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, my team and I have completed thousands of valuations for M&A teams, startups, and individuals.
Read my full bio here.
If you’re here, you’re likely facing a decision that requires more than just a number. Whether you’re preparing for a sale, bringing on investors, managing compliance, or navigating a dispute, the valuation firm you choose will shape how your business is understood beyond financials and how smoothly things move forward.
At Eton Venture Services, we know a defensible valuation is as much art as it is science. Beyond technical accuracy, it’s about capturing what makes your business unique and presenting it in a way that stands up to scrutiny and supports your bigger picture goals. That’s the reputation we’ve built and the standard we hold ourselves to.
But we also understand the value of choice.
In this article, I’ll walk you through what separates top-tier valuation firms from the rest and introduce you to seven other reputable providers you can consider alongside us. Whether you choose Eton or not, this guide will help you find a partner you can trust.
The business valuation firms below made this list because they stand out in a few key ways:
1. Technical Expertise and Credibility
Senior professionals with backgrounds in Big 4, investment banking, and financial advisory
Deep experience across complex valuation needs: 409A, M&A, ASC 805, and litigation support
Track record of audit-ready, regulator-compliant valuations accepted by the IRS, SEC, and global auditors
2. Rigorously Tailored and Defensible Analyses
Valuations built from first principles—not templates—reflecting the specifics of each business
Methods aligned with industry standards, but calibrated to the company’s capital structure, risk profile, and growth stage
Clear documentation of assumptions, methodologies, and reconciliation of valuation approaches
3. Operational Excellence and Client Service
Reliable turnaround times with defined SLAs and direct access to senior analysts
Support throughout stakeholder reviews, board presentations, and due diligence processes
Transparent engagement structure with no hidden fees or scope drift
| Company | Best For | Size & Reach | Cost Transparency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eton Venture Services Clients include: Perplexity, Pinterest, Kanye West |
Fast-growing startups to large corporations needing robust, defensible valuations services | Boutique firm; global reach and extensive service lines. | Transparent; starting around $2,000 |
| Kroll | Large corporations needing global financial advisory and risk solutions | Global powerhouse with extensive service lines | Unknown |
| Teknos Associates | Tech, life sciences, cleantech, and blockchain startups | Specialist firm focused on innovative sectors | Unknown |
| Valuation Research Corp | Broad valuation coverage with deep U.S. presence | Independent with large U.S. and global network | Unknown |
| Aranca | International businesses needing global market insights | Global advisory and analytics firm | Unknown |
| Stout | Highly complex valuations including ESOPs, oil & gas, real estate | Large advisory firm with broad valuation and legal services | Unknown |
| Houlihan Lokey | Large private/public firms needing broad industry and valuation support | Global leader with 400+ valuation professionals | Unknown |
| Peak Business Valuation | Small to medium-sized businesses ($100K–$300M revenue) | Boutique firm; national U.S. reach focusing on owner-operated businesses | Unknown |
I can personally vouch for each of the firms recommended below.
Let’s dive deeper, starting with our own services at Eton.
Eton Venture Services is the go-to business valuation firm for startups, SMEs, private equity firms, corporations, family offices, and individuals who need independent, audit-ready valuations quickly and at affordable rates.
Our team brings over 20 years of experience and includes Stanford Law alumni and former Big 4 consultants. This experience ensures every valuation is informed by deep legal and financial knowledge and tailored to support complex transactions, strategic planning, and compliance.
Clients will work directly with skilled professionals who stay involved from start to finish and respond quickly when it matters. This hands-on approach ensures your valuation work can be trusted to guide your decisions, help you negotiate with confidence, and hold up under audit, legal, and regulatory scrutiny.
Three reasons why people choose Eton Venture Services
Many firms make you choose between speed, quality, and affordability. Eton delivers all three.
Instead of relying on algorithms or outsourced templates, our team combines efficiency with extensive human expertise to provide:
This means everyone from business owners to corporate finance teams get reliable valuations without overpaying or waiting months for results.
Today’s businesses are built on more than physical assets. They hold significant value in intangible and digital assets, and our team has specialist knowledge in this area.
We know how to value:
This makes us a strong fit for founders, creators, and investors navigating fast-moving industries. As business models and technologies evolve, our valuation team innovates and stays ahead of the curve.
Eton has completed over 10,000 valuations and has passed every audit. Our work spans a wide range of financial, tax, and regulatory contexts, including:
Founded by lawyers and backed by deep valuation experience, we bring the rigor that complex situations demand. That’s why global corporations, PE firms, and legal teams rely on Eton Venture Services to deliver work that holds up under scrutiny and supports stronger outcomes at the table.
Eton is a valuation partner of Kruze Consulting, a leading provider of financial services for VC-backed startups. Here is what Scott Orn, Chief Operating Officer at Kruze said about working with Eton:
Click here to get a free valuation consultation with Eton Venture Services.
