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Step-by-step guide

Create and manage an option pool

Set pool size, notes, and allocated or unallocated dilution.

Sensitive cap-table action

Verify permissions, source documents, amounts, dates, affected stakeholders, and the recovery path before changing recorded ownership.

In this article
  1. Before you create the pool
  2. Create and verify the pool
  3. Understand allocated and unallocated capacity
  4. Edit or delete safely

Before you create the pool

Confirm the approved capacity, effective date or round, applicable share class, and dilution treatment. Pool size should come from the company’s authorized plan or other approved source, not from the number of participants currently expected.

Company sidebar → Option plans → Create pool

Create and verify the pool

  1. Enter a name that distinguishes the plan or approval.
  2. Set the pool size and effective round when the workflow requires one.
  3. Choose the approved treatment for allocated and unallocated dilution.
  4. Add notes that identify the source approval and any operating limitation.
  5. Review the projected effect on fully diluted ownership before saving.
  6. After saving, confirm total capacity, allocated quantity, and available quantity before creating offers.

Understand allocated and unallocated capacity

Allocated capacity is already associated with participant offers. Unallocated capacity remains available in the pool. The chosen dilution settings determine how each appears in projected ownership; changing those settings can alter percentages without issuing shares.

Edit or delete safely

Edit pool settings only while dependent offers and equity history permit the change. Before reducing capacity, compare the new total with every existing allocation. A pool with active, vested, terminated, or exercised positions cannot be treated like an empty draft.

Reconcile after structural changes

After changing pool size or dilution treatment, review the pool summary, participant totals, available balance, and company fully diluted ownership. Stop if any total becomes negative or exceeds the approved capacity.