How Can I Determine the Value of My Business, Including Accounts, Google Ads, Website, and Organic Revenue?

Short Answer: To determine your business’s value, understand that you are selling more than just accounts or marketing assets like Google Ads and your website. You are selling an entire system—a turnkey solution that includes your team structure, customer base, marketing systems, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and physical assets. Professionals can help value such a business, but what truly makes it sellable is the existence of a well-organized, repeatable system that runs smoothly beyond individual components.

Full Explanation

Valuing a business is not as simple as adding up the worth of accounts, advertising campaigns, or website traffic alone. A business’s true value lies in it being a system that operates effectively without the seller’s constant involvement. This means it includes not just the digital assets but also the reliable processes, staff roles, customer relationships, and physical properties that all work together.

A sellable business is one where there is a project manager who coordinates the work of technicians or employees. It has a strong base of repeat customers and a system in place to continually attract new clients. Furthermore, having documented standard operating procedures (SOPs) detailing how to hire and train employees adds significant value. Ownership of vehicles or other fixed assets related to the business also contributes to its overall worth. Finally, having your own marketing channels, such as Google Ads and a website driving organic revenue, supports the turnkey nature of the business.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Identify all assets: Gather information on all your accounts, digital marketing efforts including Google Ads and your website, and sources of organic revenue.
Assess your operations system: Document the presence of key roles like project managers and technicians, and ensure you have SOPs for hiring and training.
Evaluate customer relationships: Consider the strength and reliability of repeat customers and your mechanisms for acquiring new clients.
List physical assets: Include any vehicles or tangible resources owned by the business.
Consult professionals: With the full picture of your business as a system, work with valuation experts to determine its market value.

Real Examples

When preparing a business for sale, many owners find that simply listing accounts and digital advertising setups does not attract buyers. Instead, buyers look for turnkey businesses with organizational structures and documented processes. For example, a business with a dedicated project manager overseeing technicians and documented processes for employee management tends to be more attractive and valuable. Similarly, having established marketing channels coupled with a loyal customer base demonstrates long-term viability.

Common Mistakes

Focusing solely on digital assets like Google Ads or websites without considering operational systems.
Failing to document how to run the business, such as lacking SOPs for hiring and training.
Not developing a system to acquire and retain customers, leading to doubts about future revenue stability.
Overlooking the value of physical assets such as vehicles essential to business operations.

FAQs

Can I value my business just based on Google Ads and website traffic?: No, these are important assets but only part of the overall business system. A sellable business involves structured operations and recurring customer relationships as well.
What is a turnkey business?: A turnkey business is one that is fully operational and can be run by the buyer without major input from the seller, typically with trained employees and documented processes.
Do I need to hire professionals for valuation?: Yes, professionals can help assess all components of your business system for an accurate valuation.

Key Takeaways

Selling a business means selling an entire system, not only marketing accounts or digital assets.
A valuable business includes project managers, technicians, SOPs, customer acquisition systems, and owned physical resources.
Documented processes for hiring and training increase buyer confidence and business value.
Professional valuation helps incorporate all these components into a fair market value.