4A
409A Pro
IRS §409A Safe Harbor · Auditor-Defensible Reports

409A Valuations
Built Right.
From Day One.

IRS-compliant 409A valuations for startups at every funding stage — delivered by CVA-credentialed analysts using safe harbor methodology. Fixed fee. Fast turnaround. Auditor-ready.

CVA / ABV certified analysts
Treasury Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(5) compliant
Fixed fee · no hourly surprises
Get Your 409A QuoteFree Valuation Estimate
IRS §409A Safe Harbor Methodology
CVA & ABV Credentialed Analysts
5–14 Business Day Delivery
Auditor-Defensible Reports
What you get with every report

IRS §409A Safe Harbor Report

Written appraisal under Treasury Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(5)

CVA / ABV Signed Report

Credentialed analyst sign-off on every engagement

OPM / DLOM Analysis

Option Pricing Model + Lack of Marketability discount

Auditor Support

Ready for any audit revuew — included from Seed stage

Board Presentation Snapshot

Present your FMV to the board on the same day

Fast, fixed-fee 409A valuations

CVA-credentialed analysts · 5–14 business day delivery · Big 4 audit-ready reports.

Starting from

$1,099 / valuation

Start Now

The Stakes

Get it wrong and your
employees pay the price.

Under IRS Section 409A, setting stock option strike prices below fair market value exposes your employees to immediate ordinary income tax plus a 20% excise tax — on unvested options. That's a penalty they pay even before they can sell a single share.

A qualified 409A valuation provides "safe harbor" protection — shielding both the company and employees from IRS challenges as long as the valuation meets regulatory standards.

Required before issuing any employee stock options
Valid for 12 months or until a material event
Must be performed by a qualified independent appraiser
Accepted by all major audit firms and investors

Without a 409A Valuation

  • • Immediate ordinary income tax on option spread
  • • Additional 20% IRS excise tax on unvested options
  • • State tax penalties (up to 20% additional in CA)
  • • Personal liability for company officers
  • • Deal-blocking diligence issues during M&A / IPO

With a Qualified 409A Valuation

  • • IRS safe harbor protection for strike prices
  • • Options issued at defensible FMV
  • • Attracts and retains top talent confidently
  • • Clean diligence for your next funding round
  • • Accepted by Big 4 auditors and investors

How It Works

409A Valuation in 6 Simple Steps

From intake to final report — we handle the complexity so you can focus on building.

01

Create Your Account

Sign up in under 2 minutes. Tell us your industry, funding stage, and city. No credit card required to get started.

02

Connect Your Accounting Software

Link Xero or QuickBooks with one click. We auto-pull your revenue, gross profit, cash balance, and burn rate — no spreadsheets needed.

03

Answer a Few Key Questions

We ask only what accounting software cannot provide — ARR, cap table details, and a handful of industry-specific metrics. Takes under 5 minutes.

04

AI Engine Runs the Model

Our valuation engine runs DCF, market comps (GPC), backsolve, OPM equity allocation, and DLOM — then a credentialed analyst reviews every number.

05

Draft Report Delivered

Receive your draft 409A report within 5–14 business days.

06

Final IRS-Compliant Report

Your signed, auditor-defensible §409A report is delivered to your secure portal. Ready to set option strike prices immediately.

Transparent Pricing

Priced for Every Stage

Fixed-fee pricing with no hidden costs. Choose the package that matches your funding stage.

Pre-Seed

$1,099flat fee

⏱ 5–7 business days

IRS §409A Safe Harbor report
CVA / ABV credentialed analyst
Asset approach + scorecard method
OPM equity allocation
DLOM analysis
Auditor support
Get Started

Seed

$1,299flat fee

⏱ 5–7 business days

IRS §409A Safe Harbor report
CVA / ABV credentialed analyst
Backsolve + GPC market comps
OPM equity allocation
DLOM analysis
Auditor support
Get Started

Pre-Series A

$1,499flat fee

⏱ 7–10 business days

IRS §409A Safe Harbor report
CVA / ABV credentialed analyst
Backsolve + GPC market comps
OPM equity allocation
DLOM analysis
Auditor support
Get Started
View All Pricing Tiers

Why Work With Us

Expertise You Can Verify

Our senior analyst give attention on every file, enjoy competitive pricing, and a team motivated to earn your referral.

🎓

CVA & ABV Credentialed Analysts

Every report is prepared and signed by a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) or Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) — the credentials the IRS and auditors require.

⚖️

IRS Safe Harbor Methodology

We follow Treasury Reg. §1.409A-1(b)(5) precisely — backsolve, OPM, DLOM, and PWERM as appropriate for your stage. Safe harbor shifts the IRS audit burden away from you and your employees.

💰

Fixed Fee. No Hourly Surprises.

You know the full price before you sign. auditor support , and snapshot for board presentation are included. No extra invoice when your auditors ask follow-up questions.

Client offer

Join our growing client list

You get senior-level attention on every engagement, guaranteed turnaround times, and pricing that increases as we grow. Our quality guarantee: We help your auditors understand the methodology of the valuation.

Quality guarantee included
Senior analyst on every file
Competitive pricing locked in
24-hour response
Get Your First Quote →

Get Started

Request Your
409A Quote

Tell us about your startup and we'll send you a custom quote within 24 hours. No commitment required.

Response timeWithin 24 hours
No commitmentFree consultation
Fixed pricingNo surprises

FAQ

Common Questions

What is a 409A valuation and why do I need one?
A 409A valuation is an independent appraisal of your startup's common stock fair market value (FMV), required under IRS Section 409A. You need one before issuing stock options to employees to establish a compliant strike price. Without it, employees could face severe tax penalties — including immediate income tax and a 20% excise tax on unvested options.
How often do I need to update my 409A valuation?
A 409A valuation is valid for 12 months, or until a "material event" occurs — such as a new funding round, acquisition offer, significant revenue change, or change in business strategy. Most startups refresh their 409A annually or after each funding round.
How long does the 409A valuation process take?
Our standard turnaround is 3–14 business days depending on your stage and data availability. Pre-Seed and Seed valuations typically complete in 5–7 days. Series A and beyond may take 10–14 days due to increased complexity in equity structure analysis.
What is the difference between 409A and 409B?
Section 409A covers deferred compensation and stock option pricing for employees. Section 409B (proposed, not yet enacted) would have applied to nonqualified deferred compensation for independent contractors. Today, only 409A is legally required for startup equity compensation.
Will your 409A report hold up in an audit?
Yes. Our reports are prepared using IRS-recognized safe harbor methodologies and are accepted by all major audit firms including Big 4 (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG). We include a full methodology disclosure, comparable company analysis, and assumptions documentation — everything auditors require.
What information do I need to provide?
For most startups, we need: cap table, most recent financial statements (or projections for pre-revenue), any funding term sheets or post-money valuations, company overview/pitch deck, and details of your equity incentive plan. Pre-Seed companies may have minimal requirements.

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Supporting high-growth startups with compliant, auditor-defensible 409A valuations.

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