Before you start, confirm you have full Admin access. Not sure about your access level? See Admin access vs. stakeholder access
Referenced in: This article is a prerequisite for Grant options to an employee and Issue shares. Complete your company settings configuration before issuing equity.
This article covers:
Configuring your fiscal year
Adding and configuring share classes
Creating or recording an equity plan
Navigate to company settings
Go to Company in the left navigation bar. This page is your central location for company-wide configuration. Most of the tasks in this article begin here.
Configure your fiscal year
Pulley uses your fiscal year end date to generate accurate reports and tax forms. Setting this correctly before you start issuing equity or generating documents saves significant cleanup later.
Go to Company in the left navigation
Scroll down to the Fiscal Year Settings section
Update the fiscal year end date (for example, December 31 or January 31)
The start date will adjust automatically based on your end date
Save your changes
The fiscal year end date must be the last day of a month (31st, 30th, or 28th/29th for February). Pulley requires this format for certain reports to generate correctly. If your date won't save, check that you're not entering a mid-month date.
Add and configure share classes
Share classes define the types of equity your company issues. At minimum, you need at least one share class configured before you can issue equity.
Common share class types
Share class | Typically held by | Notes |
Common Stock | Founders, employees, advisors | Basic ownership with voting rights |
Preferred Stock (Series Seed, Series A, etc.) | Investors | Includes liquidation preferences and special rights; added before fundraising rounds |
Phantom Stock / Profits Interests | Employees (LLCs) | Cash-settled; doesn't grant actual ownership |
C-Corps vs. LLCs: C-Corporations issue shares (Common Stock, Preferred Stock). LLCs issue units (Class A Units, Class B Units) and may also issue Profits Interests or Phantom Stock. Pulley automatically surfaces the correct terminology based on how your company type is recorded in your company settings. If you're set up as an LLC, you'll see unit classes rather than share classes throughout the platform. If the terminology you're seeing doesn't match your company structure, check your company type under Company → Settings.
Steps to add a share class
Go to Cap Table → Share Classes in the left navigation
Click Add a Share Class
Complete the form:
Name: for example, "Common Stock," "Series A Preferred," or "Phantom Units"
Share Class Type: Common or Preferred
Exclude from Fully Diluted: Select this if the share class should not contribute to your fully diluted share count. This applies to phantom stock, vStock, and tokens
Complete remaining fields as applicable (authorized shares, par value, etc.)
Click Save & Continue
Edit vs. amend an existing share class
These are two distinct actions with different purposes. Using the wrong one can create compliance issues.
Action | When to use |
Edit | Fix errors or add detail not previously provided (for example, whether shares are certificated, adding optional prefixes) |
Amend | Increase the number of authorized shares allocated to a share class. Typically done alongside legal documentation and board or shareholder approval |
To edit or amend: Go to Cap Table → Share Classes, select the share class, click Actions, and choose Edit or Amend. To delete an amendment, select Delete next to the amendment.
Create or record an equity plan
An equity plan is a pool of shares set aside for future grants to employees and advisors. You need at least one equity plan configured before you can issue options or restricted stock awards.
If you... | Use this option |
Need a standard equity plan and want Pulley to generate the legal document and are incorporated in the state of Delaware | |
Already have a plan drafted by legal counsel, or need non-standard terms |
Option A: Create an equity plan (Pulley-generated)
Delaware incorporation required. Option A is only available to companies incorporated in Delaware. Pulley's equity plan templates are legally drafted under Delaware corporate law. If your company is incorporated in another state, this option will not appear. Use Option B to record an equity plan drafted by your legal counsel instead.
Use this if you're setting up your first equity plan and want Pulley to generate the legal document using a standard template. If you need non-standard terms (such as an extended post-termination exercise window), work with your legal counsel to draft the plan outside Pulley and use Option B instead.
Go to Hire and Retain → Equity Plans (or Cap Table → Equity Plans)
Click the green Add Equity Plan button
Select Create an Equity Plan
Complete the required fields:
Equity Plan Name: typically includes the year of creation, for example "2024 Stock Plan"
Share Class: the class of share being issued, for example "Common"
Plan Size: typically 10–15% of common shares
Post-termination exercise information (optional at initial creation)
Check the box to confirm you have read the disclaimer and want to create a legal document
Click Save Equity Plan
After saving, you'll be redirected to the Equity Plans page and prompted to get board approval. Board approval is required before you can issue grants from the plan.
Country availability: You can issue equity to individuals in the following countries using a Pulley-generated equity plan: Australia, Brazil, Canada, EU member countries, India, Poland, United Kingdom, and United States.
Option B: Record an equity plan (created outside Pulley)
Use this if your equity plan was drafted outside Pulley by your legal team, or if you need non-standard terms.
Company settings are the foundation of everything else in Pulley. Your fiscal year, share classes, and equity plan configuration affect cap table accuracy, tax form generation, and your ability to issue equity. This article walks you through each configuration task in the recommended sequence.
Go to Cap Table → Equity Plans
Click Add Equity Plan
Select Record an Equity Plan
Complete the required fields:
Equity Plan Name
Share Class
Plan Size
Attach the equity plan document in the Attachments area
Scroll down to enter post-termination exercise details as stated in your plan documentation (fields will default to standard times if not specified)
Click Save Equity Plan
Multiple equity plans: If your company has more than one equity plan, make sure to specify the correct plan name when issuing grants. Accurate plan tracking is critical for compliance and reporting.
Update your company name
If your company name changed or was entered incorrectly during onboarding, you can update it in Company settings.
Troubleshooting
The fiscal year end date won't save
Make sure the date is set to the last day of a month (31st, 30th, or 28th/29th for February). Mid-month dates are not accepted. If the date appears correct but still won't save, try clearing the field and re-entering it manually.
I need a share class that doesn't affect fully diluted share count
When adding the share class, select Exclude from Fully Diluted in Section 1 of the form. This applies to phantom stock, vStock, and tokens.
I need an equity plan with non-standard terms
Pulley-generated equity plans are designed for standard terms. If you need a customized plan (for example, an extended post-termination exercise window), work with your legal counsel to draft the plan outside Pulley, then use Option B above to record it.
What's next
Once your company settings are configured, you're ready to move into the next steps:
Add your team: Add administrators and team members
Invite stakeholders: Invite stakeholders to their portal
Issue equity: Understanding equity plan capacity