Best Valuation Companies & Business Valuation Firms in 2026

Picking the right valuation company is not just about getting a number for one transaction or meeting a compliance need. As private companies grow, valuations play a role in many key financial decisions, such as issuing equity, raising capital, financial reporting, acquisitions, secondary transactions, tax planning, and getting ready for an exit or IPO.

A 409A valuation is often the first formal valuation a startup needs, but it is just one step in a larger valuation process. A company that begins with a simple common stock valuation may later require ASC 718 reporting, purchase price allocation, fair value or investment valuations, software and intellectual property valuations, fairness opinions, gift and estate valuations, or transaction and financial modeling.

In this guide, we compare five top valuation companies for 2026: Eqvista, Eton Venture Services, the Big Four, Scalar, and Andersen. We review their valuation services, experience with private companies, team credentials, and which types of companies and projects each firm fits best.

Best Valuation Companies in 2026 Compared

Eqvista, Eton Venture Services, the Big Four, Scalar, and Andersen are top valuation companies to consider in 2026, but each one serves different needs.

This information is based on publicly available company data as of August 2026. Services and availability may change, so please check with each provider for the latest details.

How We Compared Valuation Companies

No single valuation firm is the best fit for every situation. We evaluated these companies based on the factors that matter most as private companies grow:

• Breadth of valuation services: Whether the firm can support multiple valuation needs rather than a single type of engagement.
• Private company expertise: Experience with startups, venture-backed businesses, complex capital structures, and later-stage private companies.
• Team and credentials: The expertise, professional qualifications, and availability of the valuation professionals performing the work.
• Complexity: Ability to handle sophisticated securities, financial reporting, transactions, intellectual property, tax-related valuations, and other specialized engagements.
• Audit and transaction support: Whether the firm can support its analysis when auditors, boards, investors, tax advisors, or other stakeholders review it.
• Engagement process: How clearly the firm explains the scope, deliverables, timelines, revisions, and ongoing support.
• Continuity: Whether the provider can keep supporting your company as its valuation needs change from early-stage compliance to more complex financial and transaction work.

What Valuation Services Do Private Companies Need?

Private companies usually need more than one type of valuation. Their needs change as they raise capital, issue equity, buy businesses or assets, prepare financial statements, complete secondary transactions, plan for taxes, and get ready for an exit or IPO.

Some of the most common valuation and related financial reporting needs include:

• 409A valuations: Determine the fair market value of private company common stock, particularly for issuing stock options and other equity compensation.
• ASC 718 stock-based compensation: Measures the accounting expense associated with employee and executive equity awards for financial reporting purposes.
• ASC 820 and investment valuations: Determine fair value for investments, portfolio holdings, and other financial assets for financial reporting purposes.
• Purchase price allocation (ASC 805): Allocates the purchase price of an acquired business across tangible assets, identifiable intangible assets, liabilities, and goodwill, and may be followed by impairment testing as those asset values change.
• Business, enterprise, and M&A valuations: Determine the fair market value of a company or ownership interest for acquisitions, mergers, investments, strategic planning, tax, and other transaction purposes.
• Software, intellectual property, and intangible asset valuations: Value software, patents, trademarks, technology, and other intangible assets for M&A, licensing, financial reporting, tax, and strategic purposes.
• SAFE, convertible note, warrant, LLC profit interest (PIU), and complex security valuations: Value equity-linked instruments and ownership interests whose economics may depend on financing, vesting, conversion, participation thresholds, or future liquidity events.
• Gift and estate valuations: Establish the value of private company shares and other business interests for gift, estate, trust, and tax planning.
• Fairness, transaction, and reasonableness opinions: Provide independent financial analysis for M&A, secondary transactions, related-party transactions, and other significant corporate events. Depending on the engagement, companies and boards may also require transaction opinions, commercial reasonableness opinions, or analyses supporting related-party and other non-arm’s-length arrangements.
• Financial and transaction modeling: Includes waterfall analysis, dilution and financing models, option pricing, DCF modeling, and other analyses used to understand how value is distributed under different scenarios.
• Specialized asset valuations: Certain companies and investors may also require valuations of crypto and blockchain assets or other specialized assets where market data, liquidity, and ownership structures create additional complexity.

