You can try to negotiate but the options bands are usually predetermined and approved by the board of directors. Trying to get an exception passed through can be difficult and usually only for leadership positions.
At a startup though, although there are bands, there is almost always the ability to go up from what is first offered.
I would always try to negotiate up by 50% from whatever it is. With startups, it's harder to go up by 50% on cash, but options are more fluid, and the worst they can do is say, "I can't move from X" but in a lot of cases you will probably get, "I can go up to <+25%>".
Negotiation around options is also the best thing to do if you think about it. It shows you think the company has value and that value will be higher in the future, even higher than straight base comp. Would you rather have $1000 more on your salary or $1000 more in options which could have a multiplier in the future. Cash won't. The value of cash is going down over time -- especially recently.
Not always at medium-big startups. It is fixed depending on the position.
I have worked at like 6 different companies now from 20-1400 people. Smaller companies definitely have some flexibility but its usually a cash vs equity conversation.
You should always negotiate - agree there. But you should negotiate cash specifically because the value of it goes down over time. More now is good because you need to pay rent and buy food. Additionally cash comp becomes the basis of: 401k match, bonus, some other benefits (life insurance some times) and more importanty future raises.
frellus|4 years ago
I would always try to negotiate up by 50% from whatever it is. With startups, it's harder to go up by 50% on cash, but options are more fluid, and the worst they can do is say, "I can't move from X" but in a lot of cases you will probably get, "I can go up to <+25%>".
Negotiation around options is also the best thing to do if you think about it. It shows you think the company has value and that value will be higher in the future, even higher than straight base comp. Would you rather have $1000 more on your salary or $1000 more in options which could have a multiplier in the future. Cash won't. The value of cash is going down over time -- especially recently.
up_and_up|4 years ago
Not always at medium-big startups. It is fixed depending on the position.
I have worked at like 6 different companies now from 20-1400 people. Smaller companies definitely have some flexibility but its usually a cash vs equity conversation.
fred_is_fred|4 years ago