Seth Webber

Principal | CFA, ASA, CEPA

swebber@berrydunn.com

“Value can be a difficult concept. We provide clients with clarity and perspective on value by not only answering the question, ‘How much?’ but by explaining, ‘Why?’”

Since joining BerryDunn in 2007, Seth has brought his combination of valuation, consulting, and operations skills to bear for his clients, helping them navigate challenging issues related to business valuation. As head of the Valuation Services Practice Group, he leads a diverse team of valuation experts that draw on the deep resources of BerryDunn to help clients address their needs.

Seth is heavily involved in working with clients to define and execute transition plans, including valuations relating to ESOPs, management buyouts, sales, and gifting.

D 207.541.2297

experience education & certifications industries services presentations & publications memberships community service events insights

As a member of the BerryDunn Recovery Advisory Team, Seth has been instrumental in
helping clients navigate challenging business issues, particularly in building resilience into their operations, and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.

Seth holds an MBA, as well as numerous credentials (CFA, CEPA, CVA, ASA, CBA), all focused on gaining knowledge to help his clients answer difficult questions related to value and succession planning.

Experience highlights

Seth helps clients with a variety of issues including:

Business valuation
Consulting
Strategic planning
Post-merger integration
Benchmarking

Publications

The Effect of COVID-19 and the Lockdown on Private Construction Company Value, co-authored with Casey Karlsen, Construction Accounting and Taxation,
Thomson Reuters, June 2020
The Inside ESOP Fiduciary Handbook, co-authored chapter with Casey Karlsen, June 2020
Top Errors in Valuations Performed for Family Law Purposes, American Journal of Family Law, Wolters Kluwer, Volume 33, No. 4, Winter 2020
Application of the Market Approach in Business Valuations, Maine Bar Journal, Volume 34, Fall 2019
Using Industry Benchmarks to Establish Secure Negotiating Positions for M&A Purposes, co-authored with Casey Karlsen, BVR Business Valuation Update, December 2019
Effective Tax Strategies in the Sale of a Business, Practical Tax Strategies, co-authored with Casey Karlsen, Thomson Reuters, October 2019
Keeping Water Under the Keel: Increasing Business Value by Decreasing Risk, co-authored with Casey Karlsen, Construction Accounting and Taxation, Thomson Reuters, July/August 2019
Key Steps to Prepare a Business for Successful Sale, co-authored with Casey Karlsen, Estate Planning, Volume 46, No. 3, March 2019
A Practical Guide to Divorce in Maine, Chapter 10: Valuation, co-authored with Karen Frink Wolf and Jonathan Dunitz, MCLE New England, 2016
Four Tips for Choosing a FAIR Expert Witness
Supermarkets and Succession Planning: Lessons Learned from Market Basket
What Do ESOPs, Motorcycles, and the DOL Have in Common?
A Buy-Sell Agreement Is Your Safety Net—Will it Work?
Time to Look the Gift Horse in the Mouth

Presentations

Tips for Reviewing Management’s Financial Projections, presented at Employee Owned 2019
Benchmarking: Charting a Course for a Strong and Growing Business, presented at BerryDunn's 2016 Annual Business Seminar: Setting the Stage for Success Presentations
Introduction to Financial Statement Analysis, presented to the Maine State Bar Association Summer Meeting
Demystifying the Business Valuation Process, presented to the Maine State Bar Association Summer Meeting
Allocating Goodwill: Learning to Trust the Multi-Attribute Utility Model, presented to the NACVA Advanced Matrimonial Litigation Symposium
Transition Your Life: Transition Your Business, presented at the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce
Ownership Transition: Is an ESOP Right for Your Business?, presented to the CFMA Maine Chapter
Value to Whom?: Buy-Sell Agreements and Definitions of Value, presented to the Maine State Bar Association Summer Meeting
Personal & Enterprise Goodwill, presented to the Maine Family Law Institute
Making Sense of Valuation Reports: Critical Elements, Annual Meeting, presented to the Maine State Bar Association
Figures Often Beguile Me: An Intro to Financial Statements, presented to the Maine State Bar Association Summer Meeting
Shareholder Agreements, presented to the Business Law Institute

Articles

Compensation, bonuses, and other factors that can make or break an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Decide: Value acceleration series part five (of five)

Planning and execution: Value acceleration series part four (of five)

The four C's: Value acceleration series part three (of five)

The discover stage: Value acceleration series part two (of five)

The process: Value acceleration series part one (of five)

We wrote the book on business valuation—and it's available now

Tips for acquiring a construction company

Paycheck Protection Program: New regulatory announcements

$200 Million Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program released

PPP loan forgiveness: Updates

Updated: Funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

Value acceleration—The gas pedal for the value of your business

Memberships and committees

American Society of Appraisers
ESOP Association, Valuation Advisory Committee, Member
Exit Planning Institute
Institute of Family Owned Business, Board Member
National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA)
NACVA/IBA Annual Consultants’ Conference, Co-Chair
NACVA/IBA Annual Consultants’ Conference, Committee Member

Community service

First Parish Church, United Church of Christ, Confirmation Instructor and Council Member
Institute of Family Owned Business, Board Member

Related Services

Consulting

Business Advisory

Benchmarking for Telecommunications Benchmarking Overview Employee Stock Ownership Plan Consulting Overview Feasibility Studies Overview Mergers and Acquisitions for Healthcare Retirement Plan Advisory Succession Planning Overview

Valuation

Business Valuation ESOP Valuation and Feasibility Studies Overview Gift and Estate Valuations Overview

Transaction Advisory

Transaction Advisory Services

Related Industries

Insights

Articles

Factors affecting the value of a company

Compensation, bonuses, and other factors that can make or break an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Five key takeaways for Healthcare Leaders