Not every company will need all these services. An early-stage startup might only need a 409A valuation at first, while a later-stage or acquisitive company could need financial reporting valuations, complex security analysis, purchase price allocation, transaction modeling, and tax-related work at the same time. That’s why the right valuation firm depends on both your current needs and the complexity you may face as your company grows.

1. Eqvista: Best Overall for Private Companies

Eqvista is a full-service valuation and equity management firm serving startups, private companies, investors, and VCs.

Its valuation practice supports companies from early-stage through growth and pre-IPO, with capabilities spanning tax, financial reporting, investment, transaction, intellectual property, and other specialized valuation needs. This makes Eqvista one of the most comprehensive options in this comparison for private companies looking for a valuation partner that can support them as their financial and ownership structures become more complex.

Valuation Services

Eqvista provides 409A and business valuations, investment and portfolio valuations, ASC 718 and ASC 820 support, purchase price allocations under ASC 805, fairness opinions and related-party transaction valuations, gift and estate valuations, software, patent, trademark and broader intellectual property valuations, SAFE and convertible note valuations, LLC profit interest (PIU) valuations, and specialized financial and transaction modeling.

Because Eqvista offers such a broad range of valuation services, companies can use the same provider for different needs as they grow. This includes equity compensation, investment valuations, acquisitions, secondary transactions, financial reporting, tax planning, intellectual property, and pre-IPO valuation work.

Team and Expertise

Eqvista performs its valuation work through a 100% in-house team that includes NACVA-certified valuation professionals.

The company reports more than $4 trillion in company assets valued and works with thousands of private companies and investors. It also combines valuation with cap table and equity management, connecting valuation work with the ownership and capital structure data relevant to many private-company engagements.

Eqvista also provides Eqvista Real-Time Company Valuation® for companies that want to see estimated company value between formal valuation projects.

Best for: Private companies from startup through pre-IPO that want one provider for a broad range of valuation needs.

Key strength: Broad private-company valuation capabilities combined with a 100% in-house valuation team and equity management.

Considerations: Companies that need extensive global tax, audit, or multidisciplinary advisory resources for large multinational transactions may be better off with a Big Four firm.

2. Eton Venture Services: Best Boutique Valuation Firm

Eton Venture Services is an independent valuation and transaction advisory firm serving private companies, investors, high-net-worth individuals, and their advisors. Founded in 2010, the firm combines the specialized approach of a boutique valuation practice with experience across startups, venture-backed companies, and more complex financial and transaction-related engagements.

Valuation Services

Eton provides 409A and business valuations, portfolio valuations, complex securities valuations, gift and estate valuations, intellectual property and intangible asset valuations, purchase price allocation support, goodwill impairment testing, and other tax and financial reporting valuations. Its transaction work also includes fairness and solvency opinions, M&A valuation support, transaction advisory, and litigation and dispute valuations.

This range of services means Eton does more than just 409A valuations. It can support companies and investors with tax compliance, financial reporting, and transactions.

Team and Expertise

Eton’s valuations are performed by an in-house team that includes professionals with Big Four, finance, and legal backgrounds. The firm reports more than 10,000 venture valuations completed since its founding and emphasizes direct involvement from senior valuation professionals and an independent, audit-ready approach.

Eton’s boutique structure is important for clients who want direct access to experienced valuation professionals, instead of working with a larger platform or multidisciplinary advisory firm.

Best for: Venture-backed companies, investors, and advisors looking for an independent boutique valuation firm with broad valuation and transaction capabilities.

Key strength: Specialized valuation expertise and senior-level service within an independent boutique firm.

Considerations: Companies wanting valuation integrated with cap table and equity management may prefer a provider that offers both on the same platform.

