1) Overview of the Company
Scott Valuation LLC is a boutique business valuation and intellectual property valuation firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California, serving clients across the United States since 2004. The company operates as a limited liability company providing specialized advisory services across various valuation disciplines, each with unique methodologies, drivers, and deliverables that span the entire investment and transaction lifecycle from early-stage disruptive technology to family succession of mature business operations.
Scott Valuation LLC employs between 2-9 professionals and focuses exclusively on business valuation services, with particular expertise in asset valuations, goodwill valuations, litigation valuations, and tax valuations. The firm’s President, Iver Scott, ASA, MSF, has performed over 500 business valuations, intellectual property valuations, and valuation reviews throughout his career and is sought after nationally for his experience and cost-effective approach to valuation services.
The company’s service portfolio encompasses financial reporting valuation including ASC 805 purchase price allocations, ASC 350 goodwill impairment testing, and ASC 718 stock compensation valuations, alongside complex financial instruments and securities valuation utilizing Monte Carlo simulation and other advanced quantitative models. Scott Valuation LLC also provides specialized intellectual property valuation services for patents, trademarks, copyrights, music catalogs, and celebrity image rights, with particular expertise in music copyright valuation for artists including Black Eyed Peas, Michael Jackson, John Denver, Sly Stone, and Elvis Presley.
The firm’s client base includes large and small companies requiring independent and objective assessments of business enterprises or intellectual property for financial reporting, tax planning, and litigation purposes. Scott Valuation LLC’s valuation opinions are designed to withstand scrutiny from the SEC, IRS, and other regulatory bodies, combining finance and accounting expertise with state-of-the-art valuation methodologies. The company positions itself as providing “smart, inexpensive valuation services” without the unnecessary analyses and heavy overhead of larger firms, targeting clients who seek cost-effective solutions without compromising quality or defensibility.
2) History
Scott Valuation LLC was founded in 2004 by Iver Scott, ASA, MSF, establishing the firm as a boutique business valuation and intellectual property valuation practice in Los Angeles, California. The company began operations with Scott serving as President and has maintained its specialized focus on valuation services for over two decades, building expertise across multiple valuation disciplines including business valuation, intellectual property valuation, and complex financial instruments.
Throughout its operational history, Scott Valuation LLC has maintained its headquarters in Los Angeles while expanding its client base across the United States. The firm has developed particular expertise in music copyright valuation, having provided valuation opinions for the music copyrights of hundreds of artists including Black Eyed Peas, Michael Jackson, John Denver, Sly Stone, and Elvis Presley. This specialization in entertainment industry intellectual property has become a distinguishing characteristic of the firm’s service portfolio.
The company has consistently maintained a lean operational structure, employing between 2-9 professionals throughout its history while focusing on delivering cost-effective valuation services to clients ranging from small businesses to larger corporations requiring independent assessments for financial reporting, tax planning, and litigation purposes. Scott Valuation LLC has positioned itself as an alternative to larger valuation firms, emphasizing efficiency and cost-effectiveness without compromising quality or defensibility of its valuation opinions.
Over its 21-year operational period, the firm has expanded its service capabilities to include sophisticated quantitative methodologies such as Monte Carlo simulation for complex financial instruments and has developed expertise in emerging areas such as ASC 805 purchase price allocations and ASC 718 stock compensation valuations. The company has maintained its focus on providing “smart, inexpensive valuation services” while building a reputation for valuation opinions designed to withstand scrutiny from regulatory bodies including the SEC and IRS.
3) Key Executives
Iver Scott serves as President of Scott Valuation LLC, holding the ASA (Accredited Senior Appraiser) and MSF (Master of Science in Finance) credentials. Scott has been providing business valuation and intellectual property valuation services since 2004 and has performed over 500 business valuations, IP valuations, and valuation reviews throughout his career. He is sought after nationally for his experience and cost-effective approach to valuation services, leading the firm’s comprehensive service portfolio that spans financial reporting valuation, complex securities valuation, and specialized intellectual property assessment. Prior to founding Scott Valuation LLC, Scott gained experience as a Finance Manager for Acquisitions and Financial Planning & Analysis at RightNow Technologies from June 2011 to August 2012, and served as IP Valuation and Business Valuation Manager at Moss Adams LLP from January 2004 to January 2011.
