Alpha for private markets.
Live multiples. Defensible valuations. The intelligence layer for private markets - written for searchers, advisors, and owners who need the numbers before everyone else.
Definitive references on valuation methodology. Written to rank and to teach - the source of truth for how Value Alpha thinks about private markets.
How to Value a Startup: Methods That Actually Work
A practical guide to valuing a startup at any stage: why earnings multiples and DCF break down, and how to use Scorecard, Berkus, the VC method, revenue multiples, comparable rounds, and scenario-weighted First Chicago to reach a defensible range.
How to Value a Limited Company (LLC / Ltd): A Practical Guide
A step-by-step guide to valuing a private limited company: normalize the P&L with owner add-backs, bridge from enterprise to equity value with net debt, run DCF, comps, and the asset floor, then apply minority and marketability discounts and reconcile into a defensible range.
How to Value a Business: A Step-by-Step Guide
A practical, step-by-step guide to valuing a business: recast the financials, pick the right methods, run DCF, comps, and the asset floor, then reconcile into a defensible range.
SBA 7(a) Business Valuation Requirements: The Complete 2026 Guide
Everything ETA buyers and sellers need to know about SBA 7(a) business valuation requirements under SOP 50 10 8 - the $250,000 independent appraisal threshold, who qualifies to perform the valuation, accepted methods, costs, and timelines.
Free Business Valuation Calculator - How It Works and How to Use It
Free business valuation calculator powered by 11,000+ SMB comps. Get a VA Index in under a minute - bear, base, and bull estimates with a confidence score. No signup, no credit card.
What Is Alpha in Private Business? The Five Sources of Excess Returns
Alpha in private markets is excess return above a benchmark. Five sources: information asymmetry, operational improvements, multiple arbitrage, valuation gaps, and roll-ups.
Shorter takes. Industry commentary. Practical insights for buyers, sellers, and advisors working deals this quarter.
The Net Working Capital Peg: The Closing-Table Fight Nobody Warns First-Time Sellers About
The NWC peg explained: why 'cash-free, debt-free' deals still move six figures at closing, how the working capital target is set, and how buyers and sellers each protect themselves.
How to Value an E-Commerce Business: SDE Multiples, Revenue Quality, and Platform Risk
E-commerce valuation explained: the SDE and EBITDA multiples online businesses sell for by model (FBA, DTC, dropship), why revenue quality and platform dependence move the price, and a worked example.
Business Valuation Methods Explained: DCF vs. Comps vs. Precedent Transactions
The five business valuation methods professionals actually use (DCF, comparable companies, precedent transactions, SDE/EBITDA multiples, and asset-based), when each wins, and how they combine into one defensible number.
Customer Concentration: The Silent Discount on Your Business's Value
When one customer is 20% or more of revenue, buyers cut the price, restructure the deal, or walk. Here's how concentration is measured, what it costs in practice, and the 18-month fix.
How to Value a Dental Practice: Collections, EBITDA, and What DSOs Actually Pay
Dental practice valuation explained: the percentage-of-collections rule, when EBITDA multiples take over, what drives DSO offers, and a worked example for a $900K practice.
Quality of Earnings vs. Valuation: What Changes Between the LOI and Closing
A valuation sets the multiple; a Quality of Earnings (QoE) report tests the earnings underneath it. Here's what QoE actually examines, the adjustments that re-price deals, and how both sides prepare.
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Valuation insights, best practices, and market multiple trends. Delivered the first Tuesday of every month. Written for searchers, advisors, and owners who want to stay sharp.
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