Valuation Services for Startups & Scale-Ups
Get a clear, data-driven valuation for capital raising, share schemes or acquisitions. Backed by expert analysis, our valuations stand up to investor and HMRC scrutiny.
A solid valuation changes everything
Whether you’re raising a round, setting up a share scheme, or planning your exit – your valuation needs to do more than just give you a number. It needs to hold up when investors push back, satisfy HMRC if they come knocking, and give you a range you can actually negotiate from.
We handle the analysis, the methodology, and the paperwork. You get a clear, defensible valuation – delivered by experts who work with startups every day.
- Be investor-ready
- Negotiate confidently
- Startup valuations
- Employee share schemes
- CPA certified
Which valuation do you need?
Raising, issuing shares, or planning an exit – each calls for a different valuation. Find yours below.
Startup Valuation
- ✓Five-way valuation with financial projections
- ✓Detailed report with supporting explanations
- ✓Up to 2 reworks within one month if needed
- ✓Optional financial model review from £1,700
EMI Valuations
- ✓HMRC-approved valuation of your share options
- ✓Preparation and filing of paperwork with HMRC
- ✓Structured to benefit your employees on tax
Growth Share Valuation
- ✓Establishes a valuation hurdle for growth shares
- ✓Structured so shares have zero value at issue
- ✓Avoids tax complications for recipients
Not sure which you need? Get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction.
Our valuation services in more detail
Startup valuations
Startup valuations are not an exact science. So it’s important to have a range you can confidently negotiate from.
Or maybe you’re an angel investor, after an independent view on the value of an early stage startup.
Either way, we work with leading global provider, Equidam, to deliver this service.
It includes:
- A detailed report with financial projections, five-way valuations and supporting explanations
- Reworking the report within one month (up to 2 iterations) if necessary
Pricing
- From £1,200 excluding financial model review
- From £1,700 including financial model review
Price can vary depending how much we need to prepare your financials for the valuation. We’ll talk this through with you first – no surprises.
Questions?
If you have questions about this service, please choose a time that suits to talk.
EMI valuations
An Enterprise Management Incentive scheme is a way to attract and retain talent to your startup by offering them share options in your company.
If you’d like to run one, you need to comply with regulations to be on the right side of HMRC and also to make sure your team members don’t get unnecessarily penalised on tax.
First up, you need a valuation approved by HMRC. This is essentially an agreement between you and HMRC about the price of the share option you can offer employees.
Then, if/when an employee decides to exercise their share options to convert them to actual shares, they have to pay the strike/exercise price per share, previously agreed with HMRC so they don’t get taxed.
With EMI valuations, you usually aim for a low company valuation that benefits employees. This is quite different from setting a company valuation for investors.
We’ll work with you to determine your EMI valuation, then prepare and file your paperwork with HMRC to receive the necessary approvals.
Pricing
- £1,500 for most EMI valuations
Price can vary depending how much we need to prepare your financials for the valuation. We’ll talk this through with you first though – no surprises.
Questions?
If you have questions about this service, please choose a time that suits to talk.
Growth share valuations
Growth shares are another way to incentivise your team.
They’re a special class of shares that only have a value if your company’s share price is above a particular hurdle. This means that other shareholders’ interests are only diluted if your company’s value exceeds that hurdle.
This means when you give someone growth shares, and you choose a hurdle that matches your company valuation today, the growth shares have zero value when they’re issued, thereby avoiding any tax issues.
So how do you set the valuation hurdle? That’s what we’re here for. We’ll walk you through the process and help you determine a valuation to establish a ‘hurdle rate’ for your company.
Pricing
- £1,200 for most growth share valuations
Price can vary depending how much we need to prepare your financials for the valuation. We’ll talk this through with you first though – no surprises.
Questions?
If you have questions about this service, please choose a time that suits to talk.
