Can this form be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA in adopted jurisdictions if intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are documented.

When is notarization required?

Notarization is sometimes required by counterparties or for specific exhibits, but not universally mandatory for valuations. Verify the receiving party or state law for formal requirements.

What if financial statements differ?

Document reconciliations and note whether statements are audited or unaudited. Explain adjustments in an attached schedule to avoid challenges to the valuation basis.

Who should sign the form?

Typically the preparer (appraiser or CPA) and an authorized company officer sign. Indicate titles and contact details to support attribution and responsibility for assumptions.

How long should I retain the completed form?

Retain for at least three years after the filing or transaction; follow industry-specific rules such as six years for HIPAA-related records or longer if tied to real estate or tax disputes.

Are remote notarizations acceptable?

Remote online notarization is permitted in many states with specific identity-proofing and recording requirements. Confirm state RON rules and retain required A/V recordings where mandated.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business Valuation Form

Business Valuation Form

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

Business Valuation Engagement Agreement

Client Name: Valuation Subject (Business Name):

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Client Name: seeks an objective valuation of the Subject Business for the purposes described below; and

WHEREAS, Valuator Name: has the professional qualifications and agrees to perform such valuation under the terms of this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants set forth below, the parties agree as follows.

SCOPE OF WORK

Description of Engagement

Purpose of Valuation: Sale Financing Estate/Tax Planning Litigation/Dispute Other If Other, explain:

FINANCIAL INFORMATION PROVIDED

Most Recent Fiscal Year End Financial Statements Provided (attach copies)

Annual Revenue

EBITDA

Total Assets

VALUATION METHODOLOGIES

Valuator will consider the following approaches (select all applicable):
Income Approach Market Approach Asset Approach Other (explain):

Assumptions and Limiting Conditions

DELIVERABLES

Deliverables (select): Written Valuation Report Summary Memo Oral Presentation

Estimated Delivery Date

FEES AND PAYMENT TERMS

Total Fee Deposit Required Payment Schedule / Milestones

Late Fee: per month on overdue balances. Any collection costs, including reasonable attorney fees, are payable by Client.

TERM AND TERMINATION

Engagement Start Date: Engagement End Date:

Either party may terminate this Engagement upon written notice delivered at least days prior to termination. Client will remain responsible for all fees and reimbursable expenses incurred through the effective date of termination.

CONFIDENTIALITY

The Valuator agrees to maintain the confidentiality of Client information and shall not disclose non-public information provided by Client except as required by law or professional standards. Client acknowledges that valuation methodology, assumptions, and the Valuator's internal workpapers are the Valuator's proprietary materials and may be withheld from disclosure absent a court order or written agreement to the contrary.

LIMITATIONS AND REPRESENTATIONS

Client represents that all information furnished to the Valuator is accurate to the best of Client's knowledge and that Client will provide full access to records reasonably requested. Valuation conclusions are based on information available as of the valuation date and on assumptions identified in the report; subsequent events may affect value.

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to choice-of-law principles.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement, including any exhibits, attachments, and proposals expressly incorporated herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral. Any amendment must be in writing and signed by both parties.

CLIENT AUTHORIZATIONS

Client hereby authorizes the Valuator to obtain and verify financial, tax, and other relevant information from Client and third parties, and to rely on such information in preparing the valuation. Client further authorizes the Valuator to disclose the valuation report to third parties only with Client's written consent except as required by law.

Additional Instructions or Special Conditions

By signing below, the parties acknowledge and agree to the terms of this Business Valuation Engagement Agreement and authorize performance of the services described herein.

Client (Printed Name):

By:

Date:

Valuator / Firm (Printed Name):

By:

Date:

What the Business Valuation Form Is and When it’s Used

The Business Valuation Form is a structured document used to record an appraisal or formal estimate of a company’s value for purposes such as sale, financing, equity transfers, buy-sell agreements, tax reporting, or litigation. It aggregates historical financial statements, adjustments, valuation method selection (income, market, asset), assumptions, and the effective valuation date. Completed forms create an auditable record of inputs and conclusions and may accompany purchase agreements, lender submissions, tax filings, or court exhibits where an independent or practitioner valuation is required.

Why a Standardized Business Valuation Form Matters

A consistent form ensures key data is captured, supports comparability across valuations, reduces misunderstandings about assumptions, and documents the basis for tax or transactional outcomes while improving auditability and record retention.

Who Typically Prepares and Uses This Form

The completed form provides a consistent record for internal decision-making and external review by advisors, regulators, or counterparties.

Valuation professionals and CPAs who prepare formal reports and rely on standardized inputs to support conclusions and disclosures.
Business owners and executives who need a documented valuation for sale, financing, or internal equity allocations.
Lenders, investors, and legal counsel who review the valuation to assess collateral, deal terms, or dispute resolution.

Step-by-Step: Complete the Business Valuation Form

Follow these sequential steps to gather data, choose a method, document assumptions, and finalize the form for signature and distribution.

