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Startup Valuation Calculator

Estimate your startup's valuation using Revenue Multiple, Earnings Multiple, DCF, Scorecard, and Berkus methods. Free tool for founders and investors evaluating early-stage companies.

Last revised 24 August 2026

By Team GlobalCalqulate · About our editorial standards

Financial Data

Annual Revenue ($)

Annual Earnings ($)

Net profit or EBITDA.

Growth Rate (%)

Discount Rate (%)

Comparable Company Multiple (x)

Scorecard Score (0-100)

Berkus Score (max 5)

Financial Disclaimer: This result is an educational estimate produced by applying a standard formula to the figures you entered. It is not an offer, a quotation, or financial advice: real costs and returns depend on a provider's pricing, fees and underwriting, and on circumstances this calculator does not collect. Confirm the figures with the provider or a qualified adviser before acting on them. Full disclaimer.

Sources & methodology

Formula:: Revenue multiple
Reference:: Corporate Finance Institute (CFI)
Content last updated:: August 2026
Scheduled re-verification:: August 2027

Calculation type: Heuristic estimate. Figures are taken from Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) and Bill Payne (originator of the Scorecard Method), via Angel Capital Association — see sources below.

Your entries stay on this device. This calculator runs entirely in your browser — the figures you type are not sent to us or to anyone else. The page itself uses cookies for analytics and advertising, described in the privacy policy.

Formula & methodology

Formula used

Revenue multiple

valuation = annual revenue × comparable multiple

Values the company against what similar companies trade at, per unit of revenue.

Earnings multiple

valuation = earnings × comparable multiple

The same approach applied to profit rather than revenue.

Discounted cash flow (3 years)

DCF = Σ (FCF × (1 + g)ⁿ⁻¹) ÷ (1 + r)ⁿ  for n = 1..3

Projects free cash flow forward at the growth rate and discounts it back at the required return. This calculator uses a three-year horizon with no terminal value.

Scorecard and Berkus

scorecard = base valuation × score;  Berkus = score × 500,000, capped

Two pre-revenue methods that score qualitative factors against a benchmark valuation.

Average

average = mean of the methods that returned a positive value

Methods that cannot be computed from the inputs given are left out of the average rather than counted as zero.

Variable definitions

Symbol	Meaning	Unit
revenue	Annual revenue. trailing or forward annual revenue	currency
earnings	Annual earnings. profit available to the business	currency
g	Growth rate. expected annual growth in cash flow	%
r	Discount rate. the required rate of return; venture investors commonly use 30-60%	%
multiple	Comparable multiple. the revenue or earnings multiple observed in comparable companies	x

Step-by-step calculation

1. Enter whichever figures you have
Methods needing data you do not supply are simply excluded from the average.
2. Set the multiple and discount rate deliberately
These two assumptions move the result more than anything else on the form.

Limitations

This is a directional estimate, not an appraisal. Real valuations are set by negotiation, comparable transactions and investor demand, not by a formula.
The DCF runs three years with no terminal value, so it understates a business whose value lies mostly beyond year three.
Scorecard and Berkus use fixed benchmark figures that vary by region and market cycle. Treat their output as a rough band.
Averaging methods that measure different things is a convenience, not a valuation technique — look at the individual figures before relying on the average.

This page is educational. It applies a standard formula to the figures you enter and shows the arithmetic behind the result. It is an estimate, not an offer, a quotation or financial advice: real costs depend on the provider's pricing, fees and underwriting, and on circumstances this calculator does not collect.

Sources & references

Startup Valuation Methods — Berkus Approach explained ($500K per risk factor, $2.5M max) — Corporate Finance Institute (CFI)
Scorecard Valuation Methodology — Establishing the Valuation of Pre-Revenue, Start-up Companies — Bill Payne (originator of the Scorecard Method), via Angel Capital Association

Help & FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers to common questions to help you use this calculator confidently.

What is Revenue Multiple valuation?

Tap to view the answer

Revenue Multiple = Annual Revenue × Industry Multiple. Common for high-growth startups.

What is DCF valuation?

Tap to view the answer

Discounted Cash Flow projects future earnings and discounts them to present value using a discount rate.

What is the Scorecard Method?

Tap to view the answer

Compares the startup to average funded companies across factors like team, product, market, and competition.

What is the Berkus Method?

Tap to view the answer

Assigns up to $500K per key success factor: idea, prototype, team, relationships, rollout. Max $2.5M.

Which valuation method is best?

Tap to view the answer

No single method is best. The average of multiple methods provides a reasonable estimate range.

Need more help? Contact support or email globalcalqulate@gmail.com

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How to Use This Calculator

Enter Financial Data

Input your startup's annual revenue, earnings, and growth rate. Revenue multiple method works best for high-growth startups.

Set Valuation Parameters

Choose a comparable company multiple (3-10x for SaaS, 1-3x for traditional businesses) and set your discount rate (20-50% for startups).

Review Multiple Methods

The calculator shows valuations using five different methods. The average across methods gives the most realistic estimate range.

