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How to plan your Capital Structure

A capital plan is a forecast of future financing rounds and the respective impact on ownership for each shareholder. A Capital Table ("Cap Table") communicates the exact ownership at a given point in time by class of stock. Investors will want this information before they will consider investing in your company. It is also important to you so that you understand the impact of future financing on your ownership.

You can download Excel spreadsheets for an example of a Capital Plan and a Cap Table here.

HOW IT WORKS
Most technology companies are structured as "C" Corporations with two classes of stock: common and preferred. Founders and employees will typically be issued common stock and options while investors will receive one or more series of preferred stock (i.e. Series A, Series B, etc.).

Preferred stock is entitled to a preference on dividends and liquidation.


DO:

  • Complete a capital plan and review it with your legal and accounting counsel.
  • Plan for more capital than you think you need.
  • Plan for a stock option pool equal to __% at the seed stage round.
  • Plan a 10X return for the seed stage investor within 3-5 years.

DON'T:

  • Overvalue your company in the early stages so that early investors loose value on future rounds.
  • Create a complicated financing structure that will hinder or prevent future investment.

For help in completing your capital structure plan contact:

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