How to start your 409A valuation in Cake
In this article
In this article group
- What is a 409A valuation?
- How do I add a 409A valuation to my Cake plan?
- How do I upload an existing 409A valuation to Cake?
- When do I need a 409A valuation?
- What is 409A safe harbor, and does my valuation qualify?
- What does my 409A valuation mean for option strike prices?
- How long does a 409A valuation take through Cake?
- What data do I need for my 409A valuation?
- Is a Cake 409A automated, or done by a valuation expert?
Worth exploring
Your 409A is done by Allanytics, Cake's integrated 409A provider: audit-ready 409A valuations, built for IRS safe harbor. Your Cap Table is already in Cake, so the submission is short.
Start your valuation
Go to Compliance → 409A
Click Start 409A now
Complete the required information, which takes about 20 minutes
Submit
If your plan does not include a 409A, add it first. See How do I add a 409A valuation to my Cake plan?
What to have ready
Click Download Data on the confirmation screen to pull your Cap Table and options register out of Cake. Gather the rest:
Financial statements and projections
Articles of Incorporation
Total options you expect to grant off this valuation
Recent term sheet or stock purchase agreement
Previous 409A valuation, if you have one
Recent pitch deck, or a summary of key business developments
Your next major milestone
Having all of it ready is what keeps the turnaround short.
What happens next
Your draft comes back within 3 business days. A valuation specialist from Allanytics then walks you through it one-on-one before it is signed off.