409A Valuations.
Audit-defensible. Delivered with certainty.
IRC §409A safe harbor valuation. Audit-defensible. Powered by proprietary valuation methodology. Delivered with a comprehensive audit binder and 12 months of auditor support.
The valuation every option-granting company needs.
A 409A valuation determines the fair market value (FMV) of your company's common stock. Under IRC §409A, stock options must be granted at or above FMV to avoid severe tax penalties for your employees — a 20% additional tax plus interest on all deferred compensation.
An independent 409A valuation by a qualified appraiser provides "safe harbor" protection — meaning the IRS presumes your strike price is reasonable unless it can show the valuation was "grossly unreasonable."
If you grant stock options, you need a 409A. Period.
You Need a 409A When:
Simple pricing. No hidden fees.
Fixed fees include comprehensive audit binder, sensitivity analysis, independent technical review, and 12 months of auditor support.
Simple cap table. Single or dual class. 1 week from receipt of complete inputs.
Multi-class equity, SAFEs, convertibles. Full methodology suite.
4 quarterly 409As. Priority delivery. Continuous audit support.
Three steps. Scope confirmed before work begins.
Share Your Data
Cap table, latest financials, and prior valuation (if any). We send you a simple intake form — total prep time: 10-15 minutes.
Optimal Methodology Selected
The optimal methodology — OPM, Backsolve, PWERM, DCF, or Market Comps — is selected based on your specific equity structure and audit requirements.
Review & Deliver
Quality check, independent review, anomaly detection. You receive your comprehensive audit binder within the agreed timeline.
Audit Support
12 months of auditor response support, included in every engagement. When your auditor has questions about the delivered report, we respond directly — before they become issues.
Optimal methodology for your structure.
We don't default to one method. The methodology is selected — and documented — based on your company's equity structure, financing history, and audit requirements.
Option Pricing Model (OPM)
For companies with multiple share classes and no near-term exit. Treats each class as a call option on enterprise value.
Backsolve Method
Calibrated to a recent financing round. Most reliable when a round closed within 6-12 months.
PWERM
Probability-Weighted Expected Return. For companies with defined exit scenarios (IPO, M&A, stay private).
DCF Analysis
Discounted cash flow with explicit WACC derivation. For revenue-stage companies with projectable cash flows.
Market Comparables
Public company comps and transaction multiples. Calibrated to company-specific risk factors.
Probabilistic Scenario Analysis
Stochastic modeling for path-dependent instruments and complex equity structures with multiple triggers.
Common 409A questions.
FairValueX 409A valuations are fixed-fee, confirmed upon scoping — the fee depends on cap table complexity (share classes, SAFEs, convertibles) and timeline. Every engagement includes the comprehensive audit binder, sensitivity analysis, and 12 months of auditor support, so there is no hourly meter running when your auditor calls. For a market-wide view of what providers charge, see how much a 409A valuation costs in 2026.
Express 409A: 1 week from receipt of complete inputs. Standard 409A: 2 weeks from receipt of complete inputs. Timeline and scope are confirmed in your engagement letter before work begins — no surprises.
The binder includes: Executive Summary, Engagement Scope, Company Overview, Capital Structure Analysis, Financial Analysis, Industry Analysis, Comparable Company Analysis, Transaction Comps, DCF, Market Approach, OPM/Equity Allocation, DLOM Analysis, Reconciliation, Sensitivity Analysis, professional judgment register, Data Source Index, Assumptions Register, Audit Q&A Pack, and Reproducibility Snapshot.
We send you a simple intake form. Typically you'll need: current cap table, latest financials (P&L, balance sheet), any recent financing documents, articles of incorporation, and prior valuation (if any). Total preparation time: 10-15 minutes.
Every engagement includes 12 months of auditor response support covering inquiry responses related to the delivered report. When your auditor reviews the valuation during audit, we respond directly to their questions. Our binder’s Audit Q&A Pack also pre-answers the most common auditor questions for your engagement type.
At minimum, annually. Your valuation must be no older than 12 months to maintain safe harbor. After a material event (funding round, significant revenue change), you should update immediately. Growth-stage companies should consider quarterly valuations (annual retainer — contact us for scope).
409A references from the library.
The Complete Guide to 409A Valuations
The full playbook for startup CFOs — triggers, methodology, safe harbor, audit.
The IRC §409A Safe Harbor, Explained
What the presumption of reasonableness actually requires — and what breaks it.
What Auditors Look For in a 409A
The exact review workflow your report will face — and how to pre-answer it.
How Much Does a 409A Valuation Cost?
Market pricing tiers in 2026 — and the hidden cost of audit friction.
409A Triggering Events
Which events invalidate your current valuation — funding, revenue, M&A, and more.
OPM vs. Backsolve vs. PWERM vs. DCF
How the equity allocation method is chosen — and documented for review.
Get your 409A started today.
Share your cap table structure and timeline. We'll confirm the right package, list inputs needed, and deliver your fixed-fee quote.
Request scope + timeline