Family-owned businesses play a significant role in the U.S. economy. A recent survey of family business owners highlights the size, longevity and economic impact of these organizations. However, business valuation methods are often based on market data from publicly held companies, and family-owned businesses tend to have certain characteristics that can complicate public-to-private comparisons. Experienced valuation experts understand these nuances and may adjust their analyses as needed to arrive at reliable value conclusions.
In 2026, Family Enterprise USA, an advocacy organization for family business owners, published a study of 710 family business owners across 46 states. Family Enterprise USA 2026 Annual Family-Owned Business Survey cites prior research estimating that approximately 32 million family businesses operated in the United States in 2021, the latest available data. 2026 survey data also revealed that:
What are some key takeaways? Family-owned businesses are the largest employer in the country, and many are large and well established. The survey also suggests that family businesses often have ownership and tax structures that differ from those of public companies.
Top concerns among these business owners include succession planning and managing income, estate and capital gains taxes. Business valuations can be used to address these concerns, but they may also serve other purposes, including commercial litigation, marital dissolutions, and mergers and acquisitions.
Family-owned businesses aren't usually run like large public companies. These owners often have a more personal management style and may rely less on formal policies, governance structures and management processes than larger public companies. Many owners pursue objectives beyond maximizing short-term profits, such as preserving a family legacy, maintaining long-term control or supporting their local communities. These priorities can influence growth strategies and financial performance.
Valuators can't necessarily take a family business's financial statements at face value. Particularly when valuing controlling interests, experts consider how much a family business would be worth in the hands of an unrelated hypothetical buyer. In addition, the informal management style that characterizes many family businesses can lead to weak internal control systems that may increase company-specific risk.
Because taxes are a major concern, family businesses may employ strategies that lower tax obligations, and many don't pay entity-level income taxes. In contrast, public companies tend to focus on maximizing reported earnings per share and typically pay entity-level income taxes. Valuation professionals must factor tax considerations into their analyses when valuing family businesses.
As the 2026 survey shows, family businesses commonly employ family members. Some owners hire family members because they're perceived as more trustworthy, while many hire them out of obligation or to satisfy a desire to pass the business on to their offspring.
When valuing family-owned entities, valuators must objectively consider whether family members are qualified for their positions and whether their compensation is reasonable. In some cases, a hypothetical buyer might want to consolidate family members' positions and use fewer people to perform their duties. However, the reverse may also be true; some family businesses overwork or underpay related parties. As a result, valuators may need to adjust earnings to reflect market-rate compensation and staffing levels.
When evaluating a related party's compensation, valuators look beyond the family member's base pay. For example, they must also adjust for payroll taxes, benefits and perks. Extraneous perks may include such things as allowances for luxury vehicles or country club memberships.
Family-owned businesses may engage in other transactions with family members, such as rental contracts, supply agreements and related-party loans. Experienced valuation experts know to inquire whether these transactions exist and are at arm's length.
Related-party transactions aren't always negotiated on market terms and therefore may require adjustments to the business's earnings for valuation purposes. For example, suppose a retailer rents space from a relative at a discount from what she would charge an unrelated business. If the retailer needed to be valued for, say, the owner's divorce, the valuator would consider reducing its earnings to the extent that the related rental rates are below market rates.
Although family businesses often rely heavily on one individual, key person discounts aren't appropriate for every family-owned entity. These discounts are reserved only for those businesses that would suffer a significant monetary loss if the key person left the business.
The typical approach to quantifying a key person discount involves estimating the business's monetary loss if the key person were to depart. Another approach is to estimate a percentage discount after considering several factors, such as the key person's skills, the business's financial position, employee turnover and management structure.
Owners can take preventive measures to safeguard their businesses, such as requiring key managers to sign employment or noncompete contracts. Family business owners may also consider implementing a viable succession plan or taking out a life insurance policy on the key person's life, with the business as the beneficiary. Such risk-minimization techniques may lessen or eliminate the need for a key person discount.
A family-owned business may have decades of history, loyal employees and strong community ties, but those same qualities can create valuation challenges. When valuing a family business, adjustments may be needed to reflect how much it would be worth in an arm's-length transaction between unrelated parties. Compensation arrangements, related-party transactions, succession issues and reliance on key individuals can all affect value. Contact us to determine the right approach for your situation.
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