TRADhEiR › Inherited a business

I have inherited a business and I do not know what it is worth

Nobody hands you a manual. The business is still trading, the staff are asking questions, and you are trying to work out whether to keep it, sell it or let someone else run it.

Tell us your situation

Free to ask. Nothing to sign up for. You will not be added to a list.

These are the five questions people ask us first. The answers are how things usually work, so you know what to ask for. They are not advice about your business.

How do I value a business I have inherited?

A valuation usually looks at profit, whether revenue is going up or down, what the business owns, how loyal the customers are, and how much of it depended on the person who ran it. A business that worked because of one person is worth less than one with systems and a team behind it. We can put you in touch with valuers who work in that trade and in the country where the business sits.

Can I sell a business I have inherited?

Usually yes, once the estate has been dealt with and you have the authority to act. Before you plan a sale, check the shareholders agreement and the company articles, because they often limit who shares can be passed to. Selling, keeping it, or putting a manager in are all worth comparing before you decide.

What happens to a family business when the owner dies without a plan?

It usually keeps trading while nobody has clear authority to make decisions. Suppliers, staff and customers notice, and value can fall quickly. Getting the authority sorted early, telling the staff what is happening, and keeping the business running is usually what protects what it is worth.

Do I need people in more than one country?

If the business, what it owns, or the people who own it sit in more than one country, usually yes. Every country has its own rules on who inherits, what tax is due, and who is allowed to own a company. We find firms in each of the places involved so the two sides are not working against each other.

What does this cost me?

Asking costs nothing. The firm you choose pays us ten percent of its fee, out of its own fee, and nothing is added to your bill. You agree what the work costs directly with that firm before it starts.

Where this sits

Most of these turn into something else within a month.

I have inherited something, or I want to leave it properly The wider set of questions about what gets left behind We inherited it together and we cannot agree Why it freezes, whether anyone can force a sale, and the four ways out I want to sell, merge or hand it over What a sale actually involves once you decide Every firm we can introduce you to 29 firms, each with its regulator shown, or shown to have none

Last reviewed 2026-09-17. This page explains how things usually work so you know what to ask. It is not legal, tax or financial advice, and nothing on it is a recommendation. TRADhEiR makes introductions to independent firms. We are not a firm of solicitors, we are not accountants, and we hold no financial services permissions. The firm you choose does the work and is accountable for it. This site uses cookieless analytics that counts visits but does not identify you or follow you anywhere else.