How many shares should you issue to startups? Advisor Performance LevelIdea StageStart-up stage Standard 0.25% 0.20% Strategic 0.50% 0.40% Expert 1.00% 0.80%
Draft the equity agreement, detailing the company's capital structure, the number of shares to be offered, the rights of the shareholders, and other details. Consult legal and financial advisors to ensure that the equity agreement is in line with all applicable laws and regulations.
In summary, 1% equity can be a good offer if the startup has strong potential, your role is significant, and the overall compensation package is competitive. However, it could also be seen as low depending on the context. It's essential to assess all these factors before making a decision.
Of the equity pool for employees, shareholders may receive the following average percentages of equity in the company by level of seniority: C-suite executives: 0.8% to 5% Vice president: 0.3% to 2% Director: 0.4% to 1%
A good benchmark to consider is that your advisors should be receiving between 0.1% to 0.25% of the company because more often than not, advisors will only devote a small portion of their time to your company and may have conflicting commitments.
Private equity firms generally target consultants who are early in their tenure for associate-level roles. The ideal backgrounds tend to have 1-3 years of pre-MBA experience, healthy exposure to commercial due diligence projects, strong commercial instincts and a passion for investing.
While employment contracts establish a traditional employer-employee relationship with greater control and benefits, consulting agreements offer flexibility, independence, and project-based arrangements.