Let’s Figure Out Your Startup’s Valuation

There are formulas and market multiples. Then there’s what someone is willing to pay.

image by jannoon

Tell me what your startup is worth. I dare you.

There is no murkier exercise in business than figuring out the valuation of a company. This is especially true when the company is a startup.

You can do a search for how you might value your own company, you can even ask ChatGPT, and I’d be willing to bet that you’d be overwhelmed with valuation methods and formulas that base company value on everything from revenue to EBITDA to social media followers.

I did not make that last one up, but please don’t use it.

I’ve sold companies that had little to no revenue at sky-high multiples. I’ve also run into brick walls trying to get an acquirer to value my company more than prior year’s revenue. It can drive you to distraction. And it can also lead a founder to make big financial mistakes.

As you might imagine, the only person who can tell you what your company is actually worth is the person writing the check to buy your company.

But let’s figure out a better answer.

“I Would Love a Big Exit”