Business Fund Assessment Scale 2026: The Complete Guide

Updated March 2026 - The valuation of a business is a critical stage in the life of a trader or buyer. Whether for a sale, an inheritance or a restructuring, estimating the “fair price” requires combining technical methods and realities on the ground. In 2026, with changing consumption habits and new energy constraints, traditional scales will be refined.

Before talking about numbers, it is essential to remember what we are evaluating. The business is not a real estate asset. It brings together tangible elements (equipment, furniture, inventory) and intangible elements (customer base, goodwill, lease rights, signage, employment contracts).

Customers and goodwill: The heart of value

Customers are the most volatile but also the most valuable element. It depends on the operator's ability to retain its customers. Traffic, for its part, is linked to geographic location: it is the flow of potential passing customers.

The right to lease

This is often the most underestimated element. A protective commercial lease (3-6-9) with “sub-market” rent can significantly increase the overall value of the fund. Conversely, a lease expiring without guarantee of renewal is a red flag.

The tax administration and professionals use three complementary approaches to secure an assessment.

1. The turnover method (Scale Method)

This is the historical method. It consists of applying a coefficient (percentage) to the average annual turnover (including tax or excluding tax depending on the sector, often including tax for small structures) for the last three financial years. The official scales are provided by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) and Francis Lefebvre editions.

2. The profit method (restated EBE)

More modern, it is based on the company's real capacity to generate profit. We apply a multiplier to the restated Gross Operating Surplus (EBE). The restatement consists of reintegrating the manager's "comfort" costs or non-market salaries to obtain an EBE reflecting objective economic reality.

3. The comparison method

It consists of looking at recent transactions of similar businesses in the same geographical area. This method is increasingly relevant thanks to the open data of mutations (DVF).

Hayot Expertise advice: Never rely on just one method. A bakery that has a large turnover but a negative EBITDA is not worth 100% of its turnover. The accountant must cross-reference the calculations to define a coherent price range.

Here are the indicative ranges for the evaluation scales based on the annual turnover including tax for 2026. Note that these figures are bases for negotiation.

Analysis of trends 2026

We observe a strong decorrelation for activities linked to digital. A “physical” business that has a strong audience on social networks or a qualified customer database can aim for the top of the range, or even exceed the standard scale of 10 to 15%.

The raw application of a coefficient is insufficient. Several criteria modulate the final value.

Location (n°1, n°1 bis, n°2)

A location in a premium pedestrian zone in a metropolis like Paris or Lyon systematically justifies a premium. Conversely, a business in a rural area with medical or commercial desertification will suffer a marked discount.

The condition of the equipment and premises

Will the buyer have to invest massively to meet standards (hygiene, accessibility, energy)? In 2026, compliance with the DPE (Energy Performance Diagnosis) of tertiary premises becomes a subject of negotiation.

Lease security

Approaching the end of the lease without a clear renewal commitment from the lessor can result in a discount of 20 to 40%. To avoid this, it is often best to negotiate the renewal before the sale.

Valuing a business is not just a calculation exercise. It is also a major tax issue. Transfer duties (registration fees) are calculated on this value. A manifest undervaluation may result in a tax adjustment for the insufficient price (Art. L. 17 of the LPF).

Our firm supports sellers and buyers in drafting the deed of transfer and calculating the market value. We analyze your balance sheets to extract real profitability.

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The scale remains a theoretical reference. The reality of the market, the “coup de coeur” of a buyer or the synergy with another company can modify the final price. Prepare your evaluation file 12 to 18 months in advance to optimize your profitability and your exit tax.

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(Official sources: General Tax Code - Art. 1563 & 1565, BOI-ENR-DMTG-10-20, Francis Lefebvre Scale 2026, CCI France practical guides)