Eton delivers expert estate and gift tax valuation services for effective wealth transfer compliance and planning.
With a wealth of experience in diverse scenarios, our valuation experts deliver practical estate and gift tax valuations, offering in-depth, defensible quantitative and qualitative valuation reports that adhere to the requirements of IRC § 6501(c)(9).
Our team of experienced experts uses a combination of proven methods and proprietary tools to deliver data-driven valuations, considering each company's financial performance, financing history, market trends, and comparable public and private companies.
Every engagement is performed by our team of highly trained lawyers, accountants, and Chartered Financial Analysts. Every client works with a dedicated relationship manager who takes the time to understand their unique challenges. And every valuation is customized to each client’s unique financial situation.
Founded by securities lawyers from top law schools / law firms and staffed with finance professionals trained by the Big Four and other prominent financial services firms, Eton brings intellectual and quantitative rigor unmatched by others.
The team at Eton is fantastic! Those guys cut their teeth as securities lawyers at premier firms in Silicon Valley so no matter how complex a situation we have presented to them, they are quick on the uptake, and they quickly produce great work. Plus, I can talk to the founder of the firm by simply picking up the phone. Eton truly exceeds our expectations! 
Working with Eton has been a fantastic experience, and they have been a great partner of ours. The team provides us with well-priced services, delivers quickly and is very responsive to our requests and questions, whether those communications are from our board of directors, our outside counsel, or from our financial statement auditors. 
I cannot thank Eton enough for delivering our business enterprise valuation so quickly. We had initially hired a different firm, who didn’t make any progress in three months. Eton provided a thorough and accurate report in five business days. They were amazing to work with, and I will refer them to everyone I know. I am so thankful for Chris and the entire Eton team.
As a fast-growing startup, we needed a valuation partner that could keep up with our dynamic needs. Eton has exceeded our expectations in every way. Their unique combination of legal expertise and financial know-how has made navigating the valuation process a breeze. We couldn't be happier with their service and will continue to rely on them as our go-to valuation firm.
Eton has been supporting us at Joby for more than a decade as we've grown from being a small startup through to the company that we are today.
As a CFO, I know that accurate and reliable valuations are crucial to our company's success. Eton Venture Services has been an invaluable partner in this regard, providing robust and defensible valuation calculations, analyses, and reports. Their deep industry knowledge and ability to navigate complex situations have enabled us to make informed decisions with confidence. Their third-party objectivity and close collaboration with our team and advisors have resulted in fully-documented analyses that comply with relevant valuation standards, mitigating risk and achieving the best possible outcome. Eton sets the benchmark for valuation services, and I highly recommend them to any CFO in need of accurate and reliable valuations.
As a startup founder, I have found Eton Venture Services to be an essential partner in helping me navigate the complexities of valuation. Their team's expertise and deep industry knowledge have enabled them to provide me with clear and comprehensive analyses that are crucial in making informed decisions for my company's future. They work closely with my team and advisors to ensure that all relevant standards are met and that our valuations are defensible. Their emphasis on documentation has been invaluable in mitigating risk and achieving the best possible outcome. I highly recommend Eton Venture Services to any startup founder in need of accurate and reliable valuation services.
As an investor in early-stage technology companies, I know that proper valuation is critical for a company's success. Eton Venture Services has been an essential partner for the companies in which I invest, providing comprehensive and reliable valuations that comply with relevant standards. Their deep industry knowledge and ability to navigate complex situations have been instrumental in helping these companies make informed decisions with confidence. Their commitment to exceptional service and responsiveness to our specific needs have been invaluable in maintaining compliance, mitigating risk, and getting it done right. Eton sets the benchmark for valuation services, and I highly recommend them to any company / investor in need of expert and reliable valuation services. 
