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Business valuations in Rhode Island for donations, M&A, gift tax, and IRA conversion, prepared in accordance with USPAP and IRS requirements. AppraiseItNow appraises small businesses, partnerships, corporations, professional practices, and franchises across Rhode Island, including Providence, Cranston, and Warwick.
DEFENSIBLE, USPAP-COMPLIANT BUSINESS APPRAISAL REPORTS — QUALIFIED FOR THE IRS, RHODE ISLAND COURTS, LENDERS, INSURERS, AND MORE.
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Owner & CEO
Joe founded AppraiseItNow to make a certified, USPAP-compliant appraisal as simple to order as anything else online. A former Bain & Company strategy consultant, Joe leads the entire team and specializes in strategy, growth, and the firm's tech capabilities.
Business Valuation Expert & Appraiser
ASA, ABV, and CFA charterholder. Since 2016 Justin has valued businesses for estate and gift tax, purchase price allocations, fairness opinions, lending, and buy-sell agreements, across manufacturing, services, retail, and pre-revenue biotech.
Business Valuation Expert & Appraiser
Accredited Senior Appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers. Raymond values capital stock, business enterprises, stock options, and intangible assets.
Client Success Manager
Manages each engagement from the first enquiry to the delivered report, and keeps you posted at every step along the way.
American Society of AppraisersAccredited Senior Appraiser
The Appraisal FoundationAuthorized by Congress as the source of appraisal standardsRhode Island businesses of every size and structure require professional valuation services for a wide range of purposes, including charitable donations, mergers and acquisitions, gift tax reporting, and IRA conversions. Whether you operate a closely held LLC in Providence, a family-owned manufacturer in Pawtucket, or a service business in Warwick, AppraiseItNow connects you with credentialed appraisers who understand the financial, legal, and regulatory requirements that apply to your situation. Learn more about our appraisal services across Rhode Island or explore our dedicated business appraisal services for a full overview of our capabilities.
AppraiseItNow provides both remote and onsite business valuation appraisals throughout Rhode Island, giving clients the flexibility to choose the format that best fits their timeline and circumstances. Remote engagements are completed efficiently using financial records, tax returns, and supporting documentation submitted digitally, while onsite visits are available for businesses where a physical review of assets or operations adds meaningful context to the analysis. We offer Fair Market Value (FMV) appraisals for various intended uses, ensuring that each report meets the standards required by the IRS, legal counsel, financial institutions, and other relevant parties.
AppraiseItNow appraises a broad range of business interests and enterprise types across Rhode Island, covering industries from healthcare and hospitality to manufacturing and professional services. Our appraisers are experienced with the following business types and ownership structures:
For more specialized situations, our appraisers also handle valuations involving intangible assets such as goodwill, customer lists, and proprietary processes, which are frequently relevant in M&A transactions and gift tax planning for Rhode Island businesses.
AppraiseItNow serves business owners, attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, and individual stakeholders throughout Rhode Island who need credentialed, well-documented business valuations for tax reporting, transactional, legal, or planning purposes. Whether you are a small business owner in Cranston preparing for a sale or an estate attorney in Newport managing a complex gift tax matter, our team is equipped to deliver the analysis you need.
Rhode Island's business landscape is shaped by a concentration of closely held companies across healthcare, tourism, manufacturing, and higher education-adjacent industries. Because most Rhode Island businesses are privately held, there is no readily observable market price for ownership interests, making a formal appraisal essential whenever a transaction, tax event, or legal proceeding requires a supportable value. The IRS defines Fair Market Value under Treasury Regulations as the price at which a business interest would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither under compulsion and both with reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts. Meeting this standard requires a thorough analysis of financial performance, industry conditions, and applicable valuation methodologies.
When a business owner donates a non-cash asset, including a partial interest in a business, to a qualified charitable organization, the IRS requires a qualified appraisal for contributions exceeding $5,000. The appraisal must be completed by a qualified appraiser and attached to Form 8283 when filing the donor's tax return. A credentialed FMV appraisal ensures the deduction is properly substantiated and defensible in the event of an IRS review.
Rhode Island business owners pursuing a sale, merger, or acquisition need an independent valuation to establish a credible starting point for negotiations and due diligence. An FMV appraisal provides buyers and sellers with an objective analysis of enterprise value, helping both parties reach agreement on price and structure while reducing the risk of disputes after closing.
Transferring a business interest to a family member or trust triggers federal gift tax reporting requirements under IRS Form 709. The IRS requires that the transferred interest be valued at Fair Market Value as of the date of the gift, and appraisals of minority or fractional interests may incorporate discounts for lack of control and lack of marketability where appropriate. A qualified appraisal prepared by an accredited professional is essential to support the reported value.