3. Big Four: Best for Large, Multinational, and Complex Engagements

Deloitte, EY, PwC, and KPMG represent the largest multidisciplinary professional services firms in this comparison. Their valuation practices operate alongside extensive tax, accounting, transaction, modeling, economic advisory, and other specialist teams, making the Big Four particularly relevant when valuation is one component of a larger or more complex corporate engagement.

Valuation Services

Across the Big Four, valuation capabilities span business and enterprise valuations, financial reporting, purchase price allocations, intangible assets, complex financial instruments, tax valuations, transaction support, portfolio and investment valuations, financial modeling, and other specialized analyses.

Their multidisciplinary setup is especially helpful for acquisitions, restructurings, international transactions, financial reporting, and other situations where valuation overlaps with accounting, tax, regulatory, or transaction issues.

Team and Expertise

The Big Four’s primary advantage is scale. Their valuation professionals can draw on specialists across industries, jurisdictions, accounting disciplines, tax, economics, transactions, and financial modeling. This makes them particularly well suited to engagements involving multinational businesses, complex regulatory requirements, or multiple workstreams.

Because of their broad expertise, the Big Four are often chosen when companies are preparing for an IPO, making major acquisitions, operating in several countries, or need valuation as part of a larger advisory project.

Best for: Large, multinational, pre-IPO, and PE-backed companies with complex valuation and multidisciplinary advisory requirements.

Key strength: Global scale and access to extensive tax, accounting, transaction, industry, and financial modeling expertise.

Considerations: The Big Four’s size and broad services may be more than an early-stage or smaller private company needs, especially for simple valuation projects.

4. Scalar: Best for Complex Securities and Financial Reporting

Scalar is an independent valuation firm serving companies and investors across tax, financial reporting, transaction advisory, and litigation matters. Its practice is particularly relevant to growth-stage and later-stage private companies dealing with increasingly complex capital structures, financial instruments, or reporting requirements.

Valuation Services

Scalar’s services include 409A valuations, portfolio valuations, purchase price allocations, derivative and complex financial instrument valuations, stock-based compensation, gift and estate valuations, transfer pricing, fairness and solvency opinions, enterprise valuations, and secondary-market valuation work.

The firm also provides litigation consulting for commercial and shareholder disputes and bankruptcy matters, as well as financial reporting services including intangible asset and goodwill impairment analyses.

Team and Expertise

Scalar focuses on valuation as a specialized advisory service, not just as part of an equity management platform. Their team works with companies at different stages and in various industries, especially when dealing with complex securities, financial reporting, transactions, and disputes.

That specialization makes Scalar a strong option when the valuation itself is technically complex or involves multiple classes of securities, derivatives, acquisition accounting, or other sophisticated financial instruments.

Best for: Growth-stage and later-stage companies, investors, and finance teams dealing with complex securities, financial reporting, or transaction-related valuation work.

Key strength: Deep valuation specialization across complex financial instruments, financial reporting, transactions, and litigation.

Considerations: Companies that want to combine valuation with ongoing cap table and equity management will need to handle those functions separately.

5. Andersen: Best for Tax-Driven and Transaction Valuations

Andersen is a global professional services firm with a strong foundation in tax and a broader practice spanning valuation, transaction advisory, private accounting, private wealth, and related services. Its valuation capabilities are particularly relevant when determining value is closely connected to tax planning, financial reporting, a transaction, or a complex ownership situation.

Valuation Services

Andersen provides business valuation services for tax planning and compliance, financial reporting, acquisitions, mergers and divestitures, strategic planning, litigation and disputes, reorganizations and bankruptcy, and a variety of asset valuations. Its work also extends to intangible assets, real estate, machinery and equipment, and other specialized asset classes.

Through its transaction advisory practice, Andersen can also support areas such as purchase price allocation, impairment analysis, transaction structuring, due diligence, and other financial and tax considerations surrounding M&A.