01

Collect Financials: Gather three to five years of financial statements and tax returns.
02

Select Method: Choose income, market, or asset approach and justify selection.
03

Calculate Value: Prepare calculations with discounting, multiples, or asset schedules.
04

Review and Sign: Confirm assumptions, attach exhibits, and execute signatures.

Typical Workflow for Using and Sharing the Form

A clear workflow reduces delays: prepare, validate, sign, and deliver with traceable proof of receipt and audit history.

Prepare Document: Populate fields, attach financial exhibits, and document assumptions.
Internal Review: Have finance, tax, or legal reviewers confirm supporting data.
Signature and Authentication: Obtain signatures with appropriate authentication and capture audit details.
Deliver and Archive: Send final copies to recipients and store with retention metadata.

Common Digital Workflow Settings for eSubmission

Configure your digital workflow to reflect the review and signer sequence, authentication level, and storage location.

Field	Configuration
Signer Order	Sequential or parallel per transaction needs
Authentication	Email link, SMS code, or KBA as required
Attachments	Allow multiple file exhibits (PDF, DOCX, XLSX)
Audit Trail	Capture IP, timestamps, and events

Platform Considerations for Digital Signing

Choose a platform that supports the required authentication, audit trail, and storage controls for sensitive financial data.

Authentication Options: Email, SMS, Knowledge-Based, or advanced methods
File Formats: PDF, DOCX, and Excel supported
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace, and more

Timing Considerations and Typical Deadlines

Plan timeline for data collection, review cycles, signature, and any regulatory or transaction-driven deadlines associated with the valuation.

Data Collection Window:

Allow 1–3 weeks depending on complexity

Reviewer Turnaround:

Expect 3–7 business days for internal review

Signature Period:

Provide 7–14 days for external signers

Submission to Third Parties:

Align with lender or escrow deadlines

Tax Reporting Impact:

Valuation effective date can affect tax year reporting

Frequent Preparation Pitfalls to Avoid

Incomplete financial exhibits: omitting reconciliations, tax returns, or interim statements creates qualification issues and delays external reviews or lender acceptance.
Unclear assumptions: failing to document discount rates, market multiples, or control versus minority adjustments leads to disputes over the valuation basis.
Mismatched names or entity types: inconsistent legal names across documents can invalidate submissions and trigger requests for corrected signatures.
Missing signature metadata: omitting signer contact details, role, or date weakens the evidentiary value of the form for audits or litigation.

Consequences of Incorrect or Incomplete Valuations

Tax Reporting Penalties: IRC §6721 applies to incorrect information returns

Contractual Disputes: May trigger breach claims and litigation

Lender Rejection: Financing may be delayed or denied

Professional Liability: Advisor malpractice exposure possible

Regulatory Scrutiny: SEC or tax audits may request substantiation

Valuation Adjustment: Post-closing adjustments can be costly

Security and Compliance Controls to Record

Encryption In Transit: TLS 1.2/1.3 applied

Encryption At Rest: AES-256 used

Audit Trail: Tamper-evident event log

Regulatory Certifications: SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001

Healthcare Compliance: HIPAA available with BAA

FDA/Clinical: 21 CFR Part 11 support noted

Typical eSignature Pricing and Feature Snapshot

Compare common plan starting prices and a few capability flags. signNow is listed first per platform comparison conventions.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	Yes, 7-day trial	No	No	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Representative Use Cases from Practitioners

These examples illustrate common scenarios where a Business Valuation Form supported a transaction or compliance need.

Small Business Sale

A regional CPA prepared a valuation for sale negotiations using standardized exhibits and comparables

The buyer required audited financials
The recorded valuation permitted quicker escrow release and clearer tax reporting for both parties.

Lender Collateral Review

A bank requested a formal valuation to underwrite a credit facility

The valuation included discounted cash flow and market comp analyses
Clear documentation shortened underwriting questions and reduced the request for additional clarifications.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Business Valuation Form

Answers to common questions about completion, signatures, admissibility, and retention of the valuation form.

Need help? Contact support

Can this form be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA in adopted jurisdictions if intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are documented.
When is notarization required?
Notarization is sometimes required by counterparties or for specific exhibits, but not universally mandatory for valuations. Verify the receiving party or state law for formal requirements.
What if financial statements differ?
Document reconciliations and note whether statements are audited or unaudited. Explain adjustments in an attached schedule to avoid challenges to the valuation basis.
Who should sign the form?
Typically the preparer (appraiser or CPA) and an authorized company officer sign. Indicate titles and contact details to support attribution and responsibility for assumptions.
How long should I retain the completed form?
Retain for at least three years after the filing or transaction; follow industry-specific rules such as six years for HIPAA-related records or longer if tied to real estate or tax disputes.
Are remote notarizations acceptable?
Remote online notarization is permitted in many states with specific identity-proofing and recording requirements. Confirm state RON rules and retain required A/V recordings where mandated.

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