Optival prepares independent share and business valuation reports for UK SMEs. Whether you're granting EMI options, buying out a shareholder, preparing to sell your business or simply asking what your company is worth today, we deliver clear, defensible reports on a fixed-fee basis. No hourly billing. No surprises.
Transparent fixed-fee pricing for owner-directors: EMI Valuation £1,950, Probate / IHT Valuation £2,200, Shareholder Valuation £2,400, Pre-Sale Valuation £4,500 (all + VAT). Bespoke engagements quoted on request.
Our valuation offers
EMI Share Valuation - £1,950
HMRC-aware EMI share valuation supporting your option grants, with both UMV and AMV documented and a clear methodology behind the numbers.
Probate / IHT Share Valuation - £2,200
Independent open-market valuation of unquoted UK shares at the date of death, ready for the IHT400 inheritance tax return and estate administration.
Shareholder Valuation - £2,400
Independent valuation when shareholders change - buying out a partner, bringing in a new investor, transferring shares to family. Defensible for HMRC and legal scrutiny.
Pre-Sale Valuation - £4,500
In-depth valuation to anchor your asking price, test buyer offers and avoid leaving money on the table when preparing to sell your business.
Why founders and advisers choose Optival
- Independent valuations for owner-managed UK businesses and private company shares
- Fixed fees from £1,950 - agreed in writing before any work starts
- Written report with full methodology, assumptions and references
- HMRC-aware methodology - UMV, AMV, marketability and minority discounts where relevant
- Conflict-free advisory - we don't sell audit, tax or brokerage alongside
Who we work with
Optival works with owner-directors of UK SMEs (typical revenues £200k to £10m), as well as the solicitors and accountants advising them. We support EMI grants, shareholder transitions, pre-sale preparation, and strategic value indications.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a business valuation cost in the UK?
Optival's fixed fees are: EMI £1,950, Probate / IHT £2,200, Shareholder £2,400 and Pre-Sale £4,500 (all + VAT). Strategic Indicators (top-of-funnel exploratory views) and Bespoke engagements are quoted on request. The fee is agreed in writing before any work starts.
Which offer should I choose?
Pick by purpose: EMI for granting employee share options, Probate / IHT for estate administration, Shareholder for a buy-out, transfer or new investor, and Pre-Sale when preparing to sell the business. Complex structures fall under Bespoke.
Do I need HMRC agreement for an EMI valuation?
Advance agreement with HMRC is not legally mandatory but is widely regarded as best practice before granting EMI options, as it provides certainty over the tax treatment.
What methods do you use to value a business?
We apply earnings multiples (EBITDA or P/E) for trading businesses, net asset value for asset-rich companies, and discounted cash flow where forecasts are reliable.