Professional Services Business Valuation Issues
The Professional Scientific and Technical Services sector covers a range of consultants in scientific, business and other industries that has grown by 2.5% pa in the past five years. It includes:
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Engineering consultancies
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Scientific testing
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Architectural services
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Legal services
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Environmental services
The key issues that these businesses have that will influence a business valaution include:
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Reliance on key staff
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Documented procedures and systems
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Cost of marketing and managing referrals
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Cost of technology
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Achieving suitable revenue to exceed breakeven point
We have seen some industry rationalisation and mergers and acquisition activity over the past five years to achieve economies of scale and cost efficiencies.
Key Drivers of Professional Services Business Valuations
Key Industry Statistics
According to IBISWorld, there is a wide variety of industry revenue growth rates, including:
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Engineering consulting to grow 1.1% to $46bn.
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Environmental services revenue contracted 0.8% to $5bn
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Architectural services market grew 1.1% to $6bn
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Legal services grew by 1.6% in 2018 to $21b
We have collated industry performance statistics based on ABS data and detailed them in a whitepaper, which can be downloaded from the link below.
A Professional Services business valuation is driven by key factors below such as:
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Revenue size
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Diversity of client base
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Geography of market coverage
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Level of recurring revenue
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Low reliance on key staff
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Effective management systems and integrated IT systems
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Documented processes and management systems
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Niche or differentiated market
EBITDA Margins range from 15% to 40% (for some large service providers), depending on the size of the business, location, range of services, technology and automation.
Typical EBITDA Multiple ranges we have observed are:
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Revenue of $1m - $10m: 1.0x - 3.0x
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Revenue of $10m - $20m: 2.5x - 4.5x
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Revenue greater than $20m: 4.0x - 6.0x
Our Business Valuation Experience
Our Professional Services business valuation experience has included including business valuations for:
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Town planning and consulting practices
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Multi-office engineering consultancy
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Immigration services
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A number of state-based and multi-state scientific and environmental testing business
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Interior design consultancy to international hotels
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Two legal practices (one an intellectual property legal practice)
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