Question 1

What is the Company Vitality Index (CVI™)?

Accepted Answer

The CVI™ is a scoring tool built by Certified Exit Planning Advisors® with real-world experience selling a multimillion-dollar company. It isn't a generic financial checklist. Its proprietary weighted scoring gives the most emphasis to what buyers look at when deciding what a business is worth.

Question 2

How is the CVI™ different from other business evaluations?

Accepted Answer

Many tools that measure a company's health or value focus mainly on financial ratios. The CVI™ starts from the buyer's lens, because the buyer's score is what counts. The real question isn't just whether a company is profitable. It's whether a buyer would trust the business enough to pay full value for it, knowing the person running it will change. Every question, category, and weighting is built around the real factors that move a buyer's offer up or down.

Question 3

What methodology is it based on?

Accepted Answer

It uses the same methodology Jade Partners' Certified Exit Planning Advisors® use with advisory clients, grounded in established valuation practice for privately held businesses.

Question 4

What's the difference between the CVI™ and the Valuation? Do I need both?

Accepted Answer

We highly recommend taking both assessments together. The CVI™ tells you how ready your business is to exit: Is it salable today? What needs to happen before you go to market? The Valuation tells you what your company is worth in dollars, calculated on either an SDE or EBITDA basis. The two are connected, and together they give you the most accurate picture. Your CVI™ score directly shapes where your business lands within its range of value, which can mean a higher or lower price.

Question 5

Why would I use a self-serve valuation tool instead of hiring an appraiser?

Accepted Answer

Many business owners never get a valuation at all. It's not that they don't need one. A traditional valuation report can cost $10,000 or more and may take weeks of back-and-forth before you see a single number. The CVI™ and Valuation tools are built for the moment you want a clear, credible read on your business today, without booking a consultation, waiting weeks, or paying five figures.

Question 6

What is this valuation tool, and what isn't it?

Accepted Answer

It's a fast, data-driven diagnostic built on proven methodology and the experience of Certified Exit Planning Advisors®, not a guess. It isn't a certified appraisal, a lender-ready formal valuation, or a substitute for an advisor who knows your specific deal.

Question 7

When should I use it? Is this only for owners planning to sell soon?

Accepted Answer

No. The CVI™ is useful whether you plan to sell next year or a decade from now. Many owners don't learn what a buyer really cares about until due diligence, when it could be too late to fix anything. One of the most common ways sellers lose value isn't a low first offer. It's a good offer that shrinks when discounts are applied during due diligence, when the buyer finds gaps or risks nobody flagged. The gaps the CVI™ identifies are the kinds of issues buyers look for. Knowing about them early gives you time to close them, and closing them can raise what your business is worth.

Question 8

What size and type of business is this built for?

Accepted Answer

The CVI™ and Valuation are designed for privately held small and mid-sized businesses in the United States. Some industries need specialized valuation approaches. In those cases, you will be redirected, before payment, to work with an advisor instead of producing a self-serve number.

Question 9

Can I use the Valuation for a loan, divorce, estate plan, or legal dispute?

Accepted Answer

No. Those situations require a certified, formal appraisal that meets specific legal or lender standards. The self-serve Valuation is a directional, data-driven diagnostic. It's a strong starting point and can help you decide whether a formal appraisal is worth pursuing. Jade Partners can refer you to a qualified appraiser if needed.

Question 10

How is this different from a free online valuation calculator?

Accepted Answer

Many free online calculators estimate value by applying a general industry multiple to your revenue or earnings. Because that approach can't account for many factors that weigh into a company's market value, the estimate may be significantly higher or lower than what a buyer would actually pay. The CVI™ and Valuation go further. Your CVI™ score reflects factors such as owner dependency, leadership team strength, and growth potential, and it directly shapes where your business lands within its range of value. The result is a more complete picture of your value and of what's influencing it, whether you plan to sell next year, in ten years, or not at all.

Question 11

What if I'm not planning to sell at all?

Accepted Answer

The same factors that make a business attractive to a buyer also make it stronger to own. Examples include lower dependence on the owner, a reliable team, clean financials, and credible growth. Many owners use the CVI™ simply to build a more valuable, less owner-dependent business, whatever their long-term plans.

Question 12

How does it work?

