409a Valuation Report – Sample & Example

Companies, especially startups, use 409A valuations to price their options for their employees. This means that the 409A valuation report determines the common stock share price. This report is normally created by an independent third party qualified to offer startup 409A valuation services. To ensure that you get an accurate report that gives you safe harbor status, you need to work with the right firm. That is where Eqvista comes in.

409a Valuation Report

A 409A valuation is an appraisal of a private company’s stock to prepare for issuing shares, which displays all the details of this valuation process.

What is a 409a valuation?

A lot of companies offer shares to their workers as an incentive. This equity is often in the form of options. But private companies that want to issue options to their workers have to be appraised (valued) as these companies do not have the share prices available everyday, unlike public companies. Getting the value of the common shares in a company that complies with IRS tax rules is called a 409A valuation. Failure to get the 409A valuation can cause trouble for the company with the IRS. It would also add hefty penalties for your employees as well.

When does a company need a 409a valuation?

Typically, a company needs to get the 409A valuation when they are about to have a significant transaction involving their stock. It should be able to substantiate the Fair Market Value of the shares. The examples of significant transactions would be:

• Granting options to employees
• Granting options to advisors
• Undergoing a new round of investment
• Entering into a partnership agreement where you are issuing shares

And so on. You get it, right?

What is a 409a valuation report?

It is clear that the 409A valuation report is a valuation prepared by an independent appraisal of the fair market value (FMV) of a private company’s common stock. The 409A valuation permits the private company to comply with section 409A of the IRS tax codes that regulate non-cash compensations. This report is the conclusion of value of the total company’s value, which the share price is derived from.

409a Valuation Report Sample

Just to be clear, there is no specific kind of “template” or sample 409a valuation report that is used. Every company has its own way of sharing information. Moreover, since the IRS did not give any specific guidelines as to everything that a startup 409A valuation report should hold, there is no definitive kind of template. But there are some main points that need to be included in the report, including the valuation, the methods used, and all about the company that helped the firm reach the conclusion of value.

But a lot of companies also want to understand how their company compares to others in the industry. So, a 409A valuation is not just about getting the value of the company as of today. It is about considering the larger picture of the environment and the economy in which the company is operating, to help build an accurate picture of how much the company should be valued at the moment.

What’s included in our (Eqvista’s) 409a valuation report?

Eqvista offers the most accurate and high-quality 409A valuation report. Our report would hold all the main details that would not just help you learn about the FMV of the company shares, but also about the methods that we used and how we analyzed everything. You will be able to get all the information from the capital structure of the company to the company’s industry. The overall report would have around 40 to 80 pages.

Here is a list of things you would find in a 409A valuation report from Eqvista:

#1 Summary of findings

This section of the 409A valuation report would discuss the findings and present the value for the shares of common stock. Typically, this is the section that the company management cares most about. However, the next sections are also crucial in making the IRC 409A valuation defensible when it is audited.

#2 Overview of valuation

This section would display the details of the methods used for the valuation and what the outcome was. It would also reveal the difference in each method, including the asset, income, and market approaches’ output.

#3 Corporate history

This part describes the company and its history. It gives all the details about its product offering, market share, competition, and future growth outlook. The Eqvista 409A valuation report would hold the following sections under this:

• About the company – its history, and capital structure
• Company products – This would have the information about the products and/or services that the company offers.
• Competition – This would include the information of all the company’s competition.

#4 Management and Ownership

This part talks about the kind of management that the company has. It also shares details on the equity structure of the company. Along with this, you will also get details on the key employees and the management structure in this section. Here are the subsections of this part that you will find in the Eqvista 409A valuation report:

• Management – This part would talk about the management in the company and the key employees.
• Company specific ownership plan or key investments – this section discusses any ownership plan or stock option plan specific to the company, or its key investments.
• Future Outlook – This part would talk about the future plan of the company and how it sees itself in the future.

#5 Capital structure

This section would help you understand the capital structure of the company through tables and charts. You will be able to see the various kinds of equity securities and classes that make up the company’s capital structure. This section would also include the company’s income statement and balance sheet.

