How Handover compares
There are three common ways to value a small business: hire a broker, use a free online calculator, or use Handover. Here's how they stack up.
| Feature | Handover | Business Broker | Online Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Typically 5–15% of sale price | Free |
| Time to result | Under 5 minutes | 2–4 weeks | Under 2 minutes |
| Data source | Real acquisition multiples | Broker experience | Generic rules of thumb |
| Sector-specific | Yes | Varies | No |
| Confidential | Yes | No | Yes |
| Actionable insights | Yes | Yes | No |
Three approaches, explained
Business broker valuation
A broker typically values your business based on their experience of similar deals in your sector. The upside is personalised advice and market knowledge. The downside is cost — brokers typically charge 5–15% of the final sale price, which on a £500,000 business could mean £25,000–£75,000 in fees. There's also a wait of 2–4 weeks, and you're sharing confidential financials with someone whose incentive is to close a deal. Broker valuations can be excellent — but they're not accessible to most small business owners exploring their options early.
Online calculator
Free calculators are quick and easy, but most rely on a single generic multiple applied to revenue or profit. They rarely account for sector, geography, business age, customer concentration, or other risk factors. The result is a rough ballpark that can be misleading — particularly for businesses in niche sectors or with unusual financial profiles.
Handover
Handover combines the depth of a broker-style valuation with the speed and accessibility of an online tool. The engine uses revenue-based multiples derived from real acquisition data across 50+ sectors, then adjusts for financial health, growth trajectory, customer concentration and other risk factors. You get a data-backed valuation range in under 5 minutes — completely free and confidential — along with actionable insights on how to increase your business value before you sell.
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