Equity

Our Equity Services

Managing equity is critical for founders, employees, and investors alike. VirtualCounsel helps startups issue stock options, equity grants, and incentive plans compliantly—avoiding messy cap tables and protecting company value. With expert support in cap table management and investor readiness, we ensure your equity structure scales with your business.

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Equity Services we offer

Make equity simple and compliant. Our team handles stock option grants, equity plans, cap table setup, and investor-ready packages—ensuring accuracy, compliance, and clarity at every stage.
Equity
Issue securities compliantly and ensure your equity is handled with care and accuracy. A messy cap table can be very dangerous.   
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Stock Option Grant (ISO / NSO)
$600
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Equity

Stock Option Grant (ISO / NSO)

$600
Grant stock options with clarity, compliance, and confidence.

We prepare customized Stock Option Grant Agreements issued under your company’s Equity Incentive Plan (EIP), ensuring each grant is properly structured, authorized, and documented for compliance and future diligence. Whether issuing Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) or Nonqualified Stock Options (NSOs), we help you understand the differences and select the structure that best aligns with your compensation strategy, tax considerations, and employee expectations.

This service delivers clean documentation, proper board approvals, and clear guidance on vesting, exercise mechanics, and equity administration—so you can issue option awards confidently and maintain a complete, compliant paper trail.

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Scope of Work
  • Draft Stock Option Grant Agreement tailored to Client’s EIP and specific award terms
  • Draft corresponding Board Consent approving the stock option grant
  • Conduct consultation with Client via phone/email to address ISO vs. NSO classification, vesting schedules, exercise mechanics, and other compliance considerations
  • Finalize Grant Agreement and Board Consent for execution and circulation for e-signature
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Resources on Equity
Founder / Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement (FSPA / RSPA)
$1,400
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Equity

Founder / Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement (FSPA / RSPA)

$1,400
Establish founder and early team ownership with clear, compliant equity documentation.

We prepare customized Founder and Restricted Stock Purchase Agreements (FSPA / RSPA) that formalize equity ownership and protect your company’s long-term interests. These agreements define vesting, repurchase, and transfer terms to ensure your capitalization table remains clean, compliant, and investor-ready. Ideal for founders, early hires, or advisors receiving restricted stock at formation or during early growth.

Scope of Work
  • Draft Founder / Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement tailored to Client’s capitalization and governance documents
  • Draft corresponding Board Consent approving the issuance
  • Consultation with Client via phone/email to address relevant vesting schedules, repurchase rights, and compliance considerations
  • Finalize Founder / Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement and Board Consent for execution and circulation for e-signature
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Resources on Equity
Stock Award / Grant (RSA, RSU, SAR)
$1,400
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Equity

Stock Award / Grant (RSA, RSU, SAR)

$1,400
Issue equity awards confidently with clear, compliant documentation and board approval.

We prepare customized Stock Award and Grant Agreements issued under your company’s Equity Incentive Plan (EIP), ensuring each award aligns with your governance documents, capitalization structure, and long-term incentives strategy. This service covers a variety of award types—including Restricted Stock Awards (RSAs), Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)—and offers thoughtful structuring around vesting, transfer restrictions, and compliance.

Whether you’re incentivizing executives, employees, advisors, or founders, we help you issue equity awards smoothly and confidently, while safeguarding your company’s interests and maintaining a compliant paper trail for future due diligence.

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Scope of Work
  • Draft Stock Award / Grant Agreement tailored to Client’s equity structure and award type
  • Draft corresponding Board Consent approving the issuance
  • Consultation with Client via phone/email to address vesting, transfer restrictions, and compliance considerations
  • Finalize Stock Award / Grant Agreement and Board Consent for execution and circulation for e-signature
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Resources on Equity
Equity Incentive Plan (EIP)
$2,000
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Equity

Equity Incentive Plan (EIP)

$2,000
Design and implement an equity plan that drives alignment, retention, and growth.

We prepare a customized Equity Incentive Plan (EIP) that enables your company to issue options or other equity awards to employees, advisors, and directors. This service ensures your plan is investor-ready, compliant with applicable securities laws, and easy to manage as your company scales.

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Scope of Work
  • Draft comprehensive Equity Incentive Plan and related board and stockholder consents
  • Draft form of Option Grant Agreement and related award documentation
  • Consultation with Client via phone/email to address relevant plan design, vesting schedules, and compliance considerations including 409A
  • Finalize Equity Incentive Plan and Agreements for adoption and implementation
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Resources on Equity
Cap Table Setup and Management
$5,000
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Equity

Cap Table Setup and Management

$5,000
Streamline your equity management with accurate, investor-ready capitalization records.

