EPS
EPS (Equity Plan Solutions) is a boutique equity compensation consulting firm providing stock plan administration, equity project consulting, and ASC 718 accounting services to public, private, venture-backed, and sponsor-backed companies on an hourly-fee basis; founded in 2016 and acquired by Equity Methods in April 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersRedwood City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What EPS does
EPS (Equity Plan Solutions, LLC) is a boutique equity compensation consulting and administration firm founded in 2016 by Elizabeth Dodge, CEP, in Redwood City, California. The firm serves public companies, private companies, venture-backed companies, and sponsor-backed companies with a unified service suite spanning three areas: plan administration (both public and private stock plan management), equity plan project consulting (RFPs, implementations, mergers, splits, spin-offs, tender offers, option exchanges, repricings), and accounting services (ASC 718 compliance, fair value assumptions, ESPP accounting, modification accounting, disclosure assistance, Pay vs. Performance disclosures, and IRS form 3921/3922 filings). EPS does not build proprietary software; instead it delivers professional services by a 22-person team with deep stock plan expertise and supports third-party platforms — notably Morgan Stanley at Work's Equity Edge Online and Shareworks, for which EPS holds Channel Partner status offering preferred pricing to new platform clients.
The business model is hourly-billed professional services rather than fixed-fee or SaaS contracts. EPS charges clients only for the services consumed (administration, project work, or accounting support), with no long-term contract commitment required. This usage-based pricing creates an unusual combination of recurring administration relationships and episodic project work. Go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct consulting relationships, referrals, advisory partner networks, content marketing via the firm's blog and newsletter, and conference presence at events such as E*TRADE's Directions conference and the annual NASPP conference, where founder Elizabeth Dodge serves on the Executive Advisory Committee. EPS carries NASPP Individual Achievement and 10-Year Service awards for its principal, signaling recognized authority within the equity compensation profession.
In April 2026, EPS was acquired by Equity Methods, a valuation, reporting, and HR advisory firm majority-owned by private equity sponsor HGGC (over $10B in assets under management). The 22-person team was absorbed into Equity Methods, with founder Elizabeth Dodge transitioning to Director, Equity Management Services at the acquirer. As of the acquisition, EPS operates as a subsidiary under Equity Methods rather than as an independent entity.
EPS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EPS
- Legal name
- Equity Plan Solutions, LLC
- Website
- https://equityplansolutions.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- EPS (Equity Plan Solutions) is a boutique equity compensation consulting firm providing stock plan administration, equity project consulting, and ASC 718 accounting services to public, private, venture-backed, and sponsor-backed companies on an hourly-fee basis; founded in 2016 and acquired by Equity Methods in April 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EPS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Equity Compensation Consulting and Administration
- NAICS
- Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Financial Reporting & Technical Accounting Advisory (GAAP/IFRS) (BPAHABAF)
Keywords
Where EPS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Redwood City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
EPS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Professional Services - Consulting: Hourly-billed consulting services for equity plan projects including mergers, splits, repricings, option exchanges, system integrations, vendor selection, and customized training. No long-term contract commitment required.
- Stock Plan Administration Services: Ongoing administration services for public and private company equity plans. Services include plan administration, financial reporting, ASC 718 compliance, participant statements, IRS form filings (3921, 3922), and DTA balance calculations. Billable hourly rather than annual fixed fee.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Hourly billing for professional services |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Morgan Stanley preferred pricing for platform administration |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
EPS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EPS is a boutique equity plan administration and consulting firm that provides stock plan management, equity plan project consulting (mergers, splits, option exchanges, system implementations), and ASC 718 accounting and financial reporting services for public, private, venture-backed, and sponsor-backed companies. The firm delivers these professional services on an hourly billing basis without long-term contracts, leveraging partnerships with Morgan Stanley at Work platforms including Equity Edge Online and Shareworks.
Product overview
EPS (Equity Plan Solutions) is a boutique equity plan administration firm providing consulting and advisory services rather than a software product company. The company offers a unified suite of stock plan management services organized around three core areas: Plan Administration (public and private stock plan management), Projects (equity plan project consulting), and Accounting (financial reporting and ASC 718 compliance services). These services are delivered through a team-based approach with dedicated consultants and are supported by partnerships with Morgan Stanley at Work for platform pricing. The company was acquired by Equity Methods in April 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Public Stock Plan Administration Comprehensive stock plan management services for public companies including transaction processing, financial reporting, ASC 718 compliance, and partnership beyond basic administration.
- Private Stock Plan Administration Stock plan administration services for private companies, leveraging multiple platforms to provide specialized administration for venture-backed and sponsor-backed companies.
- Equity Plan Project Consulting Dedicated project consulting team supporting mergers, splits, repricings, option exchanges, system implementations, vendor selection, and custom training for equity plan projects.
- Accounting and Financial Reporting Services ASC 718 compliance expertise including fair value assumptions, peer volatility calculations, expected term calculations, ESPP accounting, modification accounting, and disclosure assistance including Diluted EPS and Tax Accounting.
