Translate the label into a brief
The phrase alone does not tell the provider what to prepare. Ask the recipient to put its requirements in writing: the subject being valued, purpose, relevant date, intended users and any specified professional qualification or standard. A report suitable for an owner’s planning decision may not meet a lender’s, court’s or tax adviser’s requirements.
Check the person and the assignment separately
Verify professional credentials with the relevant issuing body or membership directory. Then ask about suitability for this particular assignment. A qualification, a signed document and acceptance by a third party are separate questions. This site identifies Kishen Patel’s BFP ACA qualification; it does not claim a separate “certified business valuer” designation or guarantee acceptance of a report.
Ask what the conclusion will explain
A useful proposal should identify the information to be considered, methodology discussion, material assumptions, limitations and intended use. Ask whether a written report, initial discussion or a narrower calculation is being offered. The scope and fee should make these distinctions clear before the work begins.
Use a recipient checklist
Illustrative scenario: an owner requests a valuation for an internal discussion, then wants to send it to a lender. Before relying on the existing document, ask whether the report’s purpose and reliance provisions allow that use and whether the lender has additional requirements. The answer may require a different engagement. Getting the recipient’s brief early avoids paying for an output that cannot do the intended job.
Prepare for the conversation
- Ask the recipient to define “certified” in writing.
- Verify the stated credentials independently.
- Agree intended users, reliance and deliverables.
Further reading: ICAEW: business and share valuation.
General preparation guidance, not a valuation opinion or legal or tax advice. Any assignment is subject to an agreed scope, suitability and intended-use review. Examples are illustrative, not client cases.