Decide: Value acceleration series part five (of five)

Planning and execution: Value acceleration series part four (of five)

The four C's: Value acceleration series part three (of five)

The discover stage: Value acceleration series part two (of five)

The process: Value acceleration series part one (of five)

We wrote the book on business valuation—and it's available now

Tips for acquiring a construction company

IRS guidance to employers: Year-end reporting requirements for qualified sick and family leave wages

Updated guidance on the Employee Retention Credit (ERC): Important considerations for employers

Employee Retention Credit: Additional guidance for employers claiming it under the CARES Act

IRS guidance: Retroactively claiming the 2020 ERC

Biden's tax plan and what may change from current tax law

Stimulus bill extends and expands the Employee Retention Credit

Paycheck Protection Program: Updates on new and existing loans

Maine's new earned paid leave law―What employers need to know

Update: Treasury issues a revenue ruling and revenue procedure regarding PPP forgiveness

Tax relief strategies for resilience

COVID-19 and Section 139: Tax-free payments or reimbursements to employees

Discounts for lack of control and marketability in business valuations (Part III)

Paycheck Protection Program: New regulatory announcements

Discounts for lack of control and marketability in business valuations (Part II)

Discounts for lack of control and marketability in business valuations

Payroll tax deferral update

To withhold or not to withhold payroll taxes―The dilemma facing employers

$200 Million Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program released

PPP loan forgiveness: Updates

Employee Retention Credit―Updated IRS FAQs provide clarification

2020 estate strategies in times of uncertainty for privately held business owners

Value acceleration in times of uncertainty

Updated: Funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

Paycheck Protection Program: FAQs

"Health care providers" and Department of Labor regulations under COVID-19

Impact of CARES Act on SBA loans

CARES Act―Employee retention credits for employers subject to closure due to COVID-19

The CARES Act: Implications for businesses

The Investment Tax Credit and roof replacement

The GREEN Act―a ray of hope for the solar carve out and the ITC?

Safe harbor options for taxpayers as the solar ITC begins to sunset

Value acceleration—The gas pedal for the value of your business

BATNA: What you need to know

Podcasts

A Value-Added Conversation with Seth Webber: Preparing Business Owners for Exits and Transactions

October 13, 2023

Lender Links: Estimating a Company's Future Cash Flow

November 15, 2022

Press Releases

Erik Olson Joins BerryDunn to Expand Transaction Advisory Services

November 21, 2023

Business Valuation Consultants Karlsen and Scott Receive Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) Designation

June 20, 2023

BerryDunn Creates New C-Suite Position, Hires Chief Culture and Engagement Officer

December 2, 2021

BerryDunn Announces Leadership Promotions and Appointments, Chandler Honored

July 1, 2021

BerryDunn Ranked #1 CPA Firm Headquartered in New England by Accounting Today

March 10, 2021

BerryDunn Unveils New Logo, Refreshed Brand

December 3, 2020

10 Years and Running―BerryDunn Once Again a Top 100 Firm

August 18, 2020

United Way of Greater Portland Announced Racial Equity Fund

August 3, 2020

BerryDunn Announces Location of New National Headquarters

July 27, 2020

Cameron A. Scott Earns CEPA Designation

December 13, 2019

Katherine P. Whitehead Earns Prestigious CEPA Designation

September 6, 2019

Cameron A. Scott Joins BerryDunn in Growing Valuation Services Group

June 20, 2019

Resources

Next Year Now. What you need to know for success in 2024

September 27, 2023

Increase your company's value: Risk factor analysis tool

August 3, 2023

2023 Healthcare Leadership Event

May 24, 2023

2023 Senior Living Event

January 25, 2023

Next Year Now. What you need to know for success in 2023

September 28, 2022

Buying or selling a behavioral health practice? Here are some questions to consider.

June 13, 2022

Insurance Agency Valuation Trends

November 30, 2021

Factors Affecting the Value of Construction Companies

July 1, 2021

Value Acceleration: Increase Business Value and Liquidity

June 30, 2021

Standard, premise, and level of value in business valuations

December 22, 2020

Next Year Now: What You Need to Know for Success in 2021

September 24, 2020

The effect of COVID-19 and the lockdown on private construction company value

June 1, 2020

Tips for reviewing management's financial projections

November 15, 2019

Energize Your Business with BerryDunn: Waltham Event

November 7, 2019

Effective tax strategies in the sale of a business

October 1, 2019

Keeping water under the keel: Increasing business value by decreasing risk

July 1, 2019

Headquarters location update

Valuation of Private Companies: A Tool for Financial Advisors

Success Stories

ESOP minimizes goodwill by applying valuation technique

Benchmarking and valuation analysis for a regional bank

Benchmarking study helps owners decide whether to sell or stay

Distributor expands to US, setting up successful sale

Education

BS, Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University

MBA, Darden School, University of Virginia

Certifications

CFA
ASA
CEPA

Video

Putting Your Family's Best Interests First: BerryDunn's Family Office Services

Speaking Engagements

Introduction to Business Valuation

Event

Demystifying business transactions: How to plan for selling your business

Resource

Increase your company's value: Risk factor analysis tool

Event

2023 Annual National Center for Employee Ownership Conference

“BerryDunn’s Valuation Services Team is a professional powerhouse. We were truly impressed with the level of detailed analysis, critical thought and consistent communication that yielded important insights as we navigated our largest private acquisition to date. We were grateful to have an immediately responsive team lead who was able to bring in subject matter experts as needed to uncover and analyze all facets of the business and ultimately synthesize those findings into a clear, digestible, and accurate valuation report. We look forward to working with this all-star team on our next transaction and confidently recommend that others put their trust in their capable hands.”

Kir Harris
Acquisitions Lead
Mastway, LLC