Kay Packard, CFA serves as Director of Scott Valuation LLC, joining the firm in November 2024. Packard specializes in financial reporting valuation services with particular expertise in purchase price allocations, goodwill impairment testing, and intangible asset valuations. Her role focuses on supporting the firm’s ASC 805 purchase price allocation work and ASC 350 goodwill impairment testing services for clients requiring independent assessments for financial reporting purposes.
Simon Thomson, BFP, ACA serves as Director of Complex Financial Instrument Valuation at Scott Valuation LLC. Thomson leads the firm’s specialized team that focuses on valuation and consulting related to complex securities and financial instruments for financial reporting, tax planning, and investment decision-making purposes. His expertise encompasses equity derivatives, interest rate derivatives, foreign exchange derivatives, and sophisticated quantitative modeling techniques including Monte Carlo simulation for complex capital structures.
Emily Wadland, MLIS serves as Director of Research Services at Scott Valuation LLC. Wadland oversees the firm’s research operations that support valuation engagements across various disciplines, providing critical market data analysis and industry research that underpins the firm’s valuation methodologies and opinions.
4) Ownership
Scott Valuation LLC operates as a limited liability company with a straightforward ownership structure centered around its founder and President, Iver Scott, ASA, MSF. The company has maintained its boutique structure since its founding in 2004, with Scott serving as the primary owner and operator of the business throughout its 21-year operational history. As a limited liability company, Scott Valuation LLC’s ownership interests are held through membership units rather than traditional corporate shares, providing operational flexibility and tax advantages typical of LLC structures.
The firm’s ownership structure reflects its boutique business model, with Scott maintaining control over strategic direction, client relationships, and service delivery while building a small team of specialized professionals to support the company’s valuation practice. The company employs between 2-9 professionals, including key directors in specialized areas such as financial reporting valuation, complex financial instrument valuation, and research services, suggesting a lean organizational structure where ownership likely remains concentrated with the founder.
No external investors, private equity involvement, or institutional ownership has been identified in the available information, indicating that Scott Valuation LLC has maintained its independence as a privately-held boutique firm. The company’s growth and expansion appear to have been funded through operational cash flow rather than external capital infusion, consistent with its positioning as a cost-effective alternative to larger valuation firms with significant overhead structures.
The firm’s ownership structure supports its business philosophy of providing “smart, inexpensive valuation services” without the “unnecessary analyses and heavy overhead of the larger firms,” suggesting that the concentrated ownership allows for nimble decision-making and cost control that benefits clients seeking affordable yet high-quality valuation services. This ownership approach has enabled Scott Valuation LLC to maintain its specialized focus on business valuation and intellectual property valuation while building expertise in niche areas such as music copyright valuation for entertainment industry clients.
5) Financial Position
Scott Valuation LLC demonstrates several indirect indicators of operational and financial health as a privately held boutique valuation firm. The company’s financial position can be assessed through various operational signals and industry positioning metrics that provide insight into its stability and growth trajectory over its 21-year operational history.
As an Exempt Reporting Adviser (ERA) with the SEC, Scott Valuation LLC operates under a regulatory framework that requires minimal public financial disclosure, limiting direct access to comprehensive financial statements or traditional financial metrics. However, the firm’s consistent operational presence since 2004 and its ability to maintain specialized expertise across multiple valuation disciplines indicates sustained cash flow generation and effective cost management throughout various economic cycles.
The company’s headcount of 2-9 employees reflects a lean operational model typical of boutique professional services firms, suggesting efficient overhead management and high revenue per employee ratios common in specialized advisory businesses. This staffing level has remained relatively stable throughout the firm’s history, indicating balanced growth management and operational efficiency without the need for significant capital investment in human resources expansion.
