Equity Shouldn't Be A Mystery
Design a plan that employees understand and boards trust.
The Complexity Gap
Equity compensation shouldn’t feel like a risk to manage. But for leadership teams, it often does.
When your plan is difficult to explain, hard to administer, or unclear in value, it creates friction at every level, from board approval to employee adoption.
- The Communication Breakdown
HR teams struggle to clearly explain equity value, leading to confusion, low engagement, and underutilized compensation. - The Dilution Concern
Leadership and boards worry about giving away too much equity without a clear view of impact or return. - The Compliance Burden
Managing global equity plans introduces regulatory complexity, tax implications, and operational risk across regions.
The Path Forward
We at SOS build equity strategies your HR team can manage, your board can approve, and your employees can actually understand.
- Clarity for HR Teams
We turn complex equity structures into clear, explainable programs your team can confidently communicate. - Confidence for Leadership & Boards
We model dilution, allocation, and long-term impact so you can make informed decisions and defend them. - Compliance Without the Headache
We handle the legal and global complexity, so your plan works across regions without added risk.
A Design for Any Stage
No two companies approach equity the same way. We work with organizations at every stage, with strategies tailored to their structure, growth, and ownership model.
- Venture-Backed Companies
High-growth startups navigating funding rounds, rapid hiring, and dilution planning. - Private & Family-Owned Businesses
Established companies focused on retention, succession planning, and long-term value without going public. - Public Companies
Organizations aligning equity programs with performance, governance requirements, and shareholder expectations.
- Venture-Backed Companies
Equity Expertise
A great design is only as good as its execution. We ensure your vision survives the reality of tax codes, board meetings, and global scale.
- Audit-Ready Precision: We don’t just design the plan; we prepare the proxy and CD&A data so your board and shareholders see the same value you do.
- Tax & Compliance Guardrails: From Section 16 to 6039 year-end reporting, we build compliance into the DNA of your plan to avoid costly “clean-up” later.
- Operational Readiness: Whether it’s an ESPP launch or an M&A event, our team handles the day-to-day administration so your internal HR and Finance teams can stay focused on growth.
- Global Continuity: We bridge the gap between local talent and global regulations, ensuring your equity remains a powerful tool no matter where you hire.
How We Work
The Discovery
We look at what you’re doing now and point out exactly what’s broken or confusing.
The Blueprint
We decide a plan and “stress-test” it to make sure it won’t cause problems down the road.
The Hand-off
We give you the tools and the talk-track to explain the new plan to your team so they actually get excited.
Why Companies Choose SOS
Expertise
Over 25 years of CEP-level mastery ensure that even your most complex equity compliance and reporting requirements are met with precision.
Partnership
We bridge experience and bandwidth gaps by integrating with your team. This provides the steady hand required to navigate your equity operations at every stage of growth.
Responsiveness
We provide direct, immediate access to our experts, ensuring you have the support you need when you need it.
Experience the confidence of a fully-supported equity team—bringing you total peace of mind.
FAQs
Templates are great for saving time, but they don’t know your business. A “standard” plan might work on paper but could accidentally give away too much of your company or create a tax nightmare for your employees. We help you customize a plan that protects your ownership while still being a great deal for your team.
This is one of the biggest “headaches” we solve. We use modeling (basically, a financial stress-test) to show you exactly how your share pool will look in 3, 5, or 10 years. This helps you avoid “running on empty” before your next big growth milestone or IPO.
The rules change the moment you cross a border. What works in California might be illegal or heavily taxed in the UK or India. We specialize in Global Expansion, ensuring that your stock plan is compliant and tax-efficient no matter where your team is located.
If employees don’t understand their stock, they won’t value it. We provide communication toolkits—clear, simple guides and talk-tracks that turn complex legal documents into an exciting “win” for your team. We help them see the real-world value of their hard work.
Absolutely. We often do “Plan Refreshes.” We look under the hood of your current strategy, find the parts that are causing confusion or costing too much, and help you transition to a smoother, more modern structure without upsetting your current shareholders.