Business owners who hold privately held company interests inside a self-directed IRA must obtain an independent FMV appraisal when converting to a Roth IRA or taking required minimum distributions. The IRS requires that the value of non-publicly traded assets be determined by a qualified independent appraiser, and an accurate valuation is critical to calculating the correct tax liability associated with the conversion.
Rhode Island does not impose state-specific licensing requirements for business valuation appraisers, as the state's appraisal licensing framework under R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-20.7 applies exclusively to real estate appraisals regulated by the Department of Business Regulation. Business valuations instead follow national professional standards, including USPAP and AICPA guidelines, which govern the methodology, reporting, and ethical conduct of qualified appraisers. AppraiseItNow appraisers adhere to these national standards on every engagement, ensuring that reports prepared for Rhode Island clients meet the requirements of the IRS, courts, and financial institutions.
Rhode Island courts and tax authorities apply specific standards that can directly affect how a business is valued depending on the purpose of the appraisal. In divorce proceedings under R.I.G.L. § 15-5-16.1, courts apply the Fair Market Value standard, which typically allows for discounts reflecting lack of control and lack of marketability for non-controlling interests. This contrasts with the fair value standard applied in shareholder oppression cases, where such discounts are generally not permitted under Rhode Island case law. The Rhode Island Supreme Court's review of Vicario v. Vicario also highlighted the scrutiny applied to valuation methodologies for pass-through entities, particularly regarding tax-affecting of S corporation earnings, underscoring the importance of working with appraisers who understand how these methodological choices are evaluated in Rhode Island proceedings.
What clients say we are known for
Across 80+ published AppraiseItNow reviews the picture is consistent: every one is from a client who paid us for an appraisal, and the three things they raise most often are that they would hire us again, how quickly we answer, and how much research is visible in the report.
Responsive, professional, first class deliverables -- especially considering that that the appraised assets are extremely complex financial assets with little by way of comps. The deliverable satisfied my accountants and advisers as being more than adequate to support the valuation needed to complete a conversion to a Roth IRA
Business Valuation Appraisal for IRA Conversion
Joe and Aron were extremely impressive - the entire process went very smoothly. They were always quick to respond to any questions I had and could not have been more helpful. They were aware of some tight time restrictions I had and made sure I received my reports in a timely fashion. I highly recommend them to anyone needing a valuation.
Business Valuation Appraisal for Charitable Donation
I used AppraiseItNow to examine a contribution to a foundation. Their work was quick, thorough, and easy to work with, as they’ve developed a simple system for uploading documents. I plan to use them again.
Business Valuation Appraisal for Charitable Donation
The team was highly knowledgeable, helpful, and efficient. I highly recommend their appraisal services, especially for private companies.
Business Valuation Appraisal for IRA Conversion
I found them professional & responsive. The report was quite thorough as well.
Business Valuation Appraisal for Charitable Donation
From the start they were very responsive, price competitive, and had a quick turn around time. Thank you so much to Joe who was very sweet in responding to my emails; I am looking forward to utilizing AppraiseItNow for many years to come.
Given the USPAP-compliant nature of AppraiseItNow’s appraisal reports, we prepare our deliverables for major legal, tax, and financial reporting purposes for individual and commercial clients.
Popular uses of our appraisal reports include:
We draw on private transaction databases such as DealStats, BIZCOMPS, IBA Market Data, and GF Data, along with guideline public company data, to build market-based value indications for Rhode Island companies. These sources record actual deal prices, terms, and earnings multiples, which lets us support a conclusion with evidence rather than industry rules of thumb.
Yes. Rhode Island imposes a state estate tax under R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 44-23, and it applies to the estate itself, including interests in closely held companies. If a filed statement of the decedent's property is deemed erroneous or incomplete, the tax administrator may independently appraise the property at full and fair cash value, so a documented valuation prepared for the filing reduces the risk of a state-initiated reappraisal.
Rhode Island divides marital property under equitable distribution, and courts typically value assets, including business interests, as of the trial or final hearing rather than the filing date. Because the court has discretion to choose a different valuation date, we prepare the valuation as of the date counsel or the court designates and document how earnings and market conditions supported the conclusion on that date.
No. Professional standards treat rules of thumb, such as a fixed multiple of revenue, as reasonableness checks only, because they ignore company-specific earnings quality, growth, asset mix, and risk. IRS guidelines expect analysis of the actual financial statements, industry outlook, and comparable transactions, which is what holds up in tax filings and disputes.