Startup founders ♥ Standard Ledger
Building a startup is hard. Figuring out your finances shouldn’t be. From capital raising to exits, we’ve helped founders make the right moves – faster and with less stress.
“Closing our £2.5m round with Octopus Ventures was a huge milestone for HealsGood AI. Standard Ledger were instrumental throughout the process – helping us stay investor-ready, manage due diligence and present a clear financial story. They brought real structure and focus, which made a complex raise feel controlled and achievable. Having that level of financial leadership on our side gave us the confidence to move fast and negotiate from a position of strength.”
Jack Henderson
“Standard Ledger’s fractional CFO services identified KPIs driving operational improvements, making us an attractive acquisition target. Strategic exit planning structured our finances to maximise returns, and negotiating the complexities of the sale process secured us a deal that recognised our full value.”
Peter Neal
“Standard Ledger saved us from trouble during our UK setup. They turned around crucial work in 48 hours, preventing fines. Having the support you can trust, who knows what they’re doing, means less stress and frees up a lot of mental space.”
Peter Cole
“Standard Ledger was incredibly helpful in reviewing and modelling our finances. Thanks to their support, we reshaped our strategy and identified areas for growth. We are now ready for expansion into new sports and markets.”
Iggy Jovanovic
“We didn’t hesitate to outsource our company set up to Standard Ledger. Knowing that they’ll let us know what’s needed, where to sign and what to do is a huge weight off our shoulders. Our bank even commented on how well set up our documentation was!”
Gemma Clancy
“Having Standard Ledger manage bookkeeping has freed up a lot of time. It means I spend less time worrying about money and more time thinking about the bigger picture.”
Jock Lawrence
Managing your cap table
Ready to move on from a spreadsheet for your cap table management? Our much-loved partner Vestd is your go-to choice!
Vestd offer a range of membership options to suit your needs, starting from a Lite package and extending to comprehensive share plan and cap table management services. They specialises in ensuring compliance for any type of share issues and schemes, taking the stress out of this complex process.
Get in touch today for more information.
Get a startup valuation you can rely on.
Make confident decisions with a clear, data-driven valuation. Whether it’s for fundraising, share schemes or exits, we’ll handle the numbers – so you can focus on growth.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need a valuation for my startup?
A valuation gives you something to negotiate from. Without one, you’re either guessing your company’s worth or accepting whatever number an investor puts in front of you. A well-prepared, defensible valuation means you can justify your position with data – and push back with confidence when challenged. It’s also a legal requirement for certain share schemes, including EMI.
What's the difference between an EMI valuation and a startup valuation?
A startup valuation is used when you’re raising capital, planning an exit, or want an independent view of your company’s worth. It gives you a range to negotiate from, backed by financial projections and five-way analysis.
An EMI valuation is specifically for setting up an EMI share option scheme. It’s submitted to and approved by HMRC, and determines the value at which options are granted to employees. Crucially, with EMI you’re typically aiming for a lower valuation that benefits your employees – the opposite of what you’d want for investors. The two can’t be used interchangeably – they’re separate processes with different requirements.
Will HMRC accept your EMI valuation?
Our EMI valuations are prepared and submitted directly to HMRC as part of the service – we handle the paperwork and the filing. The vast majority of our EMI valuations are approved first time, because we prepare them correctly from the outset. If HMRC come back with questions, we handle that too.
How much do your valuation services cost?
Startup and growth share valuations start from £1,200, and EMI valuations from £1,500, all excluding VAT. The final price depends on how much preparation your financials need before we can begin – we confirm the full cost before starting work, so there are no surprises.
What are growth shares and when should I use them?
Growth shares let you give your team a stake in your company’s future upside without diluting existing shareholders’ current value. Because they’re structured with a valuation hurdle, recipients typically pay little or no tax when they receive them. They’re a good fit when an EMI scheme isn’t possible or appropriate – for example if you’ve exceeded your EMI limit or want to incentivise senior hires who don’t qualify for EMI.