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Key benefit
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Employees have the right to purchase shares of company stock at the strike price
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Employees receive shares of company stock
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Action required
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Employee must exercise the options to get stock
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No action is required by the employee to get stock
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Exercise price
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Generally based on the stock’s fair market value near the grant date
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None
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Vesting
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Usually awarded on a set time-based vesting schedule
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Usually awarded on a set vesting schedule based on time and/or company liquidity event
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Taxation
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Potentially taxed at exercise, then again at sale depending on the stock price at purchase vs. sale
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Taxed when vested, and potentially again if the stock goes up after vesting but before sale
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Common uses
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Early or mid-stage start-ups
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Late-stage start-ups and public companies
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