Accepted Answer

You walk through a guided, 44-question assessment covering your financials and operations across all four pillars. Every question includes plain-language guidance, so you're never guessing what's being asked. You'll have a real, defensible number as soon as you complete the assessment.

Question 13

How long does it take?

Accepted Answer

Time may vary person to person. On average, the full CVI™ will take about 45 to 60 minutes. The Free Preview is roughly 10 to 15 minutes, and the remainder of the assessment is approximately 35 to 45 minutes. The Valuation portion of the assessment will vary depending on how prepared you are with your financial numbers and how clean your financials are.

Question 14

Do I have to finish it in one sitting?

Accepted Answer

No. Save-and-resume is built in, and your progress is held for 90 days.

Question 15

Can my bookkeeper fill in the financial section?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A built-in handoff feature lets you pass the financial side to your bookkeeper.

Question 16

What information should I have ready before I start?

Accepted Answer

You'll move faster with: Access to your QuickBooks (or other management software) to run reports for the past 3 years of financial data, such as profit and loss statements and balance sheets. A general sense of your team structure and key roles. Your customer and revenue concentration. You don't need everything perfect to begin. You can save your progress and come back.

Question 17

What if my financials aren't perfectly organized?

Accepted Answer

That's common, and it's useful information in itself. Use your best available numbers. Messy or incomplete records will show up in your results as a gap to address, which is exactly what a buyer would notice too. If your records need significant reconstruction before any number would be meaningful, a conversation with an advisor may be a better starting point.

Question 18

Is my information confidential?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your information is encrypted in transit. Nothing about your business is sold or shared with buyers, brokers, or third parties.

Question 19

Will my employees know I'm doing this?

Accepted Answer

Jade Partners won't share your participation or results with anyone. Your account, receipts, and results notifications are sent to the email address you sign up with. If someone else has access to that inbox, such as an assistant or a member of your leadership team, and you'd like to keep this private, we recommend using a personal email address. If you use the bookkeeper handoff feature, your bookkeeper will also know about the assessment.

Question 20

Can my leadership team all take the CVI™ assessment?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it's a great way to see whether your team views the business the same way you do. A team package is coming soon. For now, each person can purchase their own assessment. For example, a team of three would purchase three CVI™ assessments.

Question 21

Can I take the assessment again later?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and we encourage it. While you're actively working on an action plan to improve your CVI™ score, we recommend re-taking the assessment every 6 to 12 months. It's the best way to see how much value your improvements have added and where to focus next. Coming soon: a membership subscription with a client login, unlimited assessments, saved results, and a dashboard that tracks your progress over time.

Question 22

What if I don't know the answer to a question?

Accepted Answer

Start with the plain-language guidance included with each question, since it often clarifies what's being asked. If you still aren't sure, you have a few options: Save and come back. Your progress is held for 90 days, so you can check with your team, CPA, or records first. Hand it off. If it's a financial question, use the built-in handoff feature to send it to your bookkeeper. Make your best honest estimate. If you truly can't find the answer, choose the response that best reflects what you know today. Not knowing is useful information in itself. If you can't answer a question about your business, a buyer will likely ask the same thing, and that's worth noting as a gap.

Question 23

What if my answer falls between two options, like somewhere between a 3 and a 4?

Accepted Answer

Choose the one that feels most true during a regular time period. There will always be outlier examples, but it helps to select what sounds like it's true for you most of the time. If you are still unsure, select the lower score. The CVI™ is built to show your business the way a buyer will see it, and buyers tend to evaluate conservatively. A slightly conservative score gives you a more realistic picture and a clearer target to improve on. It's better to be pleasantly surprised later than to find out during due diligence that a buyer scored you lower.

Question 24

What does my CVI™ score measure?

Accepted Answer

Your score is built from four pillars, each answering a question a buyer will ask: Performance: Is the financial story real, and does it hold up under scrutiny? Transferability: Does the business run without you, or only because of you? People: Is there a team a buyer can rely on? Growth: Is there a credible reason to believe the business will keep growing?

Question 25

Is my score a simple average of the four pillars?

Accepted Answer

No. The categories are weighted using a proprietary methodology. Not every factor matters equally to a buyer, so it doesn't count equally in your score. The weighting reflects which factors actually move a buyer's decision and price, not just which ones are easiest to measure.

Question 26

Why does my report show two different targets?