Scott Valuation LLC’s geographic market presence across the United States, despite being headquartered in Los Angeles, demonstrates the firm’s ability to generate revenue beyond its local market through remote service delivery capabilities. This national client reach suggests strong operational cash flow sufficient to support business development activities and client acquisition costs across multiple geographic markets without requiring substantial investment in physical infrastructure.
The firm’s specialization in high-value, complex valuation services including ASC 805 purchase price allocations, intellectual property valuations for major entertainment industry clients, and sophisticated financial instrument valuations using Monte Carlo simulation suggests pricing power and premium fee structures typical of specialized advisory services. The company’s work with major entertainment industry clients including Black Eyed Peas, Michael Jackson, John Denver, Sly Stone, and Elvis Presley indicates access to high-value engagements that support healthy profit margins.
Scott Valuation LLC’s ability to maintain operations without apparent external capital infusion or institutional investment suggests positive operating cash flow generation and efficient working capital management. The firm’s positioning as providing “smart, inexpensive valuation services” while maintaining quality suggests a competitive cost structure that allows for attractive pricing while preserving profitability.
The company’s investment in specialized technology and quantitative methodologies, including Monte Carlo simulation capabilities for complex financial instruments, indicates sufficient capital resources to support ongoing technology infrastructure and professional development investments. This technological capability represents a competitive advantage in the valuation services market and suggests adequate cash flow to support continuous improvement in service delivery capabilities.
6) Market Position
Scott Valuation LLC operates within the specialized business valuation and intellectual property valuation services sector, positioning itself as a boutique firm that competes on cost-effectiveness and expertise rather than scale. The company has carved out a distinctive market position in the highly fragmented valuation services industry through its focused approach to specific valuation disciplines and its unique pricing philosophy of providing “smart, inexpensive valuation services.”
The valuation services market is characterized by a diverse competitive landscape that includes large multinational accounting and consulting firms, specialized valuation boutiques, and independent practitioners. Scott Valuation LLC differentiates itself from larger competitors by emphasizing efficiency and cost-effectiveness without compromising quality or defensibility of valuation opinions. The firm’s competitive strategy explicitly positions it as an alternative to larger firms with “unnecessary analyses and heavy overhead,” suggesting a value-based positioning that appeals to cost-conscious clients seeking high-quality services.
Scott Valuation LLC’s market position is strengthened by its specialized expertise in entertainment industry intellectual property, particularly music copyright valuation. The firm has established a notable competitive advantage in this niche market segment by providing valuation opinions for music copyrights of hundreds of artists including Black Eyed Peas, Michael Jackson, John Denver, Sly Stone, and Elvis Presley. This specialization creates barriers to entry for competitors and positions the company as a recognized expert in entertainment industry valuations, a market segment that requires deep understanding of both valuation methodologies and industry-specific factors.
The company’s service portfolio encompasses multiple valuation disciplines, enabling it to serve diverse client needs while maintaining focus on its core competencies. Scott Valuation LLC offers ASC 805 purchase price allocations, ASC 350 goodwill impairment testing, complex financial instruments valuation using Monte Carlo simulation, and comprehensive intellectual property valuation services. This breadth of services allows the firm to compete across multiple market segments while leveraging synergies between different valuation approaches and methodologies.
Scott Valuation LLC’s geographic market reach extends across the United States despite being headquartered in Los Angeles, indicating the firm’s ability to compete nationally through remote service delivery capabilities. This national presence positions the company to compete with both local and regional valuation firms while avoiding the overhead costs associated with maintaining multiple physical locations. The firm’s ability to serve clients nationwide suggests strong operational capabilities and effective client relationship management systems.
The company’s client base includes “large and small companies requiring independent and objective assessments” for financial reporting, tax planning, and litigation purposes, indicating market positioning that spans multiple client segments from small businesses to larger corporations. This diversified client approach reduces concentration risk while positioning Scott Valuation LLC to capture opportunities across different market segments with varying service requirements and fee structures.
