Working together can bring out the best — and worst — in families. Here are some issues business valuation experts consider when appraising these entities. Family members on the payroll Family-owned businesses aren’t usually run like large public companies. For starters, “family business” and “nepotism” often go hand in hand. Some business owners hire family members because they’re perceived as more trustworthy, while many hire them out of obligation or to satisfy a desire to pass the business on to their offspring. When valuing family-owned entities, valuators must objectively consider whether family members are qualified for their positions and whether their compensation is reasonable. In some cases, management of a hypothetical buyer might want to consolidate family members’ positions and use fewer people to perform their duties. As...