Book excerpt: The ABCs of company valuation—for first-time buyers and sellers Until now, books on company valuation were all high-priced professional volumes aimed at accountants, appraisers, and other specialists. At last, A Basic Guide for Valuing a Company provides the ideal resource for novice buyers and sellers. Written by a management consultant who has valued more than 1,000 small businesses, this nuts-and-bolts guide covers all the bases, from the differences between publicly traded and privately held firms to tangible and intangible values. With case studies of actual companies, sample balance sheets and income statements, this is a clear, concise—and thorough—reference. Additional highlights include a list of common valuation myths, and a special section on "Yegge's rules," along with complete information on: Valuation techniques for different types of businesses, including professional practice, manufacturing, wholesale distributor, and retail hardware. Weighted cash flow and reconstruction. Industry and economic forces that affect valuation. The task of estimating values in small companies. Necessary data for comprehensive business valuations.