Archive for the ‘Machinery & Equipment’ Category
To Sell or Not to Sell?
In previous posts, we have discussed that if a business owner is looking to sell equipment or machinery, he/she needs to know three separate types of value that their assets could bring in the market – orderly liquidation value, forced liquidation value, and fair market value. The differences among these types of machinery and equipment asset valuations are dependent upon the situation of the business and the time frame in which the assets need to be liquidated. Recently, however, we have seen that in certain markets, like California, there may be almost no difference between orderly liquidation value and fair market value due to sluggish market conditions.
Because there is such a large amount of equipment and machinery available in the market, buyers have more options than they normally would. Of course, there are other circumstances that determine the current value of equipment, such as in the case of custom machinery. And for that reason, potential sellers need to know what it’s all worth.
Some sellers, like those whose businesses are in dire circumstances, may be forced to sell and get the best price for the equipment as quickly as possible. However, for others who may not be in such a rush to sell, understanding the current types of equipment value can help them make better informed decisions about whether to sell now or not.
As we have mentioned often in other posts, it is essential for business owners to know the value of their equipment, especially if they are looking to sell so that they can receive the best possible price in the current market.
By: Present Value
Know the Value of Your Machinery and Equipment Before an Auction
While the economy is showing signs of improvement, there are still a number of companies that are being forced to close their doors, which in many cases includes liquidating their equipment and machinery assets. Oftentimes, the most quick, efficient way to do this is through auction.
When considering an auction, a company should first contact an appraiser in order to get a sense of the value of its equipment and/or machinery. In a previous post on equipment auctions, we discussed the role of appraisers in the auction process. In this and the next few posts, we will cover more detail about the three different types of value that a certified appraiser will provide prior to an auction – orderly liquidation value, forced liquidation value, and fair market value.
It is important to understand various ways that a business’ equipment will be valued in the marketplace in order to set appropriate price ranges at auction and receive the highest possible profit from the auction sales.
By: Present Value
What We Appraised on Our Summer Vacation
We have written a number of blog posts on machinery and equipment appraisals, including What’s It Worth? and Certified Machinery and Equipment Appraisal. We have talked about the complexities of appraisals for custom-made equipment, such as dies, molds, or custom machinery, and the importance of working with an experienced appraisal company to ensure that you know the value of all your machinery and equipment.
Recently at Present Value, we have worked on some fascinating appraisal projects that we thought might of interest to our readers and also show the breadth of businesses that we work with on a daily basis.
The first project of interest was a radiology clinic, where we appraised the various X-RAY, CAT-scan, and MRI machines that comprise the assets of the business. Another cool project was at a construction company. In this case, we appraised all of the large earth-moving equipment – backhoes, front-end loaders, and dump trucks – and smaller equipment like Bobcats. One of the most fun projects was for a movie theater company that had a dozen theaters and one IMAX theater that we appraised.
Although these projects varied widely in scope and by industry, they demonstrate that understanding the value of machinery and equipment assets are of paramount importance to any business.
By: Present Value
Asset Verification
Oftentimes as part of the operation of their businesses, business owners will secure financing or investors to support the purchase of machinery and equipment. Investors and lenders, who have their money tied up in a business, want to and need to know where and how their money is being used.
While it is of course necessary to know the value of the said assets, sometimes investors simply want to ensure that their investment is being used in the manner that the business owner has reported with regard to machinery and equipment assets. Asset verification can be used to determine that the physical assets of a business exist. For a construction business, this could be verifying that there are three backhoes, five dump trucks, eight Bobcats, etc. For a private oral surgeon’s office, it could be one x-ray machine, four dental sinks, four dental chairs, etc.
In a previous post, we discussed Present Value’s inventory control services. In addition to this, Present Value can provide investors and lenders with asset verification reports that confirm a business’s physical assets.
By: Present Value
Certified Machinery and Equipment Appraisal
We have written a number of blog posts about machinery and equipment appraisals, including Common Types of Appraisal Reports, What’s It Worth?, and Insurable Value. In this post we will cover what should be included in a certified machinery and equipment appraisal (CMEA) report.
A certified machinery and equipment appraisal is a comprehensive and detailed appraisal report that provides an accurate and descriptive account of the value of specific machinery and equipment. CMEA reports include photographs, model numbers, serial numbers, and other descriptive information about the machinery and/or equipment. To determine the worth of machinery and equipment, an appraiser determines the value of equipment based on research, personal inspection, and contact with manufacturers and suppliers.
A CMEA should meet the standards set by the requirements of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), so that your certified equipment appraisal report will hold up under scrutiny from financial institutions, government agencies, buyers, sellers, shareholders, or partners.
By: Present Value
Equipment Auctions
Companies may consider equipment auctions when they are asked to leave a rental property and can’t afford to move their equipment from the space, or if the business simply fails for any number of other reasons. The goal of an equipment auction is for the struggling or failing company to quickly sell off equipment with as high a profit as possible.
The first step a company considering an equipment auction should take is to have its equipment appraised by an equipment and machinery appraiser. An appraiser will give that company three different values of its equipment – the orderly liquidation value, the forced liquidation value, and the fair market value – so that the company will have an idea of how much money it could get for its equipment at auction. After the company knows these values, it can contact an auction house. The auction house will send an e-mail blast to interested buyers and make sure that they are aware of the equipment that is up for sale for 45 days prior to the scheduled auction. Then, the live auction takes place at the facility.
