We have compiled links to resources on business valuation and planning a business sale or purchase that you may find useful. Check back often, as we update this section regularly with new and valuable items.

Professional business appraisal organizations

There are a number of professional business appraisal organizations that train and certify their members in business valuation.

• AICPA Business Valuation and Forensic & Litigation Services Community
  A chapter of the Institute whose CPA members are involved in business valuation.
• American Society of Appraisers(ASA)
  Search for a business appraiser by specialty and location.
• Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators(CICBV)
  The leading professional business appraisal organization in Canada. Includes member listings.
• Institute of Business Appraisers(IBA)
  Includes member directory.
• Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia(ICAA)
  Sponsors the business valuation special interest group.
• Society of Share and Business Valuers(SSBV)
  The key professional organization for business valuation professionals in the United Kingdom.

Business valuation standards bodies

These organizations are involved in developing and publishing professional business valuation standards.

• The Appraisal Foundation^SM
  Publishes the annual Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
• Financial Accounting Standards Board(FASB)
  Publishes financial accounting and reporting standards. Statements SFAS 141 (Business Combinations) and SFAS 142 (Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets) are important for business valuation.
• International Valuation Standards Committee(IVSC)
  Publishes the International Valuation Standards affecting valuation of real property and businesses.

Business valuation standards

Standards governing the development and reporting of professionally performed business valuations.

• AICPA Statement on Standards for Valuation Services (SSVS) No. 1
  Specifies the standard of performing valuation of businesses, intangible assets and securities.
• International Valuation Standards (IVS)
  Published by the International Valuation Standards Committee.
• Uniform Standard of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP)^SM
  Annual compilation of requirements for professional business appraisals. Standard 9 describes the business valuation process. Standard 10 outlines business appraisal reporting.

Industry and business type classification

Widely accepted industry classification systems to identify the type of any business or professional practice. Essential if you plan to value your business using the market comparisons.

• Global Industry Classification Standard(GICS^®)
  A comprehensive industry classification standard for the financial community.
• North American Industry Classification System(NAICS)
  A newer alternative to the venerable SIC system.
• Standard Industrial Classification(SIC)
  Unique codes for all types of businesses.

Business valuation and risk assessment data

There are excellent business valuation risk assessment data sources available on the market. You will find these resources essential for valuing a business or professional practice.

• Ibbotson Associates (Morningstar)^SM
  The authoritative source of data on the cost of capital. The data is widely used in business appraisals to estimate the discount rate and capitalization rate.

Business broker associations

Many business brokers maintain on-line presence and often provide description of their services, geographic scope and current business for sale listings.

• International Business Brokers Association, Inc.^® (IBBA)
  A leading international organization for business intermediaries. Check out their business broker directory.

Small business purchase financing

Check out the SBA website to review the SBA loan programs used for financing a business purchase and other needs. Search the list of SBA lenders in your area.

• Small Business Administration(SBA)
• Basic SBA 7(a) Loan Program
  SBA 7(a) business loans to purchase existing businesses.
• SBA Certified Development Company (504) Loan Program
• SBA 8(a) Program
• SBA Certified/Preferred Lenders by State

Resources for business owners and buyers

You will find the following services very useful at every step of the business valuation, business buying or selling process: when doing your market analysis, business research, and buying a business subject to due diligence.

• Dunn and Bradstreet Zapdata^TM
  Company look up and industry data.
• Dunn and Bradstreet Small Business Solutions^TM
  Provides company comprehensive reports detailing UCC filings and judgments.
• Moody's Economy.com^TM
  Economic analysis, data and forecasting information.
• BizMiner^TM
  Industry analysis and market research.
• Bizstats^TM
  Industry statistics, small business financial ratios, and more.
• Hoover's Online^SM
  Comprehensive business information resource.
• Business Sale Statistics
  Business valuation statistics for main street small businesses.
• TaxLinks.com
  IRS Revenue Rulings by year of publication, including Ruling 59-60 (Published in 1959).

Business professional resources

Whether you need the services of a small business lawyer or accountant, check these resources to locate the right professional in your area.

• Find a lawyer
  Search for a small business legal counsel by specialty in your area.
• Find an accountant
  Search for a small business accountant by geography and specialty area.

Government resources

Major national government websites that collect and distribute key economic and demographic data.

• Bureau of Economic Analysis
  US Department of Commerce service collecting national and regional economic statistics.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics
  US Department of Labor information on employment, compensation, and industry outlook data.
• US Census Bureau
  Key demographic, economic, and housing data.
• US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
  Public company filings. Maintains the EDGAR database of public company filings, including tender offers and acquisitions of private companies filed as statements SC TO-I, SC TO-T, and SC TO-C.
• Statistics Canada
  The Canadian national agency which compiles data on business, economy, and social conditions.
• Australian Bureau of Statistics
  The Australian government agency collecting national demographic and economic data.
• Australian Securities and Investments Commission
  The Australian government body enforcing the corporation and financial markets regulation on behalf of consumers, investors and creditors.

General small business resources

Feel free to check out these small business resources.

• Small Business Directory
  Directory for small business owners.
• Reuters Investor
  Extensive public company data, including detailed financials and industry comparisons.