Equity Methods
Equity Methods is a Scottsdale-based consulting firm providing stock-based compensation financial reporting, valuation, equity plan administration, and HR advisory services to publicly traded, pre-IPO, and private equity-backed companies, including multiple Fortune 50 clients and roughly 20% of the S&P 500.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersScottsdale, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Equity Methods does
Equity Methods is a U.S.-based professional services firm specializing in equity compensation consulting, founded in 1998 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. The firm operates four integrated service lines - Financial Reporting, Valuation, Equity Management, and HR Advisory - serving publicly traded companies, pre-IPO and venture-backed companies, private equity portfolio companies, and multinational corporations. Its practice centers on ASC 718 stock-based compensation financial reporting, fair value measurement for equity awards and complex securities, equity plan administration support, and compensation program design including Pay vs Performance, CEO Pay Ratio, and Clawbacks advisory.
The firm's technical platform combines the proprietary AwardTraq award tracking system, a Monte Carlo simulation engine that runs 500 simulations annually for complex securities such as Total Shareholder Return (TSR) awards, and SAS-based financial reporting infrastructure backed by 2.5 terabytes of analytics RAM. These tools support the firm's 78+ published thought-leadership pieces and its enterprise engagements, which include multiple Fortune 50 companies with hundreds of thousands of plan participants and approximately 20% of the S&P 500. The firm has earned the #1 ranking in client satisfaction and loyalty among ASC 718 reporting providers for 11 consecutive years in the Group Five benchmarking study, with a Net Promoter Score of 97 against an industry average of 53.
Equity Methods generates revenue through project-based, quote-driven professional services engagements delivered by specialized consultant teams, with pricing not publicly disclosed. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting Fortune 100 multinationals and pre-IPO companies, supported by thought leadership, conference presence, and earned media. The firm was spun out from Bank of America Merrill Lynch in 2012 with Montage Partners backing, grew revenue over 10x and headcount over 5x during that ownership period, and transitioned to majority ownership by HGGC on April 28, 2025. In April 2026, it acquired Equity Plan Solutions to add 22 personnel and broaden its equity plan administration offering.
Equity Methods firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Equity Methods
- Legal name
- Equity Methods, LLC
- Website
- https://equitymethods.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Equity Methods is a Scottsdale-based consulting firm providing stock-based compensation financial reporting, valuation, equity plan administration, and HR advisory services to publicly traded, pre-IPO, and private equity-backed companies, including multiple Fortune 50 clients and roughly 20% of the S&P 500.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Equity Methods industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Equity Compensation Consulting
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Equity Research (FSACAGAA)
Keywords
Where Equity Methods is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Scottsdale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Equity Methods business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Financial Reporting Services: End-to-end financial reporting services for stock-based compensation including ASC 718 compliance, forecasting, tax reporting, and quarterly/annual report preparation
- Valuation Services: Fair value measurement and modeling for equity-based awards, complex securities (contingent consideration, convertible securities, warrants), and business valuation
- HR Advisory Services: Compensation program design, executive pay disclosure, Pay vs Performance, ESPP design, and HR advisory for private equity
- Equity Management Services: Stock administration support, system changes, RFP and vendor evaluation for stock administration systems
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Equity Methods product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Equity Methods is a professional services firm providing financial reporting, valuation, equity management, and HR advisory services for stock-based compensation programs. The firm serves publicly traded companies, pre-IPO firms, and private equity portfolio companies with consulting engagements covering ASC 718 compliance, fair value measurement, equity plan administration, and executive compensation strategy. Services are delivered by specialized consultant teams using proprietary technology including the AwardTraq tracking system and Monte Carlo simulation capabilities.
Product overview
Equity Methods is a consulting services firm providing a unified platform of four integrated service lines for equity compensation management: Financial Reporting, Valuation, Equity Management, and HR Advisory. The Reporting Services (including End-to-End Financial Reporting, ESPP Reporting, Forecasting & Budgeting, Tax Reporting, and M&A Transaction Support) handle accounting and disclosure obligations. Valuation Services (including TSR Awards, Pay vs. Performance Valuation, AwardTraq™, Complex Securities Valuation, and Stock Options Valuation) provide fair value measurement for equity awards. Equity Management Services (including Stock Administration Support, System Changes & Reconciliation, and RFP/Vendor Evaluation) deliver operational support. HR Advisory Services (including Award Design, ESPP Design, Pay vs. Performance Disclosure, and CEO Pay Ratio) focus on program strategy and executive compensation design. Together, these services enable companies to manage equity compensation programs end-to-end from valuation and financial reporting to plan administration and HR strategy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Reporting Services Financial reporting services for stock-based compensation covering ASC 718 compliance, ESPP reporting, forecasting and budgeting, international recharge support, tax reporting, M&A transaction support, and small plans. Designed for public companies of all sizes with complex equity compensation disclosure requirements.
