Startup Cap Table Template - Using Equity As Seed Capital
A Startup Cap Table is usually a spreadsheet, most often used by early stage startups or newer start-ups, which clearly identifies the ownership structure of the business. The startup cap table helps entrepreneurs to calculate the total equity they have invested in the business. It can also be used to determine if an angel investor has provided seed money or if a private funding source has provided seed money. The spreadsheet allows an entrepreneur to make the necessary calculations easily without having to rely on accounting software. The startup cap table describes to the novice investor what he is looking for, while explaining the risk factors associated with specific numbers.
Investors who are new to startups should start with a simple startup cap table template to get a feel of the level of risk involved. Most experts advise against putting too much emphasis on the numbers because it often leads to unrealistic assumptions about the startup's future success. However, the numbers provide a realistic assessment of how much money will be needed, as well as the anticipated return. This information is important because it shows how investors will have to divide their funds among many, or all, of the startups offering the same products and services.
The startup cap table template should be easily customized to include all information that is relevant to the investment. For example, some investors prefer to see the amount of shares that can be owned by each partner. Some investors prefer to see dollar amounts in millions rather than shares of a small amount. In addition, some businesses want to know their potential return on their new investments.
To customize the startup cap table template, an investor need only enter the total number of shares owned by each partner. For instance, if the total number of shares owned is 100, then each partner should have 100 shares. Likewise, if there is only one partner, then he or she should not have more than that. The number should be easily customizable so that the spreadsheet can be tailor-made for the particular business and investors.
By default, the values shown on the startup cap table must be set to zero. However, if the startup is public, then this is the best choice. Otherwise, investors will see little benefit from paying dividends or using their capital to buy additional shares issued on the business. Investors can also select the percentage of profits that they are allowed to deduct from their gross income.
The value of equity should be based on the assumption that all shareholders will make profits. However, some investors may prefer to give themselves a bit of a safety net by investing only a portion of their capital in the startup. In this case, the value of equity should be equal to a percentage of the total capital that has been invested in the business. In the event of a bankruptcy, this percentage would obviously be much lower. On the other hand, if investors continue to have good relations with the company, then they can expect a certain amount of flexibility regarding the ownership structure.
A startup cap table template can also help business owners who do not want to have a public company; instead, they would prefer to be classified as a private company, which has different advantages and disadvantages. To be clear, private companies do not have to issue any dividends to its shareholders. A public company must issue public reports about its activities, but it can choose not to publish performance numbers; thus, it may not be able to make decisions based on what the investors think about the company's future performance.
Private company shares have several advantages. First, they are much easier to purchase than those in public companies. Second, they allow for greater equity participation since less money needs to be paid out as a dividend. Lastly, in the initial stages of a private company, they can be used as a source of borrowing money, which could be very helpful in the later years.