As Carta Certified Experts, we help you streamline equity management with precise, compliant cap table solutions. Clients onboarding through us enjoy 20% off Carta subscriptions, and while Carta is our preferred platform, we’re equally equipped to support cap tables built on other platforms.

This service includes a detailed review of all existing equity documentation—founder and employee stock agreements, investor agreements (including convertible notes, SAFEs, and warrants)—as well as the creation of a comprehensive pro forma cap table. We ensure your records are accurate, compliant, and ready for investors or auditors.

Scope of Work
  • Analyze existing cap table and all supporting equity documentation
  • Review Founder, Employee, and Investor Stock Purchase and Option Agreements
  • Review Convertible Notes, SAFEs, and Warrants
  • Build detailed Pro Forma Cap Table reflecting current and post-transaction ownership
  • Consultation with Client via phone/email regarding 409A valuation planning and equity strategy
  • Finalize Cap Table for compliance and investor readiness
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Resources on Equity
Investor-Ready Package
$6,000
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Equity

Investor-Ready Package

$6,000
Position your company for fundraising success with clear, compliant, investor-grade documentation.

Whether you’re raising your first round or preparing for institutional investment, this service ensures your company is ready to meet investor expectations. We combine practical business strategy with legal precision to get your house in order—so you can focus on capital, not cleanup.

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Scope of Work
  • Conduct legal and structural review of company formation documents, governance materials, and capitalization table
  • Identify and prioritize legal or operational gaps impacting investor readiness
  • Draft or update key materials, such as Charter, Bylaws, Stock Purchase Agreements, or convertible instruments, as needed
  • Consultation with Client via phone/email to address structure, investor relations, and closing logistics
  • Build or refine pro forma cap table and prepare deliverables for investor review or due diligence
  • Finalize documentation for investor presentation or financing readiness
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Resources on Equity

Our Equity Offerings Guide

Explore how our General Counsel services support governance, compliance, and strategic advisory. Learn how we help with board resolutions, regulatory research, and audits—plus get expert insights to reduce risk, stay compliant, and make confident business decisions.
Read the Guide
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10:47am
Stock Option Grant Approved
Attached: Signed equity grant documents are now recorded on your cap table.
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Equity Plan Review Meeting
11:00 EST – Thursday
Slack Message
Thanks for helping us clean up our cap table — investors finally said it looks “bulletproof.”

Related Resources

Unvested Shares Demystified: Understanding Equity Compensation in Startups

Equity

When a company grants stock, it doesn’t mean employees immediately own it outright. Instead, the equity is tied to a vesting schedule - a structured process that gradually transfers ownership over time. Unvested shares are those that an employee has been granted but are still subject to the company’s right to repurchase if the employee leaves early.

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Understanding Acceleration: Protecting Startup Talent Through Vesting Strategies

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Acceleration is a mechanism in equity compensation that allows employees or founders to vest their stock options faster than the original schedule. It is most often triggered by significant events like a company acquisition. Acceleration ensures that key contributors are fairly compensated during major transitions and protects the value of their equity.

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Vesting Schedules: The Strategic Foundation of Startup Equity Compensation

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For both founders and employees, vesting schedules are more than a technical requirement. They are a strategic tool that determines how equity is earned, how long employees remain motivated, and how well a startup protects its ownership structure. A well-designed vesting schedule can strengthen retention, build loyalty, and align incentives between the company and its team.

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Equity Incentive Plans / Equity Stock Option Plans

Equity

For startup founders, an option pool is more than a technical detail - it’s a strategic tool. The size, structure, and timing of your equity incentive plan can determine your ability to attract top talent, align incentives, and keep your company’s cap table clean for future investors.

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Option Pools and Acquisitions: Navigating the Equity Landscape

Equity

When a startup is acquired, the treatment of its option pool becomes a critical factor for both founders and employees. Option pools influence retention, compensation, and how value is distributed during a merger or acquisition. Understanding what happens to these equity instruments helps founders negotiate better terms and employees make informed financial decisions.

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NSOs v. ISOs: Strategic Equity Decisions for Startups

Equity

For startup founders, choosing between Non-Qualified Stock Options (NSOs) and Incentive Stock Options (ISOs) isn't just a matter of tax implications—it's a strategic decision that affects your ability to attract talent, manage company finances, and create the right incentives. Let's explore both options to help you make informed equity decisions for your venture.

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Stock Options: An Overview

Equity

For startup employees, stock options represent more than just potential future wealth - they are a key part of compensation and long-term financial planning. Understanding how stock options work, and the differences between option types, can help you make informed decisions that align with your career and financial goals.

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Stock Warrants in Startup Funding: Strategic Tools for Capital Raises

Equity

In the complex landscape of startup financing, stock warrants are often misunderstood but highly effective tools. Warrants give investors, lenders, or partners the right - but not the obligation - to buy shares at a set price in the future. When used strategically, warrants can provide flexibility in capital raising while aligning investor and company interests.

