It's a challenging time to be an insurance broker in Canada. In addition to increasing consolidation, the insurance industry is facing a number of headwinds related to digital disruption, changing tax legislation and regulatory requirements, shifting age demographics, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
To prepare for and manage these market changes, it is crucial for owners to obtain an accurate, reliable business valuation.
Values for insurance brokerages have grown over the last few years and are expected to hold steady for the near term, but they have reached a plateau. The next five years will be a turning point for many brokers. As a business owner, you will need to decide if you're willing and able to adapt to the changing market, or if selling your insurance brokerage is the next step.
Why is a valuation important for insurance brokers?
Typically, an insurance broker requires a valuation in the following situations: as part of a transaction, such as selling the business or bringing in a new partner; to obtain financing; to assist with tax planning; or for compliance needs, such as financial reporting or tax filings.
A valuation can help a broker determine the optimal time to exit the business. Sell too early and you risk losing significant cash flow gains. Sell too late and the business may be worth less in only a few years' time.
Offers to buy your business can happen at any time. Owners must understand the true worth of their brokerage and be prepared to respond to opportunities.
How do you value an insurance brokerage?
Performing a valuation on an insurance brokerage is a complex task. A number of qualitative and quantitative factors will influence the worth of the business. To get started, consider these items:
The investor perspective
In many cases, buyers are large insurance companies following an acquisitions strategy to grow their business. However, some transactions involve the addition of an internal or external partner who is buying into the brokerage. In either case, investors may be asking themselves these questions:
- How has the pandemic affected the business?
- What are the opportunities for continued business growth?
- How will changing interest rates affect the brokerage?
- What are the opportunities for cash flow synergies and cost savings?
- What are the opportunities for cost of capital synergies?
- How long will it take to realize the return on investment?
What are the next steps for insurance brokers?
Brokerage owners often have a high-level sense of the overall value of the business, but may not be prepared to enter a deal environment. Many brokers do not have the internal systems or readily available data needed to assess the business's worth accurately. To get started on the valuations process, consider the following steps:
How BDO can help
BDO's team of experienced chartered business valuators (CBV) works closely with insurance brokers across Canada to help them to help them assess the worth of their businesses and navigate transactions. Through our work on over 1,200 valuations and transactions per year, we can offer real-time market analysis to help brokerage owners make informed decisions related to selling the business, bringing in a new partner, or obtaining financing.