Glossary

Valuation

A valuation is a professional estimate of what an asset or business is worth — the figure lenders, buyers and investors rely on, arrived at by recognised methods.

2 min read

Estimate of worthAsset or business
Market/income/asset methodsDrives lending + deals

Definition

A valuation estimates the current worth of an asset, security or whole business. Common approaches are market comparison, the income (or discounted cash flow) method, and asset-based valuation.

In plain terms

Different methods can give very different answers, which is why the basis of a valuation matters as much as the number. A forced-sale value is far below a going-concern value.

Why it matters for your company

Lenders lend against realistic, often conservative, valuations — the gap to book value drives the haircut. For deals, a defensible valuation underpins the price. See enterprise value.

Funding for UK limited companies

Credicorp lends to your company, not to you personally — short-term working capital with no personal guarantee. See what your business could access.