest approach is to treat the valuation as private from the first call.
Your bank deserves a thought too. If your credit line has covenants, conditions the lender attaches to the loan, or your lender pays attention to ownership changes, word that you are exploring a sale can prompt questions you are not ready to answer. There is no need to involve the bank until a sale is real.
How to keep the process private
None of this is complicated. It simply needs to be decided before the first call, not after someone at the company has noticed something unusual.
- Gather the documents yourself. Pull the statements from your accounting system or ask your CPA directly, without routing the request through staff.
- Use a personal email address and phone for early conversations, not a shared company inbox.
- Meet away from the business, at the advisor's office, a private room, or after hours.
- Ask how documents are handled: who at the advisory firm will see them, and how they are stored and returned.
- Ask for a confidentiality agreement if you want one. A reputable advisor will not object to a written NDA (non-disclosure agreement) covering what you share.
- Keep the circle small. Your spouse, your CPA and perhaps your attorney. No one else yet.
What you share and what you get back
Adjusted EBITDA is earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, after adding back owner perks, non-market salaries and one-time costs. Value is most often three to seven times adjusted EBITDA for a business in the $3 million to $100 million revenue range, and your range reflects where your company sits in that band.
You do not need to share anything that identifies customers, employees or suppliers at this stage. The opinion of value works from the numbers, and details can wait until you decide whether to go further.
| You provide | You receive |
|---|---|
| Three years of profit and loss statements and balance sheets | A low-to-high opinion of value |
| Tax returns for the same years | A first financial recast, showing adjusted EBITDA |
| A list of owner expenses and one-time costs | The factors pushing your value up or down |
| Revenue by major customer, with names removed if you prefer | An honest view of whether now is a good time to sell |
What an opinion of value is, and is not
It is an advisor's professional view of what buyers would likely pay today, based on your numbers and current buyer demand. It is not a formal written appraisal, which is a separate, paid business valuation service used for partner buyouts, estate planning and similar needs.
It is also not a commitment. You can hear the range and decide to wait, prepare for a year or two, or do nothing at all. Many owners use it simply to know where they stand, so that an unexpected call from a buyer finds them informed rather than surprised.
If you do decide to sell, confidentiality continues
The same discipline carries into a sale. Buyers see a blind profile that describes the company without naming it. Before any detail, they register, sign a confidentiality agreement and complete a financial profile proving they can fund the purchase. Meetings happen away from your employees, and you decide when your key people are told. Our guide to selling your business confidentially explains each safeguard.
Requesting one from MDR & Associates
For a first look without sharing any documents, try the free online valuation snapshot. For the full opinion of value, book a discovery meeting through our Dallas contact page or call (855) 637-2776. We serve Dallas owners from Frisco and can meet at our office or somewhere discreet of your choosing. If you prefer, the first conversation can be a phone call before you send a single document, so you can judge us before you share anything. There is no charge and no obligation.
Where this fitsDallas business brokers and M&A advisors →