What Documents Do I Need for a 409A Valuation?

You need a current cap table, your charter, financing documents, and recent financials. Send a complete set once. The valuation clock starts when every required item is in, not when you open an account.

409A.io is $99/month on a 12-month term, with an audit-ready report within 48 hours of receiving your documents.

What is on the core checklist?

Most independent appraisers ask for the same core package.

1. Current cap table. Share counts by class, option pool, outstanding options, SAFEs, and convertible notes. Cap table upload on 409A.io takes under 5 minutes, and CSV is supported.
2. Charter or certificate of incorporation. Preferred rights, liquidation preferences, and conversion terms live here. They matter for the allocation of value.
3. Financing documents. Every SAFE, convertible note, and preferred stock purchase agreement, including amendments. Value is backsolved to your most recent financing, so those terms drive the model.
4. Recent financial statements. Balance sheet and income statement, plus any projections you already use for the board or investors.

Have one person who can answer follow-up questions about the company and the cap table. Missing context is a common delay.

Why does completeness matter?

Typical firms take 2 to 4 weeks. Big Four firms often take 4 to 8 weeks. Much of that time is waiting on paperwork and answers.

409A.io delivers an audit-ready report within 48 hours of receiving your documents. Partial uploads do not start the clock. A clean package on day one is the fastest path.

How does the provider use these documents?

409A.io uses an OPM backsolve to the most recent financing with a GPC cross-check. Reports are prepared in accordance with AICPA guidelines for privately-held equity issued as compensation. That is the same methodology used by firms charging $3,000 to $5,000.

Every report is reviewed by a valuation professional from the MELD team before delivery. Direct auditor support is included. If your auditor has questions about methodology or conclusions, we answer them.

A 409A supports safe harbor, which is a presumption that the valuation is reasonable, not a guarantee. This is not legal, tax, or accounting advice.

What if my documents are messy?

Fix share counts before you upload. Cap table totals should match signed SAFEs, notes, and stock issuances. If preferred terms or amendments are missing, the model cannot allocate value correctly.

Standard SAFEs and simple convertible notes are in scope. Multiple instruments with non-standard terms, structured equity, or complex waterfalls are out of scope. When your cap table gets complex, graduate to MELD, or tell us your situation and we will point you the right way.

We work with leading cap table providers and can help with preferred pricing through those relationships without locking you into a platform.

What else is covered after the first report?

Updates upon request and material-event coverage are included during your term. A new round mid-year is a material event. Send the updated documents and we issue an updated report.

409A.io was spun out of MELD Valuation. MELD has completed 10,000+ valuations across 20+ industry sectors, with zero audit issues across its history. That is a track record, not a promise about any future audit. It is built for pre-seed through Series A.

What is the next step?

Gather the four items above, then subscribe at get-started. Complete the short onboarding form and upload your documents. You get an audit-ready report within 48 hours of receiving them.

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