Guides

Pulley shutdown: What happens to your 409A?

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How to migrate your cap table from Carta to Cake

7 min

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Top Pulley alternatives, and why you don't have to move to Carta

8 min read

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Pulley shutdown: What happens to your 409A?

8 min read

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The best cap table software for startups in 2026

7 min

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Best cap table software for CFOs and finance teams in 2026

11 min read

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Best Equity Management Software in 2026

10 Mins

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409A Valuation, explained: the essential guide for startups

8 mins

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How to migrate your cap table from spreadsheet to software

11 min

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How to choose 409A valuation provider

10 min

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Stock options vs. warrants: Understanding the difference

5 min

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Stock warrants, explained: Definition, key terms, examples

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Stock Options, Explained: A Guide for Growing Teams

5 mins

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Stock options vs RSU: Which one is right for your startup?

5 Mins

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Cap table spreadsheet template, for starters

13 min

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Understanding equity grants and how it works in startups

5 mins

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Employee stock option plans, a guide for startup teams

What is an employee stock option plan, how does it work, and how are they vested and exercised?

7 mins

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Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS), explained

What is QSBS, how it works, who are eligible, and why it matters to today's startup ecosystem

5 mins

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Form 3921, explained: What it is, when it's due, and how to file

Form 3921 is the IRS form startups must file for every ISO exercise. Here's what it covers, when it's due, and how to get it right.

9 min read

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ASC 718: Stock-based compensation reporting for founders

ASC 718 requires companies to record stock-based compensation as an expense — and how you manage that process starts with your cap table.

5 min read

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409A Valuation safe harbor: what it means and how to qualify

Safe harbor is the protection that shifts the burden of proof from you to the IRS. Here's how it works, what qualifies, and why not every 409A provider gets you there.

8 min

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How much are your stock options worth?

A quick startup guide and example stock option calculations

2 mins

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How much stock options to give employees

Learn how to calculate the right amount of stock options to offer employees

3 mins

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What happens if you skip getting a 409A valuation?

Skipping a 409A isn't a paperwork oversight, it's a tax compliance failure. Here's what the exposure looks like, and why it falls hardest on your employees.

8 min read

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What is a cap table and why does it matter to startups?

Understanding how a capitalization table work for startups, how to create one, including detailed cap table examples

8 mins

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How to manage a growing cap table

How to manage a growing cap table, how many investors are too many, and other cap table management tips.

4 mins

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How to set up a clean cap table (and not mess it up!)

What is a clean cap table, what does a clean cap table look like, and how to maintain an organized equity structure for successful fundraising and long-term business success

7 MINS

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10 Cap table mistakes startups make and how to avoid them

Are you committing these cap table mistakes? Learn how they can derail your startup growth and how to avoid them once and for all

5 mins

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Equity dilution, explained: what it is and how to protect your ownership

Every funding round changes your ownership percentage. Here's how dilution works, what causes it, and how founders commonly manage it from seed through Series A.

11 min

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How to prepare for a 409A valuation

Most valuation delays come from incomplete submissions. Here's the exact document checklist — documents, timeline, process, and what appraisers actually look at.

9 min

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ISO vs NSO: Understanding the key differences

What is ISO and NSO, understanding the key differences between these two types of stock options, and knowing which one to use for your startup

5 mins

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Understanding the real cost of 409A valuation

How much is the cost of a 409A valuation? Understand the factors that go in 409A valuation pricing, and how to get it on a budget.

5 mins

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Shareholders agreement, explained

Understand the importance and key elements of a shareholders agreement, how it protects your interests, and promotes harmony among shareholders.

5 mins

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83(b) elections: A guide for startup teams

What is 83(b) election, how does it work, what are the pros and cons, and how to make the most out of it, plus an example tax computation.

5 mins

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Managing SAFEs and convertible notes: the complete workflow

From issuance to conversion: the complete operational guide for seed-stage founders.

11 min read

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Equity compensations for startups

What is equity compensation, how does it work, and how startups can leverage on equity to attract and retain talent

5 mins

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SAFE vs. convertible note: a founder's guide to fundraising

What are SAFE and convertible notes, what are the key differences, and how to choose the right one for your startup

7 Mins

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SAFE: A simple way to raise funds for startups

What is a SAFE, how does it work, how is it different from convertible notes, and how to use it to raise funds for your startup

7 mins

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Incentive Stock Options (ISO), explained: What founders need to know

ISOs give startup employees a powerful tax advantage — but only if the rules are followed. Here's what founders and employees need to know.

11 min read

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Restricted Stock Awards (RSA), explained: What founders need to know

What Restricted Stock Awards are, when they make sense, and the one deadline every founder needs to know.

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Restricted stock units: how it works and why it matters

What is a restricted stock unit, how does it work, what are its benefits and tax implications, and other frequently asked questions

5 Mins

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Advisory shares: what startup founders need to know

What is advisory shares, how it works, and other essential things to know about compensating startup advisors with equity

7 mins

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BOI Reporting: A Startup's Guide to Beneficial Ownership Information

Essential insights on BOI reporting and discover key exemptions

3 mins

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Founder shares: Everything you need to know

What are founder shares, founder vesting, and everything you need to know to structure your co-founder equity the right way

5 mins

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Convertible notes: a founder's guide to fast startup funding

What are convertible promissory notes, how they work, and why startups use them

7 mins

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Startup equity split: how to distribute equity the right way

How to startup split equity with co-founders, investors, advisors, and employees

5 mins

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Advanced cap table modeling for startups

What is cap table modeling, how to do it, and why is it crucial for startup founders

5 mins

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Exercising stock options: the essential guide for startups

Ready to exercise your stock options? We cover the essential things you need to know!

3 mins

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Cliff vesting: how does it work

What is cliff vesting, how does it work in stock option plans, and other frequently asked questions

5 mins

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Phantom stock, explained

What is phantom stock, how does a phantom stock plan work, and how to leverage it to incentivise startup teams

5 mins

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Understanding Rule 701

What is Rule 701, when do you need it, and how to use this safe harbour exemption for your startup

8 mins

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Sweat equity: how it works and why it matters to startups

What is sweat equity, how does it work, and how to begin offering sweat equity to early team members and advisors

8 mins

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Bootstrap or capital raise: which one is right for your startup

Know the pros and cons of bootstrapping and capital raising and how to leverage these fundraising strategies to grow your business

5 mins

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How to raise capital for your startup

Step-by-step guide to raising capital, best practices and insights from startup experts

12 mins

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Non-qualified stock options: how it works for startups

What is NSO, how does it work, how is it taxed, and example NSO scenarios

5 mins

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Stock vesting, explained

What is stock vesting, how it works, and what you need to know when vesting stock options

3 mins

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Equity, unlocked

What's new

Pulley shutdown: What happens to your 409A?

Getting your cap table right

The best cap table software for startups in 2026

All things equity

Best Equity Management Software in 2026

Your questions, answered

Clean cap table.

Confident raise.

Motivated team.