Business Valuation Services for Startups & Growth Companies

Three reasons: credibility, leverage, and compliance. A professional valuation gives you a defensible number backed by recognized methodologies (DCF, comparable analysis, Venture Capital Method) that investors and counterparties respect. Based on our experience with 150+ startup valuations, founders who come to negotiations with a professional valuation raise at 20-30% higher prices than those who let investors set the terms. And for 409A compliance, GAAP financial reporting, or litigation, a qualified independent appraisal isn't optional — it's required.

Our business valuation projects typically range from $3,000 to $15,000 depending on complexity, purpose, and timeline. Simple 409A valuations for early-stage startups start at the lower end, while full M&A valuations with detailed reports fall at the higher end. We provide a fixed-price quote after the initial discovery call.

Most valuations take 2-4 weeks from kickoff to final report. For urgent needs (fundraising deadline, M&A closing), we can deliver in as little as 1 week. Traditional firms typically take 6-12 weeks — we move faster because startup valuations are our core expertise, not a side practice.

At minimum: financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow), cap table, and a brief company overview. For more comprehensive valuations, we'll also want: financial projections, customer metrics (MRR, churn, LTV/CAC), comparable company data, and any prior term sheets or valuations. We'll tell you exactly what we need after the discovery call.

In practice, they're often used interchangeably. Technically, an "appraisal" usually refers to tangible asset valuation (real estate, equipment), while "valuation" encompasses the entire business including intangible assets, goodwill, and future earnings potential. For startups, you almost always need a full business valuation, not just an asset appraisal.

Not always — many seed and pre-seed rounds use SAFE notes or convertible notes that defer valuation. But for priced rounds (Series A+), having an independent valuation strengthens your negotiating position and gives investors confidence. We've seen founders who come to the table with a well-supported valuation raise 20-30% more than those who let investors set the price.

It depends on your stage. For pre-revenue startups, the Venture Capital Method or Berkus Method are most appropriate — they work backwards from expected exit value. For startups with revenue, comparable company analysis combined with DCF provides the most defensible result. We typically use 2-3 methods and triangulate to a final range. For 409A compliance specifically, the IRS requires a qualified independent appraisal — our reports meet this standard.

At minimum: before each fundraising round, before any M&A transaction, and annually for 409A compliance. In practice, we recommend updating whenever a material event occurs — landing a major customer, hitting a revenue milestone, or seeing significant market changes. An outdated valuation is worse than no valuation.

Yes — and we've seen it repeatedly. A well-supported valuation shifts the negotiation dynamic. Instead of investors dictating terms, you come to the table with data. After working with 800+ startups, we've found that founders with professional valuations raise at 20-30% higher valuations on average, because they can articulate and defend their worth.

Here's the checklist we send every client:

• Financial statements — P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow (last 2-3 years + YTD)
• Cap table — current ownership, option pool, any convertible instruments (SAFEs, notes)
• Financial projections — 3-5 year forecast (we can build this if you don't have one)
• Key metrics — MRR/ARR, churn, LTV/CAC, burn rate, runway
• Prior term sheets or valuations — any existing 409A reports or investor offers
• Company overview — pitch deck, product description, competitive landscape

Don't have all of these? That's normal for early-stage startups. We'll work with what you have and build what's missing.