Team and Expertise

What sets Andersen apart is how it connects valuation with its broader tax and transaction expertise. The firm works independently from audit practices and gives clients access to specialists in federal, international, state, and local taxation, as well as transaction and valuation advisory.

This can be particularly useful when the purpose of a valuation has significant tax consequences or when valuation forms one part of a broader transaction, ownership, or planning strategy.

Best for: Private companies, business owners, investors, and transaction participants with valuation needs closely connected to tax, M&A, financial reporting, or planning.

Key strength: Integration of valuation with deep tax and transaction advisory expertise.

Considerations: Startups that mainly want recurring equity valuations and integrated cap table management may find Andersen’s broader tax and advisory services more than they need.

How to Choose the Right Valuation Firm

The best valuation firm for you depends on why you need the valuation, how complex your company is, and who will use the analysis. Before choosing a provider, consider these factors:

• Purpose of the valuation: A 409A valuation, purchase price allocation, fairness opinion, portfolio valuation, and gift and estate valuation each require different expertise. Start by looking for firms with experience in the specific type of engagement you need.
• Experience with private companies: Private-company valuation often involves preferred securities, stock options, SAFEs, convertible instruments, limited market data, and complex shareholder rights. Relevant private-market experience can be as important as overall firm size.
• Professional credentials: Look at the qualifications of the professionals performing and reviewing the valuation, particularly when the analysis will be reviewed by auditors, tax advisors, investors, boards, or regulators.
• Breadth of valuation capabilities: A specialized provider may be ideal for a single engagement, while a broader valuation firm can provide continuity as a company’s needs expand into financial reporting, transactions, tax, intellectual property, or other areas.
• Methodology and complexity: The appropriate valuation approach varies by company stage, capital structure, available data, and purpose. More complex companies may require multiple methodologies or specialized analysis of individual securities and assets.
• Audit and review support: Understand what happens if an auditor, tax authority, investor, board member, or other stakeholder questions the analysis and whether ongoing support is included.
• Engagement process: Consider how clearly the firm defines scope, deliverables, timelines, revisions, and ongoing support.
• Long-term fit: Think about whether the provider can keep supporting your company as your valuation needs become more complex, not just for your current project.

Which Valuation Company Is Best for Your Needs?

The best valuation company for you depends on the type and complexity of your project.

For startups and private companies that expect their valuation needs to grow, having a provider with broad services and continuity may be more important than just picking the lowest-cost option for one project. Larger multinational companies may value global resources and multidisciplinary advice, while specialized projects might be better suited to a boutique or technically focused firm.

Valuation Firm vs. 409A Provider: What Is the Difference?

A 409A provider specializes in determining the fair market value of a private company’s common stock for equity compensation purposes. A full-service valuation firm supports a broader range of valuation needs across tax, financial reporting, investments, transactions, intellectual property, equity compensation, and strategic decision-making.

For an early-stage startup with a straightforward capital structure, a specialized 409A provider may be sufficient. As a company grows, however, its valuation requirements can expand to include business and investment valuations, ASC 718 and ASC 820 reporting, purchase price allocations, portfolio valuations, complex securities, intellectual property and intangible assets, fairness opinions, tax-related valuations, and M&A or other transaction work.

This difference matters more as a company’s financial and ownership structure becomes more complex. Working with a full-service valuation firm can give you continuity across different projects and save you from having to find a new specialist each time your needs change.

FAQs About Valuation Companies

What does a valuation company do?

A valuation company determines the value of a business, ownership interest, security, investment, or intangible asset for purposes such as equity compensation, financial reporting, tax planning, fundraising, M&A, secondary transactions, and strategic decision-making. Full-service valuation firms may provide 409A valuations, business valuations, ASC 718 and ASC 820 support, purchase price allocations, portfolio and investment valuations, intellectual property valuations, fairness opinions, and other specialized valuation services.

What is the best valuation company for private companies?

