Startup Valuation Services
Globally Certified (CVA • ASA • ABV® • MRICS)
Valuation Experience
Valuations Completed
Industries Served
3-5 Days
A Wrong Valuation at the Wrong Stage Can Cost You the Round.
A wrong valuation can cost you your funding round. Startup valuation formally determines your company's economic worth by assessing financials, market potential, IP, team, and growth to produce a defensible value on a specific date.
Without an independent valuation, founders risk investor skepticism during due diligence, equity pricing disputes, IRS 409A exposure, and weak negotiating leverage. A qualified appraisal eliminates these risks entirely.
At Transaction Capital LLC, credentialed appraisers—not algorithms—prepare and sign every valuation. A qualified expert who understands your business model, funding stage, and capital structure stands behind every conclusion.
Our Startup Valuation Services
Transaction Capital LLC delivers a full suite of startup valuation services covering every funding stage, capital structure, and compliance requirement.
Get an Investor-Ready Startup Valuation for Your Company Today.
Startup Valuation Methods We Use
| Approach | Best For | Key Methods | Formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Approach | Revenue-generating startups with projectable cash flows | Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Capitalization of Earnings | PV = FCF / (1 + WACC)^n |
| Market Approach | VC-backed startups with a recent preferred round or comparable peers | OPM Backsolve Guideline Public Company (GPCM) | Value = Multiple x Revenue or ARR |
| Asset Approach | Pre-revenue, IP-heavy, or asset-intensive companies | Cost-to-Duplicate Net Asset Value (NAV) | NAV = Fair Assets - Fair Liabilities |
Venture Capital (VC) Method
Scorecard Valuation Method
Risk Factor Summation Method
First Chicago Method
When Does Your Startup Need a Valuation?
- First Equity Grant -Establishes initial FMV and prevents a 20% IRS penalty for recipients.
- New Funding (SAFE/Priced) - Financing changes stock value; expected by investors for due diligence.
- 12-Month Expiration - Renews lapsed IRS Safe Harbor protection for new equity grants.
- Material Business Shift - Adjusts FMV after significant operational or market changes.
- Approaching Exit (IPO/SPAC) - Required for SEC regulatory review and audit readiness.
- Secondary Sales / Tender - Documents and defends the underlying transaction price.
- QSBS Review / Disputes - Verifies tax thresholds and provides objective value for resolving conflicts.
- Shareholder or co-founder dispute - FMV provides an objective basis for resolving ownership disagreements equitably.
Not Sure When Your Startup Needs a Valuation?
Who Needs a Startup Valuation?
Founders raising capital
Startups issuing equity
SAFE-backed companies
VC-backed companies
Accelerators & Incubators
Pre-IPO / SPAC companies
Employees receiving equity
Investors (Angels/VCs)
Startup Valuation by Funding Stage
| Stage | Typical Methodology | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Idea / pre-product | Scorecard or Risk Factor Summation | Valued on founder background, market size, and IP. |
| Pre-Seed / pre-revenue | Cost-to-Duplicate or Scorecard | Valued assets, IP, and team (no financial history). |
| Seed / SAFE or Note | Market Approach or First Chicago | Use recent notes/SAFEs as an implied value anchor. |
| Series A | OPM Backsolve on Preferred Pricing | Isolates common stock value using preferred pricing. |
| Series B / C | OPM Backsolve + DCF Weighted | Combines OPM with a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. |
| Growth / Late Stage | DCF + Market Comparables | Relies on revenue scale and guideline company multiples. |
| Pre-IPO / pre-SPAC | Public Market Comps + DCF | Requires audit-grade documentation for SEC review. |
Benefits of a Professional Startup Valuation
Find the Right Value for Your Startup
with Transaction Capital LLC.
We believe in growing with our clients and offering tailored solutions.
How Our Startup Valuation Process Works
Free Consultation
Discuss your stage and get a no-obligation, flat-fee quote.
Data Collection
Submit your cap table, financials, projections, and funding documents.
Methodology Selection
We apply the correct IRS-recognized method (e.g., OPM, DCF) for your specific stage.
Draft Review
Review the complete draft and fair market value (FMV) before any payment is due.
Final Report & Support
Receive your certified report, complete with free audit and IRS defense support.
What Your Startup Valuation Report Includes
- Executive Summary -FMV conclusion, effective date, purpose, and scope of the engagement
- Company and Industry Overview - Business model, market position, competitive landscape, and growth context
- Capital Structure Analysis - Cap table, equity class rights, SAFE and note conversion mechanics, liquidation preferences, and anti-dilution provisions
- Methodology Rationale - Why the chosen IRS-approved approach was applied and alternatives considered
- Financial Analysis - Available historical review, normalization adjustments, and management projections with risk-adjusted modeling
- Market Comparables - Guideline public company multiples and recent venture transaction data with comparability analysis
- OPM, PWERM, or VC Method Allocation - Equity value allocation across all share classes with full supporting documentation
- Discount Adjustments -DLOM and company-specific risk factor documentation with empirical support
- Regulatory Compliance Statements - USPAP, SSVS, NACVA, and IRC Section 409A certifications
- Appraiser Certification - Signed by an ABV, ASA, CVA, or MRICS credentialed professional
- Audit Defense Package - Supporting schedules, source data log, and management representation letter
409A Safe Harbor for Startups
What It Means and Why It Matters
Safe Harbor shifts the burden of proof to the IRS during an audit. Without it, your company must prove its valuation is correct.Independent qualified appraiser
Reasonable valuation method
No material changes since valuation
12-month validity window
Documented assumptions
Compliance Standards We Follow
USPAP
SSVS No. 1 (AICPA)
NACVA Professional Standards
IRC Section 409A
IRC Section 1202 (QSBS)
IRS Revenue Ruling 59-60
ASC 718
ASC 820
IPEV Guidelines
Insights From Real Valuation Engagements
2,500+ Valuations. 50+ Industries. Deep Expertise in Each.