Accepted Answer

Selling fast and selling for the most money are different goals, so the CVI™ gives you a readout for each one: Go-to-Market Readiness plots your score against the minimum thresholds a buyer or lender needs to see before they'll move quickly. This is the one to watch if speed matters most. Maximize Value plots your score against the higher targets tied to the strongest outcome at sale. This is the one to watch if you have time to build value before you sell. Both readouts use the same underlying score, viewed through two different lenses.

Question 27

What else is included in my report?

Accepted Answer

Every CVI™ and Valuation report includes a Top Actions section. These are the highest-impact moves the data points to, generated by scanning your results against the patterns that move a score. For some owners, that's enough to get started. Others want help turning those actions into a plan that fits their team, timeline, and budget. That's where the Value Drivers Workshop and Action Plan comes in.

Question 28

What's a "good" CVI™ score?

Accepted Answer

The CVI™ is scored on a 6-point scale, and your report labels your composite score and each pillar as On Target, Approaching Target, or Below Target so you always know where you stand. Your report compares your score against two benchmarks: the Go-to-Market Readiness threshold and the higher Maximize Value target. Those two comparisons will tell you more than the number on its own.

Question 29

Can I download or share my report?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your report is available as a downloadable PDF and stays accessible in your account for 90 days. You're welcome to share it with your CPA, attorney, or other advisors. Keep in mind it's a diagnostic, not a formal appraisal, so it isn't intended for a buyer or lender.

Question 30

Can I retake the assessment to track my progress?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each re-assessment is a new purchase, and we recommend re-taking it every 6 to 12 months while you're actively improving your score. Re-assessing after you've made improvements is the best way to see how much value you've added. Sprint Engagement clients receive a recalibrated CVI™ and Valuation at the end of each sprint.

Question 31

What add-on options for additional support are available after I get my results?

Accepted Answer

There are three, depending on how much support you want: CEPA®-Reviewed Results Analysis - $249 - Best for understanding what your results mean for you. Value Drivers Workshop and Action Plan - $1,350 - Best for turning your results into a prioritized roadmap. 90-Day Sprint Engagement - $2,495/month - Best for hands-on support putting your plan into action.

Question 32

What is the CEPA®-Reviewed Results Analysis?

Accepted Answer

It's a personalized, 50-minute virtual session with Certified Exit Planning Advisors® to interpret your CVI™ and/or Valuation results. You'll come away with a clear understanding of the options and resources available to you, along with recommended next steps based on your goals, timeline, and budget.

Question 33

Why would I need the Results Analysis if my report already has recommendations?

Accepted Answer

The report doesn't know your timeline. For example, it can't tell whether you plan to sell in 18 months or in 10 years. It also doesn't know whether your priority is maximizing value or reducing your own involvement, or what's realistic given your team, your industry, and your goals for what comes next. The report tells you what the data says. The CEPA®-Reviewed Results Analysis tells you what it means for you.

Question 34

What is the Value Drivers Workshop and Action Plan?

Accepted Answer

It's an interactive, two-hour virtual session guided by Certified Exit Planning Advisors®. Working from deeper insight into your company, we facilitate the Value Drivers Matrix exercise to prioritize your opportunities and build a detailed roadmap. When the workshop is done, you'll receive a personalized 90-Day Action Plan to raise salability and optimize value.

Question 35

What is the 90-Day Sprint Engagement?

Accepted Answer

Insight without action doesn't move the needle. In this three-month engagement, Certified Exit Planning Advisors® take an active oversight role. They guide implementation, track your KPIs, and facilitate the sessions that keep your plan aligned and your momentum building. At the end of each sprint, we recalibrate your CVI™ and Valuation assessments to measure your progress and shape what comes next.

Question 36

How much does the 90-Day Sprint cost, and how long is the commitment?

Accepted Answer

The Sprint is $2,495/month for an initial three-month engagement ($7,485 total). When the sprint ends, you can choose to continue for another 90-day sprint or end the engagement.

Question 37

Do I need an action plan before starting the 90-Day Sprint?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Sprint is built to guide you through executing an action plan, so you'll need one in place before you start. You have two ways to get there: Recommended: Complete the Value Drivers Workshop and Action Plan first. You'll leave with a personalized 90-Day Action Plan built alongside our advisors. On your own: If you'd rather build your own action plan from your CVI™ and Valuation results, that's fine. You can move straight into the Sprint, and we'll guide you through the plan you've created. If it becomes clear after you start that a workable action plan isn't in place yet, we'll pause and help you get one before moving forward. That usually means booking the Value Drivers Workshop and Action Plan, or taking time to build the plan with your team.