Understanding Your Results

Revenue Multiple
Annual Revenue × Industry Multiple. The most common startup method. SaaS multiples range 5-15x, services 1-3x, hardware 2-5x.
DCF (Discounted Cash Flow)
Projects future cash flows for 3-5 years and discounts them to present value using your discount rate. The standard method for established companies.
Scorecard Method
Compares your startup to average funded companies across factors: team strength (30%), product (25%), market size (20%), and competition (25%).
Berkus Method
Assigns up to $500K per key risk factor: sound idea, prototype, quality team, strategic relationships, and product rollout. Maximum: $2.5M pre-revenue.

Key Tips

✓
No single valuation method is definitive. Use the average of multiple methods as your negotiation range.
✓
Early-stage (pre-revenue) startups rely on Scorecard and Berkus methods. Revenue/earnings multiples require actual financials.
✓
Startup discount rates (20-50%) reflect higher risk. A 30% rate means investors expect to double their money in ~2.5 years.
✓
Valuations are negotiation starting points, not final prices. The actual deal depends on leverage, market conditions, and investor appetite.

How Startup Valuation Methods Work

Revenue Multiple — The Industry Standard

The revenue multiple method multiplies annual revenue by an industry-specific factor. SaaS companies with recurring revenue typically get 5-15x revenue. E-commerce: 2-4x. Traditional services: 1-3x. The multiple reflects growth rate, market size, competitive moat, and comparable public company valuations. The calculator applies your chosen multiple to annual revenue.

DCF — The Academic Approach

Discounted Cash Flow projects your earnings forward (typically 3-5 years) at your growth rate, then discounts each year's cash flow back to present value using your discount rate. A 30% discount rate means $1 three years from now is worth about $0.46 today. DCF works best when you have predictable cash flows — less reliable for pre-revenue startups.

Scorecard and Berkus — Methods for Early-Stage Startups

The Scorecard method starts with the average pre-money valuation for similar startups in your region, then adjusts based on team (strong team = +30%), product readiness, market size, and competition. The Berkus method assigns dollar values to five key risk-reduction milestones: sound idea ($500K), prototype ($500K), quality team ($500K), strategic relationships ($500K), and product rollout ($500K). Maximum combined value: $2.5M. Both methods help price startups that don't yet have meaningful revenue.

Formula & methodology

Formula used

Revenue multiple

valuation = annual revenue × comparable multiple

Values the company against what similar companies trade at, per unit of revenue.

Earnings multiple

valuation = earnings × comparable multiple

The same approach applied to profit rather than revenue.

Discounted cash flow (3 years)

DCF = Σ (FCF × (1 + g)ⁿ⁻¹) ÷ (1 + r)ⁿ  for n = 1..3

Projects free cash flow forward at the growth rate and discounts it back at the required return. This calculator uses a three-year horizon with no terminal value.

Scorecard and Berkus

scorecard = base valuation × score;  Berkus = score × 500,000, capped

Two pre-revenue methods that score qualitative factors against a benchmark valuation.

Average

average = mean of the methods that returned a positive value

Methods that cannot be computed from the inputs given are left out of the average rather than counted as zero.

Variable definitions

Symbol	Meaning	Unit
revenue	Annual revenue. trailing or forward annual revenue	currency
earnings	Annual earnings. profit available to the business	currency
g	Growth rate. expected annual growth in cash flow	%
r	Discount rate. the required rate of return; venture investors commonly use 30-60%	%
multiple	Comparable multiple. the revenue or earnings multiple observed in comparable companies	x

Step-by-step calculation

1. Enter whichever figures you have
Methods needing data you do not supply are simply excluded from the average.
2. Set the multiple and discount rate deliberately
These two assumptions move the result more than anything else on the form.

Limitations

This is a directional estimate, not an appraisal. Real valuations are set by negotiation, comparable transactions and investor demand, not by a formula.
The DCF runs three years with no terminal value, so it understates a business whose value lies mostly beyond year three.
Scorecard and Berkus use fixed benchmark figures that vary by region and market cycle. Treat their output as a rough band.
Averaging methods that measure different things is a convenience, not a valuation technique — look at the individual figures before relying on the average.

Calculator inputs

Financial Data

Your results

Sources & methodology

Formula & methodology

Formula used

Revenue multiple

Earnings multiple

Discounted cash flow (3 years)

Scorecard and Berkus

Average

Variable definitions

Step-by-step calculation

Limitations

Sources & references

What is Revenue Multiple valuation?

What is DCF valuation?

What is the Scorecard Method?

What is the Berkus Method?

Which valuation method is best?

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Calculator inputs

Financial Data

Your results

Sources & methodology

How to Use This Calculator

Example: $500K Revenue, $100K Earnings, 20% Growth

Understanding Your Results

Key Tips

How Startup Valuation Methods Work

Revenue Multiple — The Industry Standard

DCF — The Academic Approach

Scorecard and Berkus — Methods for Early-Stage Startups

Formula & methodology

Formula used

Revenue multiple

Earnings multiple

Discounted cash flow (3 years)

Scorecard and Berkus

Average

Variable definitions

Step-by-step calculation

Limitations

Sources & references

How to Use This Calculator

Example: $500K Revenue, $100K Earnings, 20% Growth

Understanding Your Results

Key Tips

How Startup Valuation Methods Work

Revenue Multiple — The Industry Standard

DCF — The Academic Approach

Scorecard and Berkus — Methods for Early-Stage Startups