Your audit-ready 409A valuation, in 3 business days
A fast, IRS-compliant 409A valuation, done by expert startup appraisers and delivered within 3 business days. Request a single valuation below, or get it included in your cap table plan with the Cake Team Plan.
- $1,500 for a single valuation, or two included in the Team Plan
- IRS safe harbor compliant, built for audit and SEC review
- Appraisers with 10,000+ valuations completed
Request your one-off 409A
Complete the form and a valuation expert contacts you within one business day to get started.
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Web team: this is a visual stand-in for the live HubSpot 409A form embed (same one on /get-409a). Fields mirror the real form exactly: First / Last name, Email (required), Company name, Headquarters location, and company stage. Drop the HubSpot embed in here so the existing form-fill conversion fires unchanged.
A one-off, or set it up to last?
A one-off 409A
Best if you just need a single valuation right now.
- Complete the form above
- Our team gets in touch
- Share your cap table and financials, and we handle the rest
Set up on Cake
Set up your cap table on Cake and your 409A flows straight in. On a quick call, we will help you get started.
- Your 409A pulls from your cap table automatically
- One home for your equity, cap table, and every future 409A
- 2 valuations a year on the Team Plan, worth $3,000
What is a 409A valuation?
A 409A valuation is an independent appraisal that sets the fair market value (FMV) of your startup's common stock. As a private company, your shares have no public market price, so a 409A establishes one. That lets you issue stock options at a compliant strike price, without creating tax headaches for your team.
Because it is prepared by an independent 409A valuation provider under IRS Section 409A, it gives you safe harbor protection: if the IRS ever questions your option pricing, the burden of proof sits with them, not you. Every cake. 409A valuation is built to stand up to IRS, audit, and SEC review, backed by expert appraisers and audit support if questions come up later.
When do you need one?
- Before you issue your first stock options
- Every 12 months, to keep your valuation current
- After a priced funding round or other material change
- Ahead of an audit or IPO readiness check
A 409A that actually keeps up with your raise
| Cake's 409A | Traditional providers | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to receive report | 3 business days | 4–12 weeks |
| Onboarding | Online portal, ~20 mins | Back-and-forth emails |
| Draft report before signoff | Included | Varies |
| 1:1 consultation with an expert | Included | Varies |
| Price | $1,500 one-off | $3,000+ |
How your 409A works on Cake
Set up your cap table in Cake
It only takes a few clicks. Once your cap table lives on Cake, the information your valuation needs is ready to go, with no manual pull. Complex cap table? Our team is happy to help.
Request your 409A
Start the 409A from your Cake account. Your cap table details are already there, so you just add a few financial docs and expect a draft within 3 business days.
Review and approve
A valuation expert walks you through the draft in a 1:1 consultation, answers your questions, and your finished 409A is ready to use and stored right alongside your cap table.
What your 409A needs
A short list of financials, and one line is already handled when your cap table is on Cake.
- Incorporation certificate
- Balance sheet
- Profit & loss
- Cashflow statement
- Cap table infoHandled automatically when your cap table is on Cake, so there is nothing to upload.
Get your 409A included every year
On the Cake Team Plan, two 409A valuations come included each year, right alongside your cap table. Same audit-ready valuation, handled as part of the plan you are already on.
Book a demo“Cake Equity made equity management easy and stress-free. The 409A valuation comes as part of the package, a big win.”Christoph Dressel CEO, Mimo.fit
See your 409A flow into your cap table
Book a 10-minute demo and we will show you how Cake handles your 409A from request to report, and help you pick the setup that fits your stage.
Book a demo409A questions, answered
How much does a 409A valuation cost? +
A single, one-off 409A valuation is a flat $1,500, an affordable rate next to the $3,000+ many traditional providers charge. If you expect more than one this year, the Team Plan at $2,750/year includes two valuations plus cap table management.
How fast will I get my report? +
Most reports are delivered within 3 business days of receiving your cap table and financial information, compared with the 4 to 12 weeks typical of traditional providers.
How often do I need a 409A valuation? +
At least once every 12 months, and again after any material event, like a priced funding round, a big change in your business, or issuing a new batch of stock options. A current valuation is what keeps your option grants inside IRS safe harbor.
What is fair market value (FMV) in a 409A valuation? +
Fair market value is the price your company's common stock would change hands at between a willing buyer and seller. The 409A valuation sets that FMV so you can grant stock options at a compliant strike price.
Is the valuation audit and IRS compliant? +
Yes. Every report is prepared by expert appraisers and built to stand up to IRS, audit, and SEC review, with a valuation expert signoff and a 1:1 consultation before you approve it.
Do I need to be a Cake customer first? +
No. You can request a one-off 409A on its own. If you already manage your cap table on Cake, your data flows straight into the valuation so there is less to submit.
Get your audit-ready 409A valuation
A fast, IRS-compliant valuation delivered in 3 business days by appraisers who have completed 10,000+ valuations.
Request my 409A