Calculate company value: free calculator with a realistic range.

The calculator uses the approach most commonly applied to small and medium-sized businesses in practice: the multiples method based on EBITDA. From adjusted EBITDA — the operating result before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, corrected for one-off effects and a market-rate managing-director salary — an enterprise value is derived using an industry-typical multiple. Net debt is then deducted to arrive at the value of equity.

The underlying multiple ranges are based on real DACH transactions and are adjusted along three factors: company size (units below 250,000 EUR EBITDA receive a size discount, units above one million EUR a moderate premium), revenue trend (growth lifts, decline lowers the multiple) and owner dependency (the more the business hinges on the owner, the larger the discount). The result is a range — deliberately not a point estimate, because any serious valuation works with bandwidths.

Beyond the pure figures, qualitative factors significantly determine the multiple a buyer is actually willing to pay. The decisive ones are: sustainable earnings power rather than one-off outliers, a balanced customer structure without excessive concentration, documented processes, a capable second management tier and a plausible growth perspective. Industry cycle, competitive position and market entry barriers also matter.

Which levers are particularly effective, and how to address them in a structured way in the months before a transaction, we describe in Increasing enterprise value. Experience shows: those who start one to two years before a planned sale at the right points often achieve more in the end than through last-minute price negotiations.

For an initial internal orientation, the calculator is well suited. As soon as decisions of consequence are at stake — financing, succession, sale, change of shareholders, inheritance arrangements — a substantiated valuation is required that combines several methods, critically assesses the plan and relies on reliable comparables. An overview of the common methods and their use cases is available at Company Valuation. For a detailed view of what actually drives your company value, read What is my company worth?.

The calculator and handbook do not replace tax or legal advice and do not replace a recognised company valuation. For commercial orientation, IGCP is available — tax and legal aspects are developed jointly with your tax advisor and lawyer.