Hi, I’m Chris Walton, author of this guide and CEO of Eton Venture Services.
I’ve spent much of my career working as a corporate transactional lawyer at Gunderson Dettmer, becoming an expert in tax law & venture financing. Since starting Eton, I’ve completed thousands of business valuations for companies of all sizes.
Read my full bio here.
The results of a IP valuation can influence many critical decisions for your business.
Whether you need an edge in merger negotiations or a reliable partner to handle compliance, having a top-tier IP valuation consultant reduces risk and increases value.
In this article, I’ll outline the services offered by my firm, Eton, where our team specializes in IP and business valuations for compliance, sales, acquisitions, and other key areas.
I’ll also suggest six alternative IP valuation companies in case we’re not the right fit for you at the moment.
Skip ahead:
Here are the four factors I’d consider when hiring an intellectual property valuation firm:
Let’s look at each one in turn:
Choose a valuation firm that specializes in intellectual property valuation, and ideally in the type of intellectual property you’re valuing.
Intellectual property can include:
If they’re unfamiliar with the valuation type, your market or industry, or relevant methodologies then they may not value your IP as accurately as a firm who is.
A reputable valuation firm will have a proven history of delivering intellectual property valuations that stand up to scrutiny from financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and in legal scenarios.
Look for firms with raving testimonials from past clients and a record of successful engagements.
For example, at my business valuation firm, Eton Venture Services, we list all our client testimonials on this page for prospective clients to gauge if we’re a good fit.
An intellectual property valuation firm should be able to complete any valuation within two weeks time.
But they should also be able to do it faster, when needed. If you find yourself in a time crunch, make sure you choose a firm that can accommodate your timeline, even if that means paying extra.
Valuation firms vary in pricing so you’ll need to find one that fits your budget. But paying less doesn’t always mean a better deal, and paying more doesn’t guarantee superior service.
You want to meet in the middle with someone who can deliver an affordable service without compromising on quality.
Costs also vary by service provided so ask for quotes based on your exact needs but for simple IP valuations services costs typically start at $3000-$10,000.
The more complex the valuation needs, the higher the costs and we’ve seen firms charge up to $100,000.
The best IP valuation services firms to have on your team this year are the following:
| IP Valuation Firm | Description |
|---|---|
| Eton Venture Services | A specialist in both IP and business valuation, Eton Venture Services is known for providing unparalleled customer service. They combine Big 4 expertise with boutique-level attention, offering defensible and audit-ready valuations for startups, technology firms, and high-net-worth individuals. |
| Consor IP Experts | Renowned for market-based intellectual property valuations, Consor IP Experts specialize in leveraging real-world market data to assess the value of IP assets. They are particularly known for their expertise in brand and trademark valuations. |
| IP21 | A holistic IP valuation firm, IP21 takes a comprehensive approach to IP assessments, integrating legal, financial, and strategic perspectives. Their broad expertise allows them to deliver detailed and multi-faceted valuations. |
| Valuation Consulting | A leading UK-based IP valuation firm, Valuation Consulting offers specialized services in IP and intangible asset valuations. They are recognized for their deep understanding of the UK market and extensive experience in valuing various IP assets. |
| Metis Partners | The go-to firm for fintech companies, Metis Partners specializes in IP valuations within the financial technology sector. Their tailored services are ideal for assessing high-tech and innovative IP portfolios. |
| Ocean Tomo | Known as the best firm for patent valuations, Ocean Tomo has a strong reputation for providing detailed, patent-focused valuations. Their expertise covers a broad range of industries, and they are particularly well-regarded for their in-depth patent and litigation support services. |
Below, I’ll go into why these IP valuation firms made the cut as the most trustworthy, high-quality firms around.
At Eton Venture Services, we understand that the IP valuation process is complicated, and that you need customized and on-going support.
This is why we tailor our IP valuation services to each client to ensure absolute accuracy, an excellent customer experience, and on schedule delivery.
