CARTA BLOG

Employee resource center

Equity is confusing. We’re here to help. These equity education posts can help you understand equity basics, how to navigate your equity offer, what to expect when exercising, and more.

Equity 101 Part 3: How stock options are taxed

We explore what it means to exercise stock options, the taxes you may need to pay, and the common times people exercise their options.

Equity 101 Part 2: Stock option strike prices

What determines a stock option strike price? Learn more about strike prices, how stock options gain value over time, and dilution.

Equity 101 Part 1: Startup employee stock options

Received stock options from your company and don’t understand what that means? Here’s how to make sense of your offer letter and option grant.

How to value your equity offer (free startup equity calculator)

Learn how to evaluate the equity portion of your job offer and download our free equity calculator to see what your options could be worth.

What are employee stock options?

Stock options aren’t actual shares—they’re the opportunity to exercise (purchase) a certain amount of company shares at an agreed-upon price. Learn more.

What happens to equity when a company is acquired?

If you’re at a company that has potential to be acquired, learn how an acquisistion could affect your equity.

What does exercising stock options mean?

Exercising stock options means purchasing shares of the issuer’s common stock at the set price defined in your option grant.

What is alternative minimum tax (AMT)?

The alternative minimum tax (AMT) is a different way of calculating your tax obligation. Learn if you’re more prone to paying it, how to calculate it, how you may be able to minimize it, and more.

What is vesting?

To encourage employees to stay with a company longer, employees have to earn the right to purchase their shares over time. This is called vesting.