Business valuationOttawa
Independent valuations of private companies and shareholdings in Ottawa and the National Capital Region. Every conclusion is tied to the company’s own numbers, with the reasoning set out so buyers, investors, courts and the CRA can follow it.
When a valuation is needed
The purpose of a valuation decides the standard of value, the depth of the work and who will read the report. We settle it before anything else.
A supportable range before negotiations start, and a separate view of what a particular buyer could pay once synergies are counted.
A pre-money value you can defend with investors, including how SAFEs, convertible notes and new share classes affect it.
The value of an interest under your shareholder agreement, including whether minority and marketability discounts apply.
The value of a business interest for a family law settlement, with owner compensation and one-time items normalized and explained.
Fair market value for an estate freeze, a rollover or a transfer between related parties, documented for the file.
A price for option grants that meets Canadian rules and, for holders taxed in the U.S., the 409A safe harbor.
How we help
Business valuation services for private companies, founders and shareholders in Ottawa and the National Capital Region, and for the lawyers, accountants and investors who advise them. Each engagement pairs market evidence with a close reading of how the business makes money.
An independent view of value before a sale, purchase or merger, with the range and the assumptions behind it, built to hold up through negotiation and the buyer’s diligence.
Pre-money values for financing rounds and for SAFE and convertible note conversions, for founders and the investors backing them.
Fair market value for stock option and share plans, including 409A valuations for companies with U.S. employees or U.S. investors on the cap table.
The value of a shareholding in a buyout or a dispute, written so every party, and the court if it comes to that, can follow the reasoning.
The value of a business interest in a separation, set out so both sides and their lawyers can follow and test it.
Fair market value for a sale to family or management, an estate freeze or a reorganization, documented for the file and for the CRA.
Valuation in Ottawa
Ottawa’s economy rests on two anchors: the federal government and a technology sector centred on Kanata North, often described as Canada’s largest technology park. Many private companies here sell software, engineering or professional services to government, defence or telecommunications customers, and their value depends on contracts, intellectual property and people more than on physical assets.
Buyers include Canadian and U.S. strategic acquirers, private equity firms building government-services and technology platforms, and the founders’ own management teams. We know what they look for, and we write valuations that hold up under their diligence.
Revenue from federal departments and agencies is often stable but tied to contract terms, renewal cycles and security requirements. A buyer will test how much of it carries on after a sale, and the valuation should test it first.
Technology companies are valued on growth, retention, gross margin and the quality of recurring revenue. Market evidence from comparable transactions carries more weight than a multiple of current earnings.
Much of an Ottawa technology company’s value sits in its code, patents and engineering team. Ownership of the intellectual property and the commitment of key people after a transaction both shape the price.
Companies with U.S. investors or employees may need a 409A valuation for U.S. option holders alongside Canadian fair market value. The two follow different rules, and the work should reconcile them.
Our view
Any model will produce a number. What matters is whether it holds up when a buyer, an investor, the other side’s adviser or the CRA asks how it was reached.
We start with how the company makes money and what could change it, then choose the methods that fit the question. Every adjustment and assumption is written down, so the people who rely on the valuation can test it.
Watch: Valuation That Reflects Your Reality
How an engagement works
Most valuations take one to three weeks once the information is in hand. You receive a written proposal with the scope, timing and fee before any work begins.
Need a valuation for a family law matter or a shareholder dispute? Tell us at the start. The valuation date, the standard of value and the form of the report depend on who will rely on it.
Need to know what your business is worth?
Selected clients
Frequently asked questions
An independent estimate of what a company or a shareholding is worth on a given date, based on its financial performance, its risks and prospects, and evidence from the market. The purpose of the valuation decides the standard of value and the depth of the work.
It depends on the purpose, the size and complexity of the business and the depth of report required. After a first conversation we send a written proposal with scope, timing and fees, so you know the cost before any work begins.
Most engagements take one to three weeks, depending on the complexity of the business and how quickly the information comes together.
The income approach, usually a discounted cash flow; the market approach, using comparable companies and precedent transactions; and asset-based methods where they fit. Where the approaches point to different values, the report explains how each result was weighted.
Three to five years of financial statements and tax returns, current results and any forecasts, your cap table and shareholder agreements, and details of owner compensation and one-time items.
Yes. We value early- and growth-stage companies for financing rounds, option grants and SAFE and convertible note conversions, where the market approach and the terms of each share class carry more weight than current earnings.
Yes. We prepare valuations for family law matters and shareholder disputes, written so both sides, their lawyers and, where needed, the court can follow and test the reasoning. Read how valuation works in disputes and divorce.
Yes. Our office is in Vancouver, and we value companies in Ottawa, Gatineau and across the National Capital Region, and elsewhere in Ontario, including Toronto. Most of the work is done remotely, with a shared data room and scheduled calls.
Have a question that isn’t covered here? Ask us directly.
Related insights
Start a conversation
Tell us what the valuation is for and when you need it. We will come back with the questions that matter for your situation.
What happens next
Office
Alphabridge Group Inc.555 Burrard StreetVancouver, BC V7X 1M8
We use your details only to respond to your inquiry.
Whether it is a deal, a raise, a valuation or the way the business is run, we are glad to talk it through.
vasant@alphabridge.co
+1 778 903 4883
Five practices, organized around the decisions our clients face.
Sector depth across the businesses we advise, from early-stage ventures to established operators.
Perspectives on transactions, valuation, capital, performance and strategy.
An independent strategic finance firm, founded in 2016 and led by its principal on every engagement.