Scott Valuation LLC’s regulatory positioning as an Exempt Reporting Adviser (ERA) with the SEC provides operational advantages by minimizing regulatory compliance requirements compared to larger advisory firms subject to more extensive oversight. This regulatory status allows the firm to maintain operational flexibility while ensuring compliance with applicable securities regulations, providing a competitive advantage in terms of reduced regulatory burden and associated costs.
The firm’s emphasis on quantitative methodologies and technological capabilities, including Monte Carlo simulation for complex capital structures and sophisticated financial instrument valuations, positions it to compete effectively in high-value, technically demanding engagements. This technical expertise creates competitive differentiation from generalist valuation providers while supporting premium pricing for specialized services requiring advanced quantitative modeling capabilities.
7) Legal Claims and Actions
Based on comprehensive searches of regulatory databases and public legal records, no significant legal claims, regulatory enforcement actions, litigation, or disciplinary proceedings have been identified involving Scott Valuation LLC during the past decade. The company’s regulatory status as an Exempt Reporting Adviser (ERA) with the SEC indicates compliance with applicable securities regulations without triggering enhanced regulatory oversight requirements that would apply to larger advisory firms.
No SEC enforcement actions, sanctions, or disciplinary measures have been recorded against Scott Valuation LLC or its President, Iver Scott, ASA, MSF, in the SEC’s public enforcement database. The firm’s ERA status suggests that it operates below the regulatory asset thresholds that would require full investment adviser registration and associated compliance obligations, indicating a clean regulatory record consistent with its boutique operational model.
Public court records searches have not revealed any material litigation involving Scott Valuation LLC as either plaintiff or defendant in federal or state court proceedings. The absence of significant legal disputes suggests effective client relationship management and professional service delivery consistent with industry best practices for boutique advisory firms.
No professional sanctions, licensing violations, or disciplinary actions have been identified involving the firm’s key personnel through relevant professional organizations or state regulatory bodies. Iver Scott’s ASA (Accredited Senior Appraiser) credential requires adherence to professional standards established by the American Society of Appraisers, and no violations of these standards have been publicly reported.
Employment-related litigation, discrimination claims, or workplace disputes involving Scott Valuation LLC have not been identified in available public records. The firm’s small employee base of 2-9 professionals may contribute to effective human resources management and reduced exposure to employment-related legal risks common in larger organizations.
The company’s specialized focus on business valuation and intellectual property valuation services appears to have been conducted without generating material legal controversies or professional liability claims that would be publicly disclosed. This clean legal record is consistent with the firm’s 21-year operational history and its positioning as a provider of defensible valuation opinions designed to withstand regulatory scrutiny.
8) Recent Media
A comprehensive search of media sources and public records from 2023 through 2025 revealed no significant coverage, adverse media, executive statements, or third-party recognition pertaining to Scott Valuation LLC. The firm maintains a minimal public profile, which is consistent with its status as a privately held, boutique advisory firm focused on business and intellectual property valuation.
A review of historical court records indicates the firm’s President, Iver Scott, has served as an expert witness in corporate litigation. In a January 28, 2020, memorandum opinion for the case Coster v. UIP Companies, Inc. in the Delaware Court of Chancery, Iver Scott was identified as an expert witness called by deposition. The litigation involved a dispute over the control and ownership of UIP Companies, Inc., in which the court ultimately ruled in favor of the defendants.
9) Strengths
Specialized Industry Expertise in Entertainment Intellectual Property
Scott Valuation LLC has established exceptional expertise in entertainment industry intellectual property valuation, particularly music copyright valuation. The firm has provided valuation opinions for the music copyrights of hundreds of artists including Black Eyed Peas, Michael Jackson, John Denver, Sly Stone, and Elvis Presley. This specialized focus creates significant competitive advantages in a niche market requiring deep understanding of both valuation methodologies and entertainment industry-specific factors, positioning the company as a recognized expert in celebrity asset valuation and music industry transactions.
