Capitalization table

Also called: cap table

In one line

The master list of who owns what in a company — every share, option and the percentage each holder controls.

In plain English

The cap table is the company's ownership spreadsheet: founders, investors, the option pool and you. It's how anyone works out what a given stake is worth and what fraction of the company it represents.

If you were explaining it to a 5-year-old

It's the list on the wall showing how many LEGO bricks each kid in the club owns, out of all the bricks there are.

Why it matters when you sell

Your share of the total (and where you sit behind investors) determines your real ownership and value — the starting point for pricing a sale.

Put it to use

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Sources

A general market-practice term. See how we define and source the glossary in our methodology. General information, not advice.

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Capitalization table

Related terms

Put it to use