In recent years, online auctions have increased in popularity. Incorporating online auctions with live auctions provides significant benefits to both buyers and sellers. Buyers can find the equipment they need without being limited by geography, and sellers have a convenient way to access a larger pool of buyers.
If you are considering an equipment auction, contact Present Value. Present Value’s certified appraisers will represent you throughout the entire transaction. They will tell you the liquidation, forced liquidation, and fair market values of your equipment, and then put you in touch with one of the two auction houses with which the company works.
By: Present Value
Selling Your Business? Get a Business Broker.
So, you’re looking to sell your business or liquidate your assets. First, you need to make sure you have a certified appraisal of your business, machinery, or equipment. But, where do you go from there? In order to simplify the process, get more offers, and get the best price for your business or equipment, you should work with a business broker.
Business brokers work similarly to real estate agents. They can help you with advertising, initial discussions with buyers, negotiations, and the final transaction processes. Most importantly, a business broker can be a decision-making partner during this crucial time for a seller or buyer.
It is essential to realize that deals are being done, despite the current economic climate. Although there is a lot of doom and gloom out there, there are businesses that are making money and looking to increase their opportunities through acquisition or purchase of assets or equipment. These deals are just being done differently than in the past. Because of the current state of the credit markets, buyers and sellers are developing creative deal-structuring strategies to facilitate transactions and satisfy both buyers and sellers.
In order to take advantage of the opportunities that are still out there and make sure that you are getting the most out of the sale of your business and equipment, partner with an experienced business broker.
In addition to valuation services, Present Value provides business and equipment brokerage services. Present Value has an extensive team of business and equipment brokers who help buyers and sellers come together for transactions with businesses, machinery, and equipment. Present Value’s research team also has relationships with hundreds of equipment and business brokers at both national and international levels.
By: Present Value
Exit Strategies
You’ve worked hard to build your business. Small business ownership is a pursuit filled with extremes – extreme excitement, extreme disappointment, and extreme sacrifice. It’s no wonder that deciding how best to leave your business can also be an emotional decision. Today’s topic takes the emotion out of that decision and simply lays out your options.
The first, and most common exit strategy, is to sell the business either to an individual or to another company. A sale of a company would most likely result in the seller receiving cash in exchange for the business. Another exit strategy is a buyout, in which an individual or group of individuals will buy out your ownership of the business and take over its operation. A third exit strategy is a merger, which happens when two companies get together, determine the value of the two businesses, and form one larger business. Or, if a business owner doesn’t have any debt, he or she might decide to simply close the business and sell its assets.
No matter the exit strategy you choose, the most difficult part of any of these transactions is determining the value of a business. Often, because of the worth of intangible assets, like a business’s reputation or customer base, determining a company’s value is not necessarily a simple pursuit. This is why it’s important to have your assets appraised or have a business valuation performed by a certified appraiser who has experience calculating the worth of a business’s tangible and intangible assets. If you are considering retirement, or a sale or closure of your business, contact the professionals at Present Value to discuss your options.
By: Present Value
Navigating Crucial Business Decisions in a Down Economy
In a down market, business owners tend to do one of three things: they close their doors, sit tight and ride out the storm, or capitalize on the opportunity. “One of the most important and most complex decisions that business owners have to make right now is whether to grow or retract in this economy,” said Chris Spinelli, co-founder of the appraisal company Present Value.
Some businesses may succumb to the downturn and will need to sell off assets in preparation for bankruptcy declaration. Others, still stinging from tax time, may simply be searching for ways to save on taxes next year. Still others may be considering an equipment purchase or an acquisition of a struggling business. Present Value can assist business owners in any of these three situations by conducting certified business or equipment appraisals.
“When planning their reactions to the current economy, it’s important for our clients to know the worth of their assets,” said Chris Kinzie, Present Value co-founder. The company recognizes that many of the regulations surrounding equipment appraisals and business valuations can be confusing, and Present Value seeks to provide its clients with the necessary information to help them make informed, prudent business decisions. “We want to help our clients not just make the next choice, but the best choice,” added Kinzie.
Check out our press release on Yahoo Finance: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Present-Value-LLC-Helps-prnews-15133330.html?.v=1
By: Present Value
What’s It Worth?
Everything has a value. Today, more than ever, it is important to know what it’s all worth. As a business owner, it is important to know the true market value of your machinery and equipment for a whole host of reasons, such as insurance and business valuation. It is relatively simple to determine the value of a farm tractor or an out-of-the-box piece of equipment. An appraiser will look at various factors to determine value, including its original price, wear and tear, depreciation, and current market value. It is a straightforward process because there are millions of pieces of equipment against which they can be compared to determine fair market value. However, it is much more difficult to determine the value of custom-made equipment such as dies, molds, or custom machinery.
An appraiser must take into account that such equipment may be one of a kind, which makes it more difficult to value because there are no other pieces against which to compare it. A whole host of considerations must be taken, including the cost of its production, the value of its usage, the cost of its replacement, depreciation, salvage value, and scrap value. The appraisal of custom equipment requires the specialized skills of a professional who has the expertise and certification to examine all of these factors and more to determine its true fair market value.
Whether you need to know the fair market value or other standards of value such as liquidation value, salvage value, or replacement cost, it makes good financial sense to obtain a credible certified equipment appraisal report that will hold up under scrutiny with financial institutions, government agencies, buyers, sellers, shareholders, or partners. Make sure you know what it’s worth.
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