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A 409A valuation is a computation of the fair market value of a private or startup company’s common stock by an independent appraiser, that is, a third party. This valuation helps determine the cost of purchasing a single share of the company. Public enterprises are not as free as privately owned ones. In the case of publicly-traded enterprises, the value is often determined by the market. On the other hand, private businesses rely on third-party appraisers to determine their company's worth.