It is the first question most owners ask, and a fair one. The honest answer is that the fee depends on a handful of factors you can usually pin down in a single short call. Here is what they are, so you can compare quotes on a like-for-like basis.
What drives the fee
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Purpose | A valuation for your own decision-making is different from one a regulator, court or counterparty will rely on. Where Kuwaiti law requires a CMA-licensed valuer — for example on mergers, conversions or spin-offs — the report carries more formality and cost. |
| Size and complexity | One trading company is simpler than a group with several entities, property and investments, each of which may need its own method. |
| State of the accounts | Audited, up-to-date accounts shorten the work. Missing years, mixed personal and business expenses, or related-party arrangements add time. |
| Forecasts | If the business has a credible forecast, the work is review and challenge. If not, it has to be built. |
| Timeline | A valuation needed for a meeting next week costs more than one planned with a few weeks' notice. |
What a proper valuation should include
- A value range — not a single number — with the method and assumptions written out.
- At least two methods, such as discounted cash flow and comparable multiples, and an explanation of why they differ.
- The adjustments made to the accounts, so a buyer or partner can follow them.
- The main value drivers and risks, and what would move the number.
- A working session to walk through the result.
Be wary of very cheap valuations
A low fee is not a problem in itself. The problem is a report that a buyer, investor or partner can easily pick apart — one that takes management's forecast at face value, uses a single multiple with no evidence behind it, or gives one number with no explanation. That report usually costs more in the negotiation than it saved in fees.
How we price
We agree a fixed fee in writing before any work starts, based on a short call about the purpose, the size of the business and the information available. There are no hourly bills. Most valuations take around two weeks from receiving the information.
If you would like a quote, tell us a little about the business or message us on WhatsApp. You can also read how private companies are valued.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice. Rules and thresholds change; confirm the position for your transaction with your advisers.