Learn from our expert articles:
Kroll is recognized for its extensive global reach and comprehensive risk and financial advisory solutions, making it a powerhouse in the industry.
Given Kroll’s size and global footprint, you can expect a wealth of industry experience and a wide range of expert services.
However, those seeking more personalized, high-touch service may find Kroll’s corporate approach less appealing compared to smaller firms focused on individualized client experiences.
Teknos Associates offers deep industry knowledge in technology, life sciences, blockchain, and other growth sectors. Their services span corporate advisory, tax compliance, financial reporting valuation services, and litigation support.
This is a great option for businesses in the industries specified but they’re not the only option. Make sure they meet other criteria such as cost, turnaround time, and great customer service.
If Eton doesn’t feel like a fit, the first recommendation I’d make is for valuationresearch.com, or VRC.
VRC is an independent global valuation firm that has been focusing on valuations and advisory services since 1975.
They operate across multiple locations, including major cities in the U.S.
Their in-house valuation services cover businesses, equity and debt securities, loans, derivative instruments, structured products, intangible assets, fixed assets, and real estate.
My one word of caution is that due to their size and scope, you may not get much attention or the hyper-specialization your valuation requires.
📚 You might also like: 7 Top Healthcare Valuation Firms in 2024
Aranca is a global research, analytics, and advisory firm, who extends its expertise to include business valuation services.
Their specialization in serving global clients positions them uniquely for businesses outside of the US, offering advantages such as diverse market insights and global expertise.
US-based businesses might encounter challenges related to time differences and the need for rapid, personalized communication that is critical in business valuations.
Stout is a global advisory firm that specializes in investment banking, accounting, transaction advisory, valuation advisory, and disputes, claims, and investigations.
They cater to both public corporations and privately held companies across various industries.
If you need a more complex and specialized valuation, Stout is a good choice.
It offers the most comprehensive range of valuation services in the industry. This includes:
As a global enterprise, you can be sure they have the resources and expertise. What you might find lacking is their attention to the client and fast standard processes.
Renowned for its expertise in financial advisory services, Houlihan Lokey offers exceptional valuation services across a broad spectrum of industries.
They have over 400 valuation professionals globally and focus on delivering valuations for private and public companies, portfolio companies, intangible assets, and complex financial instruments.
Due to their size and industry experience, their business valuation services may cost more than at a boutique firm like Eton.
Peak Business Valuation specializes in fast, independent valuations and equipment appraisals for small to mid-sized U.S. businesses with $100K to $30M in revenue.
Their team handles a wide range of needs; business sales, partner buyouts, divorce, litigation, estate and gift tax, equipment appraisal, and quality-of-earnings analysis.
They’re especially known for SBA-compliant valuations, trusted by over 80 SBA lenders and delivered in just 4-6 business days. Every report follows USPAP and SBA SOP standards, giving lenders and borrowers reliable, audit-ready results.
Peak is a strong fit for owner-operated, closely held businesses. However, companies with venture capital, complex equity structures, or international operations may require a broader scope than Peak typically provides.
Business valuation services start at $2,000 with companies like Eton Venture Services.
Costs rise with complexity and diversity. For example, if you had $1bn of assets in exotic assets, these would prove more challenging to value and costs would increase.
Please read out full article on the cost of valuations to learn more.
Want a business valuation company with expertise you can trust at affordable prices and with first-class customer service? Get in touch with us here.
A company valuation is a critical process that determines the monetary value of a business at a specific point in time.
It provides essential insights for investors, buyers, and sellers, guiding their decisions in various business transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, and investments.
Here are some use cases of a company valuation:
Investment Decision:
Investors use company valuations to decide whether to invest their money in a particular business.
A higher valuation might indicate a promising investment opportunity, while a lower valuation might signal potential risks.
Mergers and Acquisitions:
Valuations play a key role in negotiations during mergers and acquisitions.
Companies use valuation insights to determine a fair price for acquiring or merging with another business.
Selling a Business:
For business owners looking to sell their company, a valuation helps establish an appropriate asking price.
A comprehensive valuation analysis can attract potential buyers and facilitate a smoother sales process.
Strategic Planning:
Companies utilize valuation data to make strategic decisions about growth opportunities, resource allocation, and competitive positioning.
Valuations inform long-term planning initiatives and help businesses chart a course for future success.
The party responsible for paying for a business valuation often depends on the context in which the valuation is being conducted:
Read our article on the 9 best business valuation methods for business owners here.
Schedule a free consultation meeting to discuss your valuation needs.
Chris Walton, JD, is is President and CEO and co-founded Eton Venture Services in 2010 to provide mission-critical valuations to private companies. He leads a team that collaborates closely with each client’s leadership, board of directors, internal / external counsel, and independent auditors to develop detailed financial models and create accurate, audit-ready valuations.