Question 38

How do I choose between the add-ons?

Accepted Answer

CEPA®-Reviewed Results Analysis: You want an expert read on your results and a clear next step. Value Drivers Workshop and Action Plan: You're ready to decide what to work on and want a concrete plan to do it. We recommend this before the Sprint for most owners. 90-Day Sprint: You have an action plan and want accountability and expert guidance while you execute it. If you're not sure, the CEPA®-Reviewed Results Analysis is a good place to start. Your advisor will recommend the right next step for your situation.

Question 39

How do I purchase an add-on?

Accepted Answer

You can purchase add-ons directly from your CVI™ report, in the Recommended Next Steps section. For questions about your results or the self-serve tools, email cvi@jadepartners.co.

Question 40

What's your refund or cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

Self-serve assessments: Once your CVI™ and/or Valuation results have been generated, assessments are non-refundable. If you haven't started your assessment, you may request a refund within 24 hours of purchase. If a technical issue prevents you from completing your assessment, contact us and we'll make it right. CEPA®-Reviewed Results Analysis and Value Drivers Workshop and Action Plan: You can reschedule at no charge with at least 3 business days' notice. If you cancel with at least 5 business days' notice, you'll receive a full credit toward another service, which expires after 12 months. Cancellations made with less than 5 business days' notice, and missed sessions, are non-refundable. 90-Day Sprint Engagement: The Sprint is a three-month commitment, billed monthly. Cancellation terms will be outlined in your engagement agreement, which typically allows either party to provide 30 days' written notice for early termination. To cancel or reschedule, contact cvi@jadepartners.co.

Question 41

Who will I be working with?

Accepted Answer

All sessions are led by Certified Exit Planning Advisors® at Jade Partners. Learn more about Co-Founders Mollie Harris and Jennifer Bryman at jadepartners.co/about.

Question 42

Is the self-serve tool just a cheaper version of working with an advisor?

Accepted Answer

No. They're different services for different stages. Think of it like doing your own taxes versus hiring a CPA for a complex return. For most owners, most of the time, self-serve gets you further, faster, and for a fraction of the cost. It gives you an honest, data-driven picture of where your business stands today. The add-on services help you interpret and act on that picture. A customized engagement with Jade Partners covers what a report can't: negotiation, financing, coordination, and hands-on transaction support. Either way, your self-serve results give you a head start most owners never get.

Question 43

How do I know which one is right for me?

Accepted Answer

The self-serve tools are a great starting point for almost any owner. Whatever your situation, the CVI™ and Valuation give you an honest, data-driven picture of where your business stands today and the clearest things to prioritize next. There's real value in completing the self-assessment first, no matter where you're headed. Some situations simply benefit from working directly with an advisor, and you're always welcome to reach out. Direct advisory tends to add the most value when: Your industry needs specialized handling, which the Valuation Model will flag. A buyer, letter of intent, or deal timeline is already in motion. Circumstances such as health, family, or market conditions are compressing your timeline. Either way, starting with the self-assessment gives you a head start most owners never get. If your situation is more complex, reach out any time and we'll help point you to the right level of support.

Question 44

Will the tool just push me toward advisory no matter what?

Accepted Answer

No. Many owners get exactly what they need from self-serve. When your results do point to a situation where hands-on guidance typically makes a real difference, your report will say so specifically and explain why. For example, it might flag significant owner dependency. You won't get a generic sales pitch.

Question 45

What does an advisor provide that the tool can't?

Accepted Answer

Negotiation and deal structuring. The advisor represents your interests in the actual back-and-forth of a transaction. In a co-owner deal, they facilitate fairly between the parties. Financing coordination. The advisor structures and shepherds SBA loans, seller notes, and other financing decisions, drawing on lender relationships and judgment about what your deal can support. Managing the human side of a transition. This covers employee concerns, co-owner disagreements, and family dynamics, none of which a diagnostic can measure. Pattern recognition. A CEPA®-credentialed advisor has seen how similar businesses handled similar gaps and can tell you what worked. Accountability and project management. Someone actively keeps your timeline on track, whether it's an 18-month readiness plan or a 3 to 6 month buyout process. Coordinating your professionals. The advisor acts as the quarterback among your attorney, CPA, and lender, so you're not managing and translating between them yourself. Judgment on complex situations. Unusual industries, complicated ownership structures, and contested valuations are where experienced judgment matters most. At Jade Partners, we take a psychology-based approach to exit planning. We help you understand how buyers think, coach you for buyer calls, and prepare you for the moments that make or break a deal.