- IRS Form and Pay vs. Performance Services IRS form mailing services (3921 and 3922) and assistance with revaluing NEO options and awards for Pay vs. Performance disclosure requirements.
- Morgan Stanley Channel Partner Services Channel Partner offering for Morgan Stanley at Work platforms with discounted pricing for Equity Edge Online and Shareworks for new MSAW platform clients utilizing EPS administration services.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces client consulting costs by only charging for services needed through hourly billing model
Companies that use EPS
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
EPS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
EPS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Equity MethodsflagshipEquity Methods acquired EPS assets in April 2026. The acquisition adds EPS's 22-person team and deep expertise in equity plan management to Equity Methods' end-to-end equity compensation capabilities including valuation, financial reporting, and HR advisory services. Elizabeth Dodge joins as Director, Equity Management Services.
- Morgan Stanley at WorkcoreEPS is a Channel Partner of Morgan Stanley at Work, offering support for Equity Edge Online and Shareworks platforms. EPS met rigorous qualification requirements to become a select Channel Partner. For companies new to the MSAW platform utilizing EPS for administration services, EPS offers discounted pricing for Equity Edge Online and Shareworks.
- Equity PointminorListed as a partner on EPS website. Equity Point is an equity compensation-related partner.
- Rutlen AssociatesminorListed as a partner on EPS website. Rutlen Associates is an equity compensation consulting partner.
- Sorbus AdvisorsminorListed as a partner on EPS website. Sorbus Advisors is an equity compensation advisory partner.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
EPS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Carta: Dominant cap table and equity management platform for private companies. Increasingly competes with EPS in the private-company stock plan administration niche via in-house administration tools.
Direct peers
- Stock & Option Solutions: Boutique equity compensation consulting and administration firm where founder Elizabeth Dodge was previously VP of Professional Services. Closest historical analog in service mix, scale, and client type.
- Compensia: Equity compensation and management consulting firm advising on plan design, valuations, and administration for technology and life sciences companies. Comparable boutique advisory positioning.
- Equity Methods: Acquirer of EPS and the most direct peer: provides valuation, financial reporting, and HR advisory for equity compensation, including ASC 718, 409A, and stock plan services. Directly comparable service lines, now consolidated with EPS.
- Acadia (Equity Plan Advisors): Equity plan advisory and consulting firm serving public and private companies with plan design, M&A support, and compliance services. Overlapping boutique service model.
Broad incumbents
- Morgan Stanley at Work (Shareworks / Equity Edge): EPS's flagship channel partner and the largest integrated platform for equity plan administration, with software plus bundled services. Represents both partner and competitive incumbent.
- Certent (now part of DFIN / Donnelley Financial Solutions): Former equity plan administration and disclosure management firm; Lindsey Youdan previously managed Certent's Customer Success team. Provides overlapping software and services in equity compensation.
- Fidelity Stock Plan Services: Large incumbent providing stock plan administration for thousands of public and private issuers, combining proprietary platform with administration services that overlap with EPS offerings.
- Schwab Stock Plan Services: Incumbent equity plan administration provider for public companies, offering integrated platform and services. Competes with EPS for the same end-client wallet.
- E*TRADE Corporate Services (now Morgan Stanley at Work): Historic equity plan administration platform and a major training ground for EPS leadership (Albert Orozco, Jim Vincent, Lindsey Youdan). Direct overlap in Equity Edge Online platform administration.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
EPS social profiles
Digital presenceEPS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EPS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
EPS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EPS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EPS
What does EPS do?
EPS is a boutique equity plan administration and consulting firm that provides stock plan management, equity plan project consulting (mergers, splits, option exchanges, system implementations), and ASC 718 accounting and financial reporting services for public, private, venture-backed, and sponsor-backed companies. The firm delivers these professional services on an hourly billing basis without long-term contracts, leveraging partnerships with Morgan Stanley at Work platforms including Equity Edge Online and Shareworks.
Is EPS a public or private company?
EPS is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently acquired.
When was EPS founded?
EPS was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is EPS based?
EPS is headquartered in Redwood City, United States, in the North America region.
How does EPS make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Professional Services - Consulting is the primary driver. The others are stock Plan Administration Services.
Who are EPS's main competitors?
Carta is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Stock & Option Solutions, Compensia, Equity Methods and Acadia (Equity Plan Advisors). Broad incumbents are Morgan Stanley at Work (Shareworks / Equity Edge), Certent (now part of DFIN / Donnelley Financial Solutions), Fidelity Stock Plan Services, Schwab Stock Plan Services and E*TRADE Corporate Services (now Morgan Stanley at Work).
Does EPS have an API?
No public API is recorded for EPS.
What industry is EPS in?
EPS's product category is Equity Compensation Consulting and Administration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHABAF, Financial Reporting & Technical Accounting Advisory (GAAP/IFRS). Its NAICS code is 541211 and its SIC code is 6282.