Experienced Leadership with Proven Track Record
President Iver Scott, ASA, MSF, brings over 500 business valuations, IP valuations, and valuation reviews to his leadership of Scott Valuation LLC, establishing credibility through extensive practical experience since 2004. His Master of Science in Finance from Northeastern University and Accredited Senior Appraiser designation provide strong technical credentials, while his experience as Finance Manager for Acquisitions and Financial Planning & Analysis at RightNow Technologies and IP Valuation Manager at Moss Adams LLP demonstrates relevant corporate finance and valuation expertise prior to founding the firm.
Cost-Effective Business Model Without Quality Compromise
Scott Valuation LLC’s explicit positioning as providing “smart, inexpensive valuation services” without “unnecessary analyses and heavy overhead of the larger firms” represents a significant competitive advantage in the valuation services market. This cost-effective approach allows the firm to compete successfully for clients seeking high-quality valuation services while maintaining defensive valuation opinions designed to withstand scrutiny from the SEC, IRS, and other regulatory bodies, creating a value proposition that appeals to cost-conscious clients without sacrificing technical rigor.
Advanced Quantitative Capabilities
The firm demonstrates sophisticated technical capabilities through its use of Monte Carlo simulation for complex capital structures and advanced quantitative methodologies for complex financial instrument valuations. These capabilities enable Scott Valuation LLC to compete effectively in high-value, technically demanding engagements requiring sophisticated modeling approaches, providing competitive differentiation from generalist valuation providers while supporting premium pricing for specialized services.
Comprehensive Service Portfolio Across Multiple Disciplines
Scott Valuation LLC offers an integrated suite of valuation services spanning ASC 805 purchase price allocations, ASC 350 goodwill impairment testing, ASC 718 stock compensation valuations, intellectual property valuation, and complex financial instruments assessment. This breadth of expertise allows the firm to serve diverse client needs while leveraging synergies between different valuation approaches, creating cross-selling opportunities and positioning the company as a comprehensive solution provider rather than a single-service specialist.
Lengthy Operating History and Market Presence
With over 21 years of continuous operation since 2004, Scott Valuation LLC has demonstrated operational resilience and market sustainability throughout various economic cycles. This lengthy operating history provides credibility with clients seeking experienced valuation providers, while the firm’s national client reach from its Los Angeles headquarters demonstrates proven ability to deliver services across geographic markets through effective remote delivery capabilities.
Regulatory Compliance and Professional Standards Adherence
The firm’s status as an Exempt Reporting Adviser (ERA) with the SEC and its emphasis on providing valuation opinions designed to withstand regulatory scrutiny demonstrates strong compliance capabilities and professional standards adherence. Scott’s ASA credential requires adherence to professional standards established by the American Society of Appraisers, providing additional credibility for the firm’s technical competence and ethical practices in delivering valuation services.
10) Potential Risk Areas for Further Diligence
Key Person Dependency Risk
Scott Valuation LLC faces significant concentration risk through its heavy dependence on founder and President Iver Scott, ASA, MSF, who has been the primary driver of the firm’s operations since 2004. With Scott personally having performed over 500 business valuations, IP valuations, and valuation reviews throughout his career, the firm’s client relationships, technical expertise, and reputation are closely tied to his individual capabilities and market presence. The boutique structure with 2-9 employees suggests limited succession planning or management depth to mitigate the operational and strategic risks associated with Scott’s potential departure, illness, or reduced capacity. This dependency creates vulnerability in client retention, service delivery continuity, and institutional knowledge preservation.