We’re able to meet all your valuation needs thanks to our team of Big 4 trained valuators who have cut their teeth on complex business valuations for 15+ years.
So whether you want to sell your intellectual property or are an investor weighing up the pros and cons of investing in a portfolio client, we can give you an accurate, foolproof, and reliable valuation, every time.
We also pride ourselves in offering the most supportive and consultative customer service. Throughout our engagement, you’ll have direct access to me, the CEO. If you have any questions, I’m always ready to hop on a call with you.
Even after our engagement ends, we offer on-going support and we can defend our valuations in court.
To help you decide if we’re the right valuation firm for you, I’ve outlined:
Valuations can be intricate, with some cases more complex than others. That’s why it’s crucial to choose a provider who has successfully navigated these complexities and can make the process seamless for you.
At Eton, we specialize in a wide range of business valuations, including:
Our valuation process typically takes no more than 10 days once we receive your documents—regardless of the complexity.
If you require a faster turnaround, we offer expedited services that can deliver results in as little as one day, though additional costs apply.
Here’s a breakdown of our 10-day valuation process:
Day 1: Information Collection
Once we receive all your documents (financials and business details), we begin by thoroughly reviewing everything to ensure nothing is missing and to gain a deep understanding of your business.
Day 2: Valuation Modelling & Analysis
With the information in hand, we dive into the analysis, looking at your cap table, business stage, and more. This is where our expertise shines as we decide on the most accurate methodologies to value your business.
Day 3-7: Valuation Prepared
We apply the chosen methodologies and conduct detailed calculations to prepare your valuation.
Day 8: Draft Report Delivered; Client Review & Return
Once the initial valuation is complete and internally reviewed, we’ll send you a draft report. This report outlines the methods, assumptions, data, and conclusions we’ve reached.
At this stage, you’ll review the report and provide any feedback. We typically discuss this on a call where we answer your questions and address any concerns in real-time.
Most clients approve the valuation here, but occasionally a second revision may be required.
Day 10: Final Valuation Confirmed & Delivered
After incorporating your feedback, we finalize the valuation and send it for your final approval.
Beyond the 10-day process, we provide ongoing audit support and are always available to explain the valuation or answer any follow-up questions.
Consor IP Experts is a seasoned player in IP valuation and well worth your consideration if you find Eton doesn’t meet your exact needs.
They specialize in market-based intellectual property valuation, which means their experts determine the value of IP based on market data.
A market-based valuation is typically more reflective of the prevailing market sentiments and what the market deems the IP worth at a specific time, while other methods provide an intrinsic or economic value based on cost or potential earnings.
Consor IP Experts have over 20 years of experience and offer comprehensive valuation solutions blending expertise from finance, economics, and law.
They specialize in four basic categories:
While they excel in these four areas, their approach may lack the broad needs some clients seek. For example, many of Eton’s clients who come to us for IP valuations also end up needing other business valuations down the road.
IP21 offers a wide spectrum of IP advice and valuation support,
including patent and trademark valuation, IP portfolio management, and strategic advice.
Their team of experts is great at navigating the intricacies of IP valuation across various industries, ensuring clients receive accurate and insightful assessments of intangible assets.
Their valuation experts also speak 6 European languages including French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and more.I really like how they focus on patents, trade marks, and designs so clearly on their website.
Fun Fact: IP21 also puts quite a lot of emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility, and they were awarded “Socially Responsible IP Law Firm of the Year” in 2024.
If you’re a UK based company in need of IP valuation you may be better served with a UK based firm like Valuation Consulting.
They’ll know the local laws, regulations, and business practices of the UK and can be invaluable in ensuring compliance and accuracy in valuations.
Just as we at Eton can navigate the intricacies of US regulations across all 50 states, Valuation Consulting’s expertise in UK-specific regulations means they can provide audit-defensible valuations tailored to the needs of British businesses.
The Premier League fans will be pleased to know that Valuation Consulting has worked with Liverpool F.C and West Ham United F.C.