Eton Venture Services plays a critical role in our valuation projects, providing deep industry knowledge, expertise, and comprehensive analyses on an aggressive timeline while demonstrating an unwavering commitment to exceptional service and compliance. Their personalized approach and trustworthiness have made them an invaluable partner in maintaining compliance and allowing us to focus on our core business. We are also impressed by Eton's responsiveness to auditor requests, further demonstrating their dedication to client success. Eton's rigorous methodologies and industry knowledge have exceeded our expectations and instilled complete trust in their valuations, allowing us to focus on our core business with peace of mind. 
I have had the pleasure of working with Eton on multiple occasions, and their exceptional service never fails to impress me. The team's ability to provide accurate, thorough, and audit-defensible valuations under extreme time constraints has been vital for our company. Their dedication to understanding our unique business needs and providing tailored solutions sets them apart from other firms. Eton is our go-to choice for valuation services.
As a Controller, I understand the importance of accurate and reliable valuations for our company's success. Eton Venture Services has been an invaluable partner, providing us with robust, defensible, and reliable valuation calculations, analyses, and reports. Their deep industry knowledge and ability to navigate complex situations have been instrumental in helping us make informed decisions with confidence. Their third-party objectivity and close collaboration with our team have resulted in fully-documented analyses that comply with relevant valuation standards, mitigating risk and achieving the best possible outcome. I highly recommend Eton Venture Services to any company in need of accurate and reliable valuations.
As a founder / CEO dealing with complex tax compliance valuation matters, I turned to Eton Venture Services for guidance. They played a critical role in our valuation project, providing expertise, deep industry knowledge, and comprehensive analyses on an aggressive timeline. Eton's commitment to exceptional service, responsiveness, and compliance sets a new standard. Their trustworthiness and personalized approach made them an invaluable partner in making sure that we comply with tax law. I highly recommend Eton Venture Services to any founder seeking accurate, reliable, and trustworthy valuations.
Chris and the Eton team are great to work with. They are responsive, thorough, and have deep industry knowledge. Our valuation report was completed on time, and I received status updates throughout the process. As a second time founder, I have worked with several valuation firms in the past - Eton Venture Services has been the best without a doubt.
Eton Venture Services has been a trusted partner for our company's valuation needs. Their deep industry knowledge, expertise, and comprehensive analyses have been instrumental in helping us make informed decisions with confidence. Eton has consistently demonstrated their dedication to client success since day one of our partnership. Their rigorous methodologies and industry knowledge have exceeded our expectations and instilled trust in their valuations, allowing us to focus on our core business. I look forward to our partnership and working with them on future valuation needs.
As a Founder and CEO, it's important to have a reliable partner for our company's valuation needs. Eton Venture Services has been just that, letting us make informed decisions with confidence. Their excellent service and responsiveness have been crucial in maintaining compliance and mitigating risk, and their emphasis on documentation has helped achieve strong outcomes. I would recommend Eton Venture Services to any CEO in need of accurate and reliable valuations.
Eton Venture Services has been a game-changer for our company. Their team's ability to efficiently handle complex financial situations with ease and professionalism is unmatched. I've had the pleasure of working with Eton on multiple valuations, and I can confidently say that their dedication to providing top-quality service is unparalleled. We'll never look elsewhere for our valuation needs!
As the Interim CFO of Definitive Intelligence, a Web3-focused company, I required top-notch, independent valuation services and immediately turned to Eton for their unparalleled service and expertise. I have worked with Eton on several other companies, including Notion, Preset, and Convex, across various valuation needs at different companies and have consistently been amazed by their meticulous approach, swift delivery, and cost-effective solutions for all projects. Eton has always gone above and beyond, offering a unique combination of valuation expertise, legal insight, experience liaising with the C-suites and boards of directors, and seamless collaboration with us on any post-valuation questions. The unparalleled level of comprehensiveness, precision, and reliability in their valuation and advisory services sets them apart from the competition.
