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Equity basics

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Author: The Carta Team
Date: April 2023
featured article
Equity in business
Equity is the portion of a company that is owned by shareholders. We'll guide you through the basics of business equity ownership.
Startup equity calculator
Employee Resource Center
January 2025
Startup equity calculator
Learn how to value your startup equity and download our startup equity calculator to see what your equity could be worth. Calculate your startup equity value today.
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Stock vesting
Educational Essentials
March 2024
Stock vesting
In this article, learn the basics of stock option vesting, how vesting works, vesting schedules, and why it matters for startup employees.
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Strike price
Equity Education
January 2024
Strike price
Wondering what determines strike prices and how much your stock options could be worth? Learn about strike prices, and how options can gain value over time.
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Learn more

Types of equity

What are stock options and how do they work?

Incentive Stock Options (ISOs)

Non-Qualified Stock Options (NSOs)

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

Equity 101 video course

Carta Classroom | Curriculums | Equity 101 thumbnail
VIDEO COURSE

What is equity?

The short answer: Equity is partial ownership in a company. Walk through why owning equity in a private company can have seriously life-changing results.
Lesson 3: Angel investors thumbnail
VIDEO COURSE

How vesting works

Vesting usually means earning the right to actually own your equity. And that’s often a matter of time.
Carta Classroom | Curriculums | Venture Capital 101 thumbnail
VIDEO COURSE

How to sell your shares

What are the different ways you can sell your shares in a private company, and what do you need to consider before you make that decision?
Carta Classroom | Curriculums | Equity 101 thumbnail
VIDEO COURSE

What is equity?

The short answer: Equity is partial ownership in a company. Walk through why owning equity in a private company can have seriously life-changing results.
Lesson 3: Angel investors thumbnail

How vesting works

Vesting usually means earning the right to actually own your equity. And that’s often a matter of time.
Carta Classroom | Curriculums | Venture Capital 101 thumbnail

How to sell your shares

What are the different ways you can sell your shares in a private company, and what do you need to consider before you make that decision?

Exercising and taxes

What does it mean to exercise stock options?

Read now Read now
Exercising Stock Options: How & When to Exercise | Carta

How stock options are taxed

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Taxes on Equity: What You Need to Know | Carta

What is the alternative minimum tax (AMT)?

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Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) - What You Need to Know | Carta

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