- Valuation Services Fair value measurement and modeling for equity-based awards and complex financial instruments, including TSR awards, complex securities (contingent consideration, contingent payouts, convertible securities, equity allocation, warrants), stock options, forfeiture rate analysis, and business valuation. Supports both routine and special circumstance valuation needs under ASC 718.
- Equity Management Services Strategic and operational services that streamline equity compensation programs, including ongoing stock administration support, support for stock administration system changes and financial reporting reconciliation, and RFP and vendor evaluation support for stock administration systems. Reduces operational risk and improves continuity.
- HR Advisory Services Advisory services for equity compensation program design including award modifications and key hires/departures, ESPP design, proxy visualization and quantitative disclosure, award design and redesign, pay vs. performance disclosure, private company long-term incentive design, participant communication and TSR tracking, pay equity services, clawbacks, and compensation solutions for down markets.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% client satisfaction rating - highest in industry for 8+ consecutive years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Equity Methods
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Equity Methods technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Equity Methods partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Equity Plan SolutionscoreAcquired by Equity Methods in April 2026. EPS was a 22-person boutique firm specializing in equity plan administration for public, venture-backed, and sponsor-backed companies. Elizabeth Dodge, Founder and Principal of EPS, joined as Director, Equity Management Services. The acquisition strengthens Equity Methods' end-to-end equity compensation capabilities.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Equity Methods competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stock & Option Solutions: Equity compensation valuation and financial reporting specialist serving public and pre-IPO companies. Closely comparable in ASC 718 reporting and complex equity instrument valuation.
- Pearl Meyer & Partners: Executive compensation, equity incentives, and sales compensation consulting firm. Closely comparable in service lines including ASC 718 valuation, pay-for-performance, and equity program design.
- Compensia: Specialized executive compensation and equity compensation consulting firm serving technology and life sciences companies. Direct competitor in equity compensation valuation and HR advisory services.
- Pay Governance: Independent executive compensation and corporate governance consulting firm. Comparable in serving large public companies with executive pay, equity compensation, and proxy disclosure advisory.
- Frederic W. Cook & Co. Long-established executive compensation consulting firm serving Fortune 500 boards and compensation committees. Direct peer in executive compensation strategy and equity plan advisory.
- Meridian Compensation Partners: Boutique executive compensation and governance consulting firm serving large public companies. Direct peer in proxy disclosure, executive pay benchmarking, and equity incentive design.
Emerging players
- Carta: Equity management software platform for private and public companies. Adjacent competitor in equity plan administration and 409A valuation, with potential to disintermediate parts of the workflow.
Broad incumbents
- WTW (Willis Towers Watson): Global advisory firm offering executive compensation, equity plan design, and actuarial services. Broad incumbent with overlapping equity compensation capabilities serving large enterprises.
- Radford (Aon): Compensation benchmarking and equity design practice within Aon. Overlaps with Equity Methods' compensation consulting and equity advisory work but operates within a much broader human capital portfolio.
- Deloitte Human Capital Services: Big 4 advisory practice providing executive compensation, equity compensation, and ASC 718 reporting services. Overlaps at the enterprise end of the SBC advisory market with substantially larger resources.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Equity Methods social profiles
Digital presenceEquity Methods financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Equity Methods leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Equity Methods subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Equity Methods funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Equity Methods M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Equity Methods
What does Equity Methods do?
Equity Methods is a professional services firm providing financial reporting, valuation, equity management, and HR advisory services for stock-based compensation programs. The firm serves publicly traded companies, pre-IPO firms, and private equity portfolio companies with consulting engagements covering ASC 718 compliance, fair value measurement, equity plan administration, and executive compensation strategy. Services are delivered by specialized consultant teams using proprietary technology including the AwardTraq tracking system and Monte Carlo simulation capabilities.
Is Equity Methods a public or private company?
Equity Methods is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Equity Methods founded?
Equity Methods was founded in 1998. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Equity Methods based?
Equity Methods is headquartered in Scottsdale, United States, in the North America region.
How does Equity Methods make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Financial Reporting Services are the primary driver. The others are valuation Services, HR Advisory Services and equity Management Services.
Who are Equity Methods's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stock & Option Solutions, Pearl Meyer & Partners, Compensia, Pay Governance, Frederic W. Cook & Co. and Meridian Compensation Partners. Carta is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are WTW (Willis Towers Watson), Radford (Aon) and Deloitte Human Capital Services.
Does Equity Methods have an API?
No public API is recorded for Equity Methods.
What industry is Equity Methods in?
Equity Methods's product category is Equity Compensation Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSACAGAA, Equity Research. Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 8742.