Getting More - What You Should Know About Negotiating Start-up Job Offers
thedailymuse.comDon't get when people say you should always push for more equity. Why? I'd rather not play the lottery.
If you're not pushing for equity, why are you doing a startup? I'm talking about an earlier-stage startup where there isn't a lot of money for salaries (i.e., you are getting below-market rates regardless).
I'm always surprised by how many people I speak to at other companies who value their equity at 0 when negotiating a startup offer. Whether or not those shares have value to you, they have a huge amount of value to the company/founders/existing employees, and they're a bargaining chip like everything else.
um because it is zero in most cases.
Then don't take any equity and ask for a higher salary instead (or, accept that it's not a time you want to be taking a risk on a startup, and look at a bigger company role). The founders should believe that equity has a lot of value, which means it's an important negotiating chip either way. If they don't, you might have a bigger problem
I find it hard to understand when people join startups where they don't have the conviction that the equity will be worth anything. Although there is always a high chance of failure, you should at least be playing with odds you believe in
Well I am selling pick axes as my time and skills. If you believe there is gold in the river upstream why do I have to bet on it ? If you really want employees to believe in your mission , you are looking for founders not employees.