Question 46

What if I need more than the add-on options?

Accepted Answer

Jade Partners also offers customized engagement plans for owners whose situation calls for deeper or longer-term support. Examples include an active sale, a management or co-owner buyout, a family succession, or complex financing. Plans are built around your specific goals and timeline.

Question 47

How do I talk to someone about a customized engagement?

Accepted Answer

We welcome a conversation to meet and answer any questions. You can book an initial consultation through our scheduler, where you can pick your preferred day and time. You can also email us at hello@jadepartners.co.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the CVI™ and Valuation Tools

What is the Company Vitality Index (CVI™)?

What is the Company Vitality Index (CVI™)?

How is the CVI™ different from other business evaluations?

How is the CVI™ different from other business evaluations?

What methodology is it based on?

What methodology is it based on?

What's the difference between the CVI™ and the Valuation? Do I need both?

What's the difference between the CVI™ and the Valuation? Do I need both?

Why would I use a self-serve valuation tool instead of hiring an appraiser?

Why would I use a self-serve valuation tool instead of hiring an appraiser?

What is this valuation tool, and what isn't it?

What is this valuation tool, and what isn't it?

When should I use it? Is this only for owners planning to sell soon?

When should I use it? Is this only for owners planning to sell soon?

What size and type of business is this built for?

What size and type of business is this built for?

Can I use the Valuation for a loan, divorce, estate plan, or legal dispute?

Can I use the Valuation for a loan, divorce, estate plan, or legal dispute?

How is this different from a free online valuation calculator?

How is this different from a free online valuation calculator?

What if I'm not planning to sell at all?

What if I'm not planning to sell at all?

Taking the Assessment

How does it work?

How does it work?

How long does it take?

How long does it take?

Do I have to finish it in one sitting?

Do I have to finish it in one sitting?

Can my bookkeeper fill in the financial section?

Can my bookkeeper fill in the financial section?

What information should I have ready before I start?

What information should I have ready before I start?

What if my financials aren't perfectly organized?

What if my financials aren't perfectly organized?

Is my information confidential?

Is my information confidential?

Will my employees know I'm doing this?

Will my employees know I'm doing this?

Can my leadership team all take the CVI™ assessment?

Can my leadership team all take the CVI™ assessment?

Can I take the assessment again later?

Can I take the assessment again later?

What if I don't know the answer to a question?

What if I don't know the answer to a question?

What if my answer falls between two options, like somewhere between a 3 and a 4?

What if my answer falls between two options, like somewhere between a 3 and a 4?

Understanding Your Score and Report

What does my CVI™ score measure?

What does my CVI™ score measure?

Is my score a simple average of the four pillars?

Is my score a simple average of the four pillars?

Why does my report show two different targets?

Why does my report show two different targets?

What else is included in my report?

What else is included in my report?

What's a "good" CVI™ score?

What's a "good" CVI™ score?

Can I download or share my report?

Can I download or share my report?

Can I retake the assessment to track my progress?

Can I retake the assessment to track my progress?

Add-On Services

What add-on options for additional support are available after I get my results?

What add-on options for additional support are available after I get my results?

What is the CEPA®-Reviewed Results Analysis?

What is the CEPA®-Reviewed Results Analysis?

Why would I need the Results Analysis if my report already has recommendations?

Why would I need the Results Analysis if my report already has recommendations?

What is the Value Drivers Workshop and Action Plan?

What is the Value Drivers Workshop and Action Plan?

What is the 90-Day Sprint Engagement?

What is the 90-Day Sprint Engagement?

How much does the 90-Day Sprint cost, and how long is the commitment?

How much does the 90-Day Sprint cost, and how long is the commitment?

Do I need an action plan before starting the 90-Day Sprint?

Do I need an action plan before starting the 90-Day Sprint?

How do I choose between the add-ons?