U.S. estate and gift tax valuation of business interests is a crucial process that involves determining the fair market value of a business interest for estate and gift tax compliance under the Internal Revenue Code. This process is essential to ensure that you comply with the Internal Revenue Code and avoid potential penalties and fines. The standard of value for the purpose of estate and gift tax valuation is fair market value.
For the purpose of estate and gift tax valuation. the fair market value is defined as “the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller when the former is not under any compulsion to buy and the latter is not under any compulsion to sell, both parties having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts.”
The value of a business interest is calculated by considering factors such as the company’s financial performance, industry trends, and market conditions. There are several methods used to value a business interest for estate and gift tax purposes, including the income approach, market approach, and asset-based approach. The income approach involves assessing the future cash flows of the business and applying a discount rate to account for the risk associated with the cash flows. The market approach, on the other hand, involves comparing business interests to similar companies that have been sold recently, using transactional data to derive an appropriate valuation. The asset-based approach involves valuing business interests by analyzing its underlying assets, such as property, plant, and equipment.
It is essential to note that regulations and guidelines exist for determining the value of business interests under estate and gift tax laws. To adhere to these laws, it is imperative to obtain a qualified appraisal from a valuation specialist for estate and gift tax purposes. Non-compliance with these regulations can lead to sanctions and monetary penalties.
Valuing business interests for estate and gift tax purposes is essential to ensure compliance with the Internal Revenue Code and avoid potential penalties and fines. It’s important to accurately determine the value of a business interest for estate and gift tax purposes because the value of the interest impacts the amount of estate and gift taxes that will be due upon transfer of the interest.
An assessment of the fair market value of a business interest necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the company’s financial performance, industry trends, and market conditions. Valuation specialists employ several approaches to determine the fair market value of a business interest, such as the income approach, market approach, and asset-based approach. These methods rely on sound financial analysis and mandate a profound understanding of financial statements, industry trends, and market conditions.
It is critical to have a well-documented valuation analysis based on acceptable methods for effective estate and gift tax planning, as well as transfer tax planning. This approach can help reduce your risk and ensure favorable outcomes. Similarly, for estate planning and valuations, a thorough and documented valuation analysis is critical as it provides an understanding of your assets’ worth and enables you to plan for the future.
The fair market value is an important concept for estate and gift tax purposes because the value of a business interest determines the amount of taxes that must be paid upon transfer of that interest. In addition, the fair market value is used to determine the basis of the business interest for income tax purposes.
It is important to note that the fair market value of a business interest may be affected by various factors, such as economic conditions, industry trends, and the specific characteristics of the business itself. As such, the valuation of a business interest should be performed by a qualified appraisal professional with expertise in estate and gift tax valuations and should comply with relevant valuation standards and Internal Revenue Service guidelines.
Valuation experts typically use three primary methods to value business interests for estate and gift tax purposes: the income approach, market approach, and asset-based approach.
The income approach is based on the concept that the fair market value of a business is equal to the present value of its expected future cash flows. This approach estimates the future cash flows a business is expected to generate and discounts them back to their present value using a discount rate. The income approach is most commonly used when valuing companies that generate significant cash flows.
The market approach is used to develop a value indication of an asset (including a business, a business ownership interest, a single asset, or a group of assets) using one or more methods that compare such assets to similar assets that have been sold in arm’s length transactions. Examples of the market approach include the analysis of pricing of comparable publicly traded companies, the analysis of prices paid for similar companies or assets in the marketplace, and consideration of prior transactions of the subject asset.
The asset-based approach is based on the concept that the fair market value of a business is equal to the net value of its assets minus its liabilities. This approach calculates the value of the company’s assets, including tangible and intangible assets, and subtracts its liabilities to determine the net asset value. The asset-based approach is most commonly used when valuing companies with a significant amount of assets.
It is important to note that each valuation method has its strengths and weaknesses, and the appropriate method will depend on the specific characteristics of the business being valued. At Eton Venture Services, we work closely with our clients and their advisors to determine the most appropriate method of valuation for each unique situation.
