Title
What is your software worth?
Abstract
This article presents a method for valuing software, based on the income that use of that software is expected to generate in the future. It applies well known principles of intellectual property (IP) valuation, sales expectations, software maintenance, product growth, discounting to present value, and the like, always focusing on the specific issues that arise when the benefits of software are to be analyzed. An issue, not dealt with in the literature of valuing intangibles, is that software is continually upgraded. Applying depreciation schedules is the simple solution, but depreciation is taken by purchasers, and does not represent the actual diminution of the inherent IP of software at the supplier. A novel approach, which considers ongoing maintenance and its effects, is presented here. All steps of the process are presented and then integrated via a simple quantitative example. Having a quantitative model on a spreadsheet allows exploration of alternatives. As an example we evaluate a service business model alternative. Some conclusions are drawn that reflect on academic and business practice.
Year
DOI
Venue
2006
10.1145/1151030.1151031
Communications of The ACM
Keywords
Field
DocType
software worth,well-known principlesof intellectual property,sales expectation,software maintenance,intellectual property,business model,present value,productivity growth
Present value,Property rights,Transaction cost,Actuarial science,Discounting,Computer science,Software,Intellectual property,Valuation (finance),Intellectual property valuation
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
49
9
0001-0782
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
15
1.29
18
Authors
1
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Gio Wiederhold142601502.89