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Common vs. Preferred Stock: A Startup's Guide to Equity Fundamentals

Equity

In the intricate world of startup financing, understanding the difference between common and preferred stock is crucial. These two types of equity are not just legal distinctions—they represent fundamentally different approaches to ownership, risk, and reward.

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Equity Dilution Demystified: What Every Startup Founder Needs to Know

Equity

In the startup world, few concepts spark as much anxiety as equity dilution. Many founders assume dilution is always negative, but the reality is more nuanced. Equity dilution is a natural and often necessary part of growth. By understanding its mechanics, you can manage dilution strategically and build long-term value.

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Decoding 409A Valuations: Navigating the Complexities of Startup Stock Valuation

Equity

In the high-stakes world of startup equity, understanding 409A valuations isn't just a compliance checkbox—it's a critical strategy that can make or break your company's financial health and employee compensation framework.

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RSAs vs. RSUs: Navigating Startup Equity Compensation

Equity

For startup founders and employees, equity compensation is not just a financial detail - it’s a strategic tool for growth, retention, and alignment.

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Understanding 83(b) Elections: A Critical Tax Strategy for Startup Equity

Equity

We want to inform you of an important tax provision that can significantly impact how equity compensation is taxed for startup employees, founders, and early-stage contributors.

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Founder Preferred Stock: What Entrepreneurs Should Know

Equity

For startup founders, stock structure is more than a technicality - it’s a strategic decision that influences control, investor relations, and fundraising potential. Founders Preferred stock can take different forms, each carrying unique advantages and tradeoffs.

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Determining Par Value for Startup Stock

Equity

Par value is one of the foundational decisions in a startup’s equity structure. While it may seem like a minor technicality, par value directly affects how stock is issued, how founders and employees receive equity, and how investors perceive the company.

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Founder Equity: Strategic Considerations for Equitable Distribution

Equity

Splitting equity among co-founders is one of the most important and sensitive decisions in the early life of a startup. The distribution of ownership impacts motivation, team alignment, and the long-term health of the company. This guide outlines the key principles, methods, and pitfalls to consider when dividing founder equity.

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Startup Shares: Determining the Right Number of Shares at Incorporation

Equity

For startup founders, determining the number of shares to issue at incorporation is a critical decision that impacts ownership structure, employee incentives, and future funding potential. This memo outlines the key factors to consider when allocating shares in your new venture.

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Startup Shares 101: Navigating the Complexities of Share Calculations

Equity

In the intricate world of startup finance, understanding share calculations is crucial. What seems like a straightforward counting exercise quickly becomes a nuanced exploration of different share types and calculation methods. Let's break down the three key ways startups measure their shares.

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Startup Equity Compensation: The Basics

Equity

For startup founders and entrepreneurs, equity compensation is more than a recruitment tool. It builds an ownership culture, attracts top talent, and aligns employee incentives with company growth. Understanding the fundamentals of equity plans helps you design a structure that supports long-term success.

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Most founders get equity compensation wrong.


You're trying to figure out stock options, vesting schedules, and cap tables without clear guidance.


You're concerned about dilution, fairness to early employees, and maintaining founder control.


You're risking future fundraising complications because your equity structure isn't investor-ready.


We get it, which is why we structure equity plans that are built to last.‍

Your Equity Advantage

Clean, Accurate Cap Tables

We ensure your ownership records are clear and compliant, avoiding costly mistakes that derail funding.

Attract & Retain Talent

Equity grants and incentive plans help you recruit top employees and keep them invested in your success.

Investor-Ready Structure

From EIP setup to compliance checks, we make sure your company is positioned for funding and growth.
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Hear what clients have to say:

“@VirtualCounsel is also strategic in terms of helping us to think about our risks in a different way, and some of those other risks and opportunities that I may not be thinking of . . .

They help me manage downside, think through opportunities in detail, organize our employees, and structure everything in a smart and effective way.”

Digital is our default

We know that today's clients are technologically sophisticated and expect the same from their service providers. We leverage technology to streamline communication, keep projects organized and make our workflow as efficient as possible.
Loom
Slack
Google Drive
Gusto
Google Meet
Basecamp
Zoom
Carta
Loom
Slack
Google Drive
Gusto
Google Meet
Basecamp
Zoom
Carta
Loom
Slack
Google Drive
Gusto
Google Meet
Basecamp
Zoom
Carta

Equity Plans Built for Growth

Partner with our equity experts to structure ownership the right way. From stock option grants and equity incentive plans to cap table management and investor-ready packages, we’ll ensure compliance and accuracy so you can focus on growing your business.

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Talk to an Equity Expert
@VirtualCounsel is the leading law firm for startups on a monthly subscription.
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