Why Choose Transaction Capital LLC?
(Big 4 Quality. Boutique Speed. Zero Compromise.)
| Feature | Transaction Capital LLC | Big 4 Firms | SaaS Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credentials | ABV, ASA, CVA, MRICS | PASSES - High cost | FAILS - Automated |
| Turnaround | 3-5 Business Days | 3-6 Weeks | 24-72 Hours |
| Starting Price | $500 Flat Fee | $3,000-$10,000+ | $500-$1,500 |
| Pay After Draft Review | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Human Expert on Every Report | PASSES - Always | ✓ | ✗ |
| Safe Harbor Compliance | PASSES - Documented | ✓ | PARTIAL |
| Post-Valuation Audit Support | PASSES - Included | Extra cost | ✗ |
| Complex Cap Structures | PASSES - OPM Backsolve | ✓ | PARTIAL |
Certified Experts
Transparent and Affordable Pricing
Complete Post-Valuation Support
Trusted by Investors, Attorneys, and Courts
Elite Leadership
Startup Valuation Pricing
| Stage | Starting Price | Turnaround | Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idea / pre-product | $500 | 2-3 Business Days | Scorecard, Risk Factor Summation |
| Pre-Seed / pre-revenue | $500 | 2-3 Business Days | Cost-to-Duplicate, Scorecard |
| Seed / SAFE-Backed | $500 | 2-4 Business Days | Market Approach, First Chicago |
| Series A | $800 | 3-5 Business Days | OPM Backsolve on Preferred Pricing |
| Series B / C | $1,200 | 3-5 Business Days | OPM Backsolve + DCF Weighted |
| Growth / Late Stage | Custom Quote | 4-7 Business Days | DCF + Market Comparables |
| Pre-IPO / pre-SPAC | Custom Quote | 5-10 Business Days | Public Market Comps + DCF |
Pay After Draft Review
Review your complete draft valuation report before paying a single dollar. If it does not meet your standards, you do not pay.
Trusted by Investors, Attorneys, and Big 4 Auditors
Transaction Capital LLC also provides post-valuation IRS audit support - assisting clients and their attorneys through examinations, Tax Court proceedings, and estate dispute resolution at no additional charge.
VCs & Angel Investors
Independent FMV for due diligence, portfolio reporting, and ASC 820 compliance.Big 4 Audit Firms
Valuations aligned with IRS, SEC, USPAP, and AICPA standards for seamless acceptance.
Corporate Attorneys
Defensible reports for equity plans, shareholder agreements, and dispute resolution.Boards & Committees
Audit-ready FMV to support option grant approvals and corporate governance.
Thousands of Startups. One Standard of Quality.
Join thousands of startups, growth-stage companies, and venture-backed businesses that rely on Transaction Capital LLC for valuations that hold up when it matters most - in fundraising, in audits, in court, and in front of investors.
Do Not Take Our Word for It.
Transaction Capital LLC delivered a high-quality Fair Market Value (FMV) analysis with exceptional responsiveness, professionalism, and depth. The team communicated clearly throughout the process and provided strong transparency around their methodology, allowing stakeholders to understand not just the conclusions, but the rationale behind them.
The work delivered by TXN Capital LLC on the IVS 105 valuation for our deeptech startup demonstrates great quality. Their clarity in documenting assumptions and methodologies ensures transparency and ease of understanding.
Working with Gaurav at Transaction Capital LLC for our 409A valuation was seamless and professional. He delivered a thorough, defensible report quickly and explained every detail clearly. Highly recommend for any startup seeking a reliable and efficient valuation partner.
Transaction Capital LLC, led by Dr. Gaurav, is truly the best in the business valuation space. I’ve seen the results firsthand — working with anyone else would be a waste of money. Believe me, they are the best.
Gaurav is very knowledgable in his field and was super helpful in his response and explanations. He finished the contract well before the deadline! Highly recommended. Thanks Gaurav
We got the Financial Model made by Gaurav which included all the standard things. Gaurav was helpful in explaining all the complex lingos and make it simple for us to understand. Strongly recommend him for getting FM made
Best Startup Valuation Services in the USA
Transaction Capital LLC provides certified startup valuation services across all 50 US states. Headquartered in New York, with active engagements in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Austin, Boston, and beyond.
Our team combines the methodological depth of a national firm with the responsiveness and direct access of a boutique practice. You work directly with your credentialed appraiser - from the first call to the final signed report.