#6 National economy

This section talks about the national economy of the company and the company’s industry. It shows the output and effects of the industry on the economy and how the economy has changed in the last few years.

#7 Industry

It is imperative for the evaluator to give all the details about the industry and the product/service that the company offers. This is because this information is used to understand the leaders in the industry and what is the scope of the company in the industry. It also helps to understand the kind of products and services that the market offers.

#8 Financial analysis

This section gives the financial analysis of the company using the historical income statements and balance sheet of the company as shared in the sections above. It would also include the common size financial statements compared to others in the industry.

#9 Other Sections

The other sections in the Eqvista 409A valuation report that you will come across include:

• Income Approach – In the income approach, a business is valued at the present value of its future earnings or cash flows. And this is used to get the final value of the company along with the values of the other methods.
• Market Approach – The market value approach business valuation is a process where a value is assigned to a business based on market forces in comparable situations.
• Asset Approach – This valuation method examines the total value of the assets in your company.
• Capitalization Rate – The capitalization rate, also known as cap rate, is used in the business world to indicate the rate of return that is expected to be generated on an investment.
• Discounts – This normally includes the Discount for Control (DOC) in case of valuations for minority positions, or Discount for Lack of Marketability (DLOM) for private companies.

How to choose the right 409a valuation provider?

Before you choose one of the 409A valuation providers for getting your company’s 409A valuation report, here is what you need to look for:

• Experience – The first thing you need to check is if the company you are about to hire has the required expertise to get an accurate 409A valuation. Also, check if they have any certifications, which would prove that they have the needed knowledge and experience. This would help you understand if it is worth it or not.
• Service – Find out if the company you are about to hire does the valuation in-house or outsources it. It is better if they are doing it in-house, as you are sure about the person working for you and you will be given an affordable price as well.
• Technology – Even though this might not seem important, it is very important. The company you are about to hire for your 409A valuation report needs to have the right tools that use the latest technology. So, ask them if they connect to your company’s cap table. Also, ask them if they use the needed technology to speed up the process and reduce errors.
• Audit-readiness – The 409A valuation report that you get should be audit-ready since the IRS can strike at any time. Moreover, the firm that offered the report has to be able to stand with you when there is an audit to prove the valuation.
• Complete reports – The report has to be detailed where you can easily see how the evaluator was able to reach the final result. If they are not able to do that, then you need to check another firm.

Not all companies offer a comprehensive report for the 409A valuation. But at Eqvista, we don’t just offer you great services, we also offer it at an affordable price.

You can talk to us before you hire us for preparing your 409A valuation report. It is always important to be sure before moving ahead and we will help you in assuring you of our services.

409a valuation reports with EqvistaGET STARTED!

How much does a 409a valuation cost?

Our valuation services begin at $990 and increase based on the stage at which your company is in. So, we do not just offer quality, but also affordable prices as well. Our experts would take care of your 409A valuation in an audit-ready way.

Here is a break down of the 409A valuation cost based on the stage your company is in:

We also offer an expedited service of 409a valuation at $390.

Note: Our 409a valuation pricing tiers are based by funding rounds, but may vary depending on other factors including: total revenue, number of employees and capital structure. e.g. A closely held company with sales of $5 million, 50 staff, and no previous funding, may be equivalent to a Series B company. Tell our staff more information for an accurate quotation.

In short, the 409A valuation cost at Eqvista is quite reasonable as compared to what others are offering. If you are interested in getting a 409A valuation report from us, please feel free to contact us. If you want to see how the report looks like, you can also download our sample 409A valuation report. Moreover, to get more information about how the 409A valuation works and why you need it, download our 409a valuation brochure!

Conclusion

If you are hoping to get your 409A valuation report when you want to issue options to your employees, then you have reached the right place. Eqvista can help you with it. All you got to do is contact us today and we can begin the discussion to first make a plan, understand all about your company and begin the process of the 409A valuation. Contact us here!