Cybersecurity and Data Protection Vulnerabilities
As a valuation firm handling sensitive financial information, business plans, proprietary data, and confidential client information, Scott Valuation LLC faces material cybersecurity risks that could result in significant liability and reputational damage. The firm’s work with high-profile entertainment industry clients including Black Eyed Peas, Michael Jackson, John Denver, Sly Stone, and Elvis Presley involves particularly sensitive intellectual property and financial data that would be highly valuable to cybercriminals. The company’s small size may limit its ability to invest in enterprise-grade cybersecurity infrastructure, staff dedicated security personnel, or maintain comprehensive data protection protocols, potentially exposing the firm to data breaches, ransomware attacks, or unauthorized access to confidential client information.
Professional Liability and Regulatory Risk
Scott Valuation LLC’s provision of valuation opinions designed to withstand scrutiny from the SEC, IRS, and other regulatory bodies creates significant professional liability exposure if valuation methodologies, assumptions, or conclusions are challenged or found to be inadequate. The firm’s work across multiple complex areas including ASC 805 purchase price allocations, Monte Carlo simulation for complex financial instruments, and entertainment industry intellectual property valuations requires maintaining expertise across diverse and evolving technical standards. Any errors in valuation opinions could result in client losses, regulatory enforcement actions, professional sanctions, or costly litigation, with potential damages that could be substantial relative to the firm’s size and resources.
Client Concentration and Market Dependency Risk
The firm’s specialized focus on entertainment industry intellectual property, particularly music copyright valuation, creates concentration risk in a niche market segment that could be vulnerable to industry disruption, regulatory changes, or economic downturns affecting the entertainment sector. While this specialization provides competitive advantages, it also exposes Scott Valuation LLC to sector-specific risks including changes in music industry economics, digital streaming impacts on copyright values, or shifts in entertainment industry transaction activity. The firm’s dependence on recurring work from entertainment industry clients could create revenue volatility if key client relationships are lost or if overall market demand for entertainment industry valuations declines.
Operational Infrastructure and Scalability Limitations
Scott Valuation LLC’s lean operational structure with 2-9 employees may limit its ability to handle sudden increases in client demand, maintain consistent service quality during peak periods, or invest in advanced technology infrastructure necessary for sophisticated quantitative modeling. The firm’s positioning as providing “smart, inexpensive valuation services” suggests pricing pressures that may constrain investment in operational improvements, additional staff, or enhanced systems capabilities. Limited operational depth could result in service delivery issues, quality control problems, or inability to pursue larger, more complex engagements that require substantial resource allocation.
Professional Indemnity Insurance Coverage Gaps
As an Exempt Reporting Adviser (ERA) with the SEC, Scott Valuation LLC may face limitations in professional indemnity insurance coverage relative to larger advisory firms, potentially exposing the company to significant uninsured losses from professional liability claims. The specialized nature of the firm’s work in entertainment industry valuations and complex financial instruments may require specialized insurance coverage that could be costly or difficult to obtain. Inadequate insurance coverage could create existential risk if the firm faces large professional liability claims that exceed available coverage limits or if insurance carriers exclude coverage for certain types of valuation work.
Technology and Quantitative Modeling Risk
Scott Valuation LLC’s use of sophisticated quantitative methodologies including Monte Carlo simulation for complex capital structures creates operational risk if technology systems fail, modeling assumptions prove inadequate, or staff lack sufficient technical expertise to maintain and validate complex models. The firm’s competitive positioning depends partly on its technical capabilities, and any deficiencies in quantitative modeling could undermine client confidence, result in inaccurate valuations, or expose the firm to professional liability claims. Keeping pace with evolving quantitative techniques and maintaining appropriate technology infrastructure may require ongoing investment that strains the firm’s resources.
Regulatory Compliance and Standards Evolution Risk
The valuation profession is subject to evolving professional standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices that require ongoing compliance monitoring and adaptation. Changes in ASC 805, ASC 350, ASC 718, or other accounting standards could require significant updates to the firm’s methodologies, systems, and processes. Scott Valuation LLC’s small size may limit its ability to monitor regulatory developments, implement necessary changes quickly, or maintain compliance across all applicable standards without substantial resource allocation. Non-compliance with professional standards could result in regulatory enforcement, loss of credentials, or exclusion from certain types of engagements.