If you are a Fintech company, Metis Partners would be a great valuation choice for you.
Although the firm works with a range of companies, their strength lies in providing IP valuation and advisory to Fintech companies.
Using their patented Metisology® IP valuation approach, their team of experts analyze the ways a company’s software was developed, managed, and protected. Then, they use their proprietary scorecard to benchmark the software’s position in a specific market segment and the wider fintech industry.
Through this approach, they’ve delivered concrete results for different Fintech companies like:
They’ve also been named a Top 25 Global IP Valuation Firms by Forbes.
Ocean Tomo is a well-known name in the IP valuation industry, particularly for Patent valuation.
The firm has completed numerous critical patent appraisals for Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized businesses, and inventors, across a variety of industries.
Their valuation experts are routinely qualified in U.S. courts as well as international courts, and arbitration tribunals on questions relating to intellectual property economics.
I like how they are able to perform Patent valuations for a variety of business needs, such as:
But they are a bigger company so they might not be able to give you individual attention.
| Specialty | Time to Completion | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Eton VS | Fast, reliable, and court-defensible IP and business valuations with unparalleled customer service | Standard business valuations in 10 days or less | $$ |
| 2. Consor IP Experts | Specializes in market-based IP valuation | Unknown | $$$ |
| 3. IP21 | Europe-based holistic IP valuation and strategy services | Unknown | $$ |
| 4. Valuation Consulting | UK-based firm with expertise in UK-specific regulations | Unknown | $$ |
| 5. Metis Partners | IP valuation and strategy advisory for Fintech companies | Unknown | $$$ |
| 6. Ocean Tomo | Specialized in patent valuation | Unknown | $$$ |
Want an IP valuation firm with expertise you can trust at affordable prices and with first-class customer service? Get in touch with us here.
Have more questions about IP valuation services? I answer them below:
We recommend leaving the IP valuation up to experts we listed in this article, as it’s a process fraught with complications and nuances.
An expert can guarantee that you get an accurate and court-defensible valuation that maximizes the commercial benefits of your intellectual property and your business as a whole.
If you’re curious about how it would look like to work with a valuation expert, we discussed it in detail in this article: Intellectual Property Valuation | 5 Methods & Checklist
In just 6 easy steps, you’ll get an IP valuation report:
Step #1. Initiate the Intellectual Property Process – Choose Your Provider
Step #2: Prepare for Information Collection
Step #3: Tailored Consultation – Choosing Your Intellectual Property Valuation Date
Step #4: The Firm Chooses a Intellectual Property Valuation Method
Step #5: Receive a Completed Draft Report
Step #6: The Final Intellectual Property Valuation Stage – The Sign Off
Most professionals use a combination of these five IP valuation methods to come to an accurate and nuanced valuation:
Method 1. Income Approach
The Income Approach values IP based on the net economic benefit (cash flows) it is expected to generate over its useful life.
Method 2. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Method
The Discounted Cash Flow method is a specific application of the income approach that forecasts the future cash flows from the IP and discounts them to a present value using a risk-adjusted discount rate.
Method 3. Venture Capital Method
The Venture Capital method estimates the future resale value of a company or its IP and discounts it to the present using an expected high rate of return demanded by venture capitalists.
Method 4. Relief from Royalty Method
The Relief from Royalty Method values IP by estimating the royalties that would be saved by owning the IP instead of licensing it.
Method 5. Real Options Method
The Real Options Method treats investment in IP as an option, giving the owner the right but not the obligation to pursue further development or commercialization.
At Eton, we can complete IP valuations (and other types of business valuations) in as short as 10 days. We can also complete it much shorter if you need, for an extra fee.
Schedule a free consultation meeting to discuss your valuation needs.
Chris co-founded Eton Venture Services in 2010 to provide mission-critical valuations to venture-based companies. He works closely with each client’s leadership team, board of directors, internal / external counsel, and independent auditor to develop detailed financial models and create accurate, audit-proof valuations.
