When Brillian calculates your valuation, it doesn't take your reported profit at face value — it looks at what your business would earn under normal, ongoing operation. Add-backs are how it gets there.
What is an add-back?
An add-back is an expense on your financial statements that doesn't reflect the business's true, ongoing earning power. Because it's non-recurring or personal in nature, it gets "added back" to earnings before your valuation is calculated.
Common examples
Personal or family expenses run through the business — a vehicle, travel, a family member on payroll
One-time costs — a lawsuit settlement, equipment loss, or insurance payout
Above- or below-market owner compensation
Non-recurring windfalls, like a one-time large contract
Why add-backs matter
Add-backs are one of the biggest levers in getting an accurate valuation. Because valuations apply a multiple to earnings, even modest untracked expenses can have an outsized effect — for example, $10,000 in unreported personal expenses can shift a valuation by tens of thousands of dollars once a market multiple is applied.
How to report them accurately
Be specific and thorough when listing add-backs — note each one-time item or personal expense with an amount and date. The more complete this list, the more your valuation reflects your business's real earning power. Add-backs aren't a loophole — they're how your valuation gives credit for what your business actually earns, not just what your books happen to show.