Three Things Startup Employees Should Understand About Their Stock Options

Picture of Jesse Lownsbury CPA, CFP®
Jesse Lownsbury CPA, CFP®

Stock options are an incredibly popular method of attracting and retaining employees, especially if a company isn’t yet able to offer high salaries. This is one reason that many start-ups are taking advantage of the flexibility a stock option plan offers, permitting their employees to share in the company’s future success – but without spending precious cash to do so.

If you were granted stock options by your company, or you’re considering an employment offer from a start-up that includes them, there are three basic things you’ll want to understand.

1. Why Is The Company Offering Stock Options?

If you’re working for a start-up or considering an offer from one, know that there are three main reasons that you might be granted stock options as part of your employee benefits package:

  • The company wants to attract, motivate, and retain employees, but they lack the capital to offer more competitive salaries. (Many people have become millionaires through stock options, especially in Silicon Valley, making options a very appealing benefit to employees.)
  • The promise of significant future value can make employees feel like they have a bigger stake in the company’s success, thereby making them work harder and feel more dedicated to the job.
  • As a smaller company, a start-up can level the playing field a bit and compete with larger companies by offering stock options to some or all employees.

Regardless of a company’s reasons, as the employee you can benefit from this form of equity compensation because it represents the potential to share in the future growth of the company’s value – and with little risk, too, until your options are exercised. (More on that below.)


SEE ALSO: Stock Options 101: What You Need to Know About ISOs, NQSOs and Restricted Stock


2. How Do Stock Options Work?

Here’s an example of how it works:

Company X hires employee Jane Smith. As part of her employment package, the company grants her options to acquire 40,000 shares of Company X’s stock at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the stock at the time of grant – let’s say that’s 25 cents per share.

Jane reads the fine print and sees that her options are subject to a vesting period, which is very common. In her case, the stock options are subject to a four-year vesting with one year “cliff vesting.” This means that Jane will have to remain employed at Company X for one full year before she earns the right to exercise 10,000 (one fourth) of the options. The remainder of the options will vest at a rate if 1/36 per month over her next three years at the company. If she leaves before one year – or is fired before that time – she will not get any of the 40,000 options.

Once Jane’s options are vested, she can choose to exercise them. Essentially, this means she can now buy the stock at 25 cents per share (exercise price) even if the value of the stock has increased considerably.

Let’s say that Jane stays with Company X for the full four years needed for all 40,000 shares to vest, and the company has become very successful and gone public during that time. In fact, shares are now trading at $20 per share. Jane sees the opportunity and she exercises her options by purchasing 40,000 shares for $10,000 (40,000 shares x 25 cents per share). She then sells all 40,000 shares at their current value of $20 per share for $800,000 – a tidy profit of $790,000.

It’s easy to see why the possibility that comes along with stock options is so appealing. And with examples of massive profits for employees (think Facebook), start-ups are eager to capitalize on the popularity of stock options.


SEE ALSO: Strategies for Optimizing Employee Stock Options


3. A Disadvantage To Be Aware Of…

Stock options can be of tremendous benefit – just look at the example of Jane above. The potential they offer might give you good reason to stick with a start-up that can’t yet offer a competitive salary.

However, there is one big disadvantage to being granted stock options in a private company, especially a start-up, and that’s the lack of liquidity. Why? Well, until the company creates a public market for its stock (e.g. IPO), is acquired, or offers to buy back employees’ options or shares, there is no way to access the cash value of the options or shares. Cash paid to exercise the options, and the intrinsic value of the options or shares is especially locked with the company until a liquidity event occurs. Sure, the company could grow bigger, and the stock could become more valuable. However, there are no guarantees and if those things don’t come to pass, then the options can prove worthless.

Want To Know More About Stock Options?

At Wade Financial Advisory, we work with many clients to provide guidance on maximizing their equity compensation benefits and fitting them into a comprehensive financial plan. In fact, we currently serve clients working for companies such as Tesla, Facebook, Nvidia, Applied Materials, Apple, Microsoft Corporation, Google, Intel, Cisco Systems, Hewlett Packard, Pure Storage, Zoom Video Communications, Amazon, Adobe Inc., Palo Alto Networks and many others.

If you need a trusted partner in making the most of your stock option benefits, let’s talk. You can schedule an introductory conversation here. We look forward to hearing from you!

At Wade Financial Advisory, our clients include successful entrepreneurs, professionals, and executives, and many of them practice philanthropy. If you’d like professional support in optimizing your charitable giving, or any other aspects of your financial plan, please reach out to us today. We currently serve clients working for companies such as Tesla, Facebook, Nvidia, Applied Materials, Apple, Microsoft Corporation, Google, Intel, Cisco Systems, Hewlett Packard, Pure Storage, Zoom Video Communications, Amazon, Adobe Inc., Palo Alto Networks and many others. We would be pleased to serve you and your family, too!

This communication contains the opinions of Wade Financial Advisory, Inc. about the securities, investments and/or economic subjects discussed as of the date set forth herein. This communication is intended for information purposes only and does not recommend or solicit the purchase or sale of specific securities or investment services. Readers should not infer or assume that any securities, sectors or markets described were or will be profitable or are appropriate to meet the objectives, situation or needs of a particular individual or family, as the implementation of any financial strategy should only be made after consultation with your attorney, tax advisor and investment advisor. All material presented is compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. PAST PERFORMANCE DOES NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE RESULTS. INVESTMENTS BEAR RISK INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF INVESTED PRINCIPAL.

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