The best valuation company depends on your company’s stage and the type of valuation you need. In our comparison, Eqvista is our top overall choice for private companies because it offers broad valuation services, private-market expertise, a fully in-house team, and equity management. Eton is a strong boutique option, Scalar is best for complex securities and financial reporting, Andersen is well suited for tax-driven projects, and the Big Four are ideal for large and multinational companies needing broad resources.

How do I choose a business valuation firm?

Pick a business valuation firm based on why you need the valuation, how complex it is, the firm’s experience with companies like yours, and the qualifications of its professionals. Also, check if the firm can support your analysis if it’s reviewed by auditors, tax advisors, investors, boards, or regulators. Private companies should think about whether the firm can help with more valuation needs as the business grows.

What is the difference between a valuation firm and a 409A provider?

A 409A provider primarily determines the fair market value of a private company’s common stock for equity compensation purposes. A full-service valuation firm can support a broader range of needs, including business and investment valuations, financial reporting, M&A, purchase price allocations, intellectual property, complex securities, tax-related valuations, fairness opinions, and other transaction work.

How much does a business valuation cost?

The cost of a business valuation can vary significantly depending on why you need it, your company’s size, capital structure, asset types, required methods, and the complexity of the project. A straightforward private-company valuation usually costs much less than a purchase price allocation, fairness opinion, complex security valuation, or a valuation involving several entities and intangible assets. Companies should compare the scope of work and ongoing support, not just the quoted fee.

How long does a company valuation take?

A company valuation can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the type and complexity of the project, the information available, and the amount of analysis required. Straightforward private-company valuations may be completed within a few days, while complex financial reporting, transaction, intellectual property, or multinational projects may take several weeks.

What credentials should a business valuation professional have?

Relevant credentials can include valuation certifications like CVA or ABV, finance credentials like CFA, and accounting credentials like CPA, depending on the project. Credentials are just one factor, though. Companies should also look at the professional’s experience with the specific valuation purpose, industry, capital structure, and any financial reporting or tax requirements.

When does a private company need an independent valuation?

A private company might need an independent valuation when issuing equity compensation, preparing financial statements, raising or transferring capital, completing an acquisition or secondary transaction, valuing intellectual property or investments, planning gifts or estates, or meeting other tax and transaction needs. The right type of valuation depends on the purpose and who will use it.

Can one valuation firm handle 409A, ASC 718, ASC 820, and M&A valuations?

Yes. Full-service valuation firms can support multiple valuation requirements across a company’s lifecycle, including 409A valuations, ASC 718 stock-based compensation, ASC 820 fair value measurements, investment and portfolio valuations, purchase price allocations under ASC 805, and M&A-related valuations. Eqvista is one example of a full-service private-company valuation firm offering these capabilities alongside intellectual property, fairness opinion, gift and estate, complex security, and other specialized valuation services.

Should I choose a Big Four firm or an independent valuation company?

It depends on your project. Big Four firms are a good choice for large multinational companies, major transactions, and projects that need global tax, accounting, regulatory, or multidisciplinary resources. Independent valuation firms may be better for private companies that want specialized expertise, more focused service, or ongoing support without the broad scope of a large firm.

Choosing a Valuation Partner That Can Grow With Your Company

No single valuation company is right for every business or project. Eton offers the benefits of a specialized boutique, Scalar has deep expertise in complex securities and financial reporting, Andersen combines valuation with tax and transaction know-how, and the Big Four provide the scale and resources needed by many large and multinational companies.

For private companies, the right choice is often about more than just one valuation report. As your company grows, you may need help with equity compensation, financial reporting, fundraising, transactions, tax planning, intellectual property, and ownership records. Picking a valuation partner who understands these needs can give you better continuity as things get more complex.

This is where Eqvista stands out in our comparison. It offers a wide range of valuation services, private-market expertise, equity management, and a fully in-house team. That’s why Eqvista is our top choice for private companies looking for a long-term valuation partner, not just a one-time provider.

Valuation is only one part of the financial infrastructure a growing private company needs. Cheqly offers business banking for startups and growing companies, helping founders manage their finances as they raise capital and expand.