Offer A
$
$
$
$
$
VS
Offer B
$
$
$
$
$
Calculating...
$0
more total value over 4 years

4-Year Base Salary

Offer A
—
Offer B
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Equity Value Today

Offer A
—
Offer B
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Equity % of Company

Offer A
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Offer B
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Total 4-Year Value

Offer A
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Offer B
—

Your winning offer has $0 in equity — see if it's competitive

You know which offer is worth more on paper. Now find out if that winning equity is above or below market for your role, company stage, and location — plus exact negotiation language if it's low.

Your report includes: market benchmark comparison (above/fair/below market), exit-value scenarios, full vesting schedule, and PDF — personalized with your numbers.

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Compensation Breakdown Over Time

Detailed Comparison

Metric Offer A Offer B Winner

Upside Scenarios (at different exit valuations)

Exit Valuation Offer A Offer B Winner

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How do you compare two startup equity offers?

Comparing startup offers means looking at total compensation over the vesting period, not just annual salary. The formula:

Total Value = (Salary + Bonus) × Vesting Years + Stock Options Value

Stock options value depends on the spread between current fair market value (FMV) and your strike price. Option Value = (Number of Options) × (FMV − Strike Price). If FMV ≤ strike price, options have no immediate value. Factor in exercise cost (Options × Strike Price) and taxes.

Risk adjustment: Early-stage startups offer higher equity % but lower exit probability. Later-stage offers lower equity % but higher salary and exit probability. Calculate expected value: (Equity Value × Your Exit Probability Estimate) + Guaranteed Salary.

Worked example: Offer A: $150K salary, 10,000 options at $2 strike, $50M FMV, 4-year vest. Offer B: $180K salary, 5,000 options at $5 strike, $100M FMV, 4-year vest. Option A value = 10,000 × ($50M valuation / 10M shares implied − $2) ≈ $30K spread. Total A = ($150K × 4) + $30K = $630K. Option B value = 5,000 × ($100M / 10M − $5) = $45K. Total B = ($180K × 4) + $45K = $765K. Offer B wins by $135K.

Frequently Asked Questions

What matters more: salary or equity?
It depends on your risk profile and exit probability. High salary + low equity = lower downside. Low salary + high equity = higher upside but more risk. Calculate risk-adjusted expected value: (Equity Value × Exit Probability) + Guaranteed Salary. Also consider role growth, company trajectory, and personal runway.
How do stock options affect offer value?
Stock option value = (Number of Options) × (Current FMV - Strike Price). If FMV ≤ strike price, options have no immediate value (underwater). Consider potential future growth and exit scenarios. Factor in exercise cost (options × strike price) and tax implications (ISO vs NSO). Lower strike price = more value per option.
Should I choose early-stage or later-stage startup equity?
Early-stage: higher equity % (1–5% typical), lower salary, lower exit probability (5–20%). Later-stage: lower equity % (0.1–0.5%), higher salary, higher exit probability (40–80%). Compare expected value: (Equity Value × Exit Probability) + Salary. Also consider role seniority, learning opportunities, and company momentum.
What is a good equity percentage for a startup job offer?
Benchmarks by role and stage: Seed/C-level: 1–5%; Series A/C-level: 0.5–2%; Series B+/C-level: 0.25–1%. Seed/Engineer: 0.25–1%; Series A/Engineer: 0.1–0.5%; Series B+/Engineer: 0.05–0.2%. Use the Equity Score calculator to compare your offer against industry benchmarks for your role and company stage.

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