Selling Pre-IPO Shares

Unlock more possibilities.

Whether you want to diversify your assets or have immediate financial needs like paying for college or buying a home, Forge can help you understand and potentially unlock equity in your private company shares.

How to sell pre-IPO stock?

If you hold private company shares – whether as an employee or an early investor – Forge can help connect you with accredited investors to potentially purchase your shares at a mutually agreed-upon price.

The process from start to sell

  1. Create a free Forge account to connect with a Private Market Specialist.
  2. Indicate your interest to sell and access Forge’s network of accredited investors and institutions.
  3. Work with Forge's Private Market Specialists who'll help guide you through every step of the transaction.

See what your private company shares can do.

Can you sell your private company stock?

Yes, selling your private company stock is possible. However, your ability to do so is contingent on your company's specific policy regarding the sale of private stock, as well as finding an interested buyer for your shares who qualifies as an "accredited investor" as defined by FINRA and the SEC.

Some companies may allow vested share sales, while others may have restrictions or set specific times for selling. While companies understand their employees' needs for liquidity, such sales could affect the company's valuation and capitalization table. Therefore, any sale of private company shares typically requires approval from the company.

Can you sell your pre-IPO shares on your own?

Yes, selling your pre-IPO shares on your own is possible, but it requires finding an accredited investor and obtaining your company's approval. The process involves negotiating terms, handling paperwork, and coordinating with a transfer agent. Although challenging and time-consuming, it is possible to manage the sale yourself.

Additionally, some companies offer share buyback programs or tender offers, providing a structured way to sell shares. These events aren't guaranteed and come with set eligibility criteria and non-negotiable prices. It's crucial to recognize that these company-led sales might not align with your personal financial goals.

Selling your private company shares on a secondary marketplace

To sell your private company shares on Forge’s secondary marketplace, you will need to register and provide details about your shares including your desired sale price. Forge aims to match you with a buyer, but the final price is subject to supply and demand, and a sale is not guaranteed.

Once a buyer is found, Forge assists with documentation and seeks company approval for the transaction, which can take 30-60 days and incurs a service fee of about 5% of the sale price. Forge provides broker support throughout the process to align the sale with your financial goals.

Things to consider before selling pre-IPO shares

Before selling pre-IPO shares, you will be required to secure your company's approval and understand its stock sale policies. Check for any holding period requirements or secondary sale restrictions.

You should be aware of potential tax liabilities and strategize the timing of your sale to align with your personal financial goals. Consider whether waiting could affect share value and ensure the decision you make fits your risk comfort level. Remember, platforms like Forge may facilitate finding buyers, but prices and sales are not guaranteed and are subject to company constraints and approval processes.

Can you sell your private company stock?
Can you sell your pre-IPO shares on your own?
Selling your private company shares on a secondary marketplace
Things to consider before selling pre-IPO shares

Yes, selling your private company stock is possible. However, your ability to do so is contingent on your company's specific policy regarding the sale of private stock, as well as finding an interested buyer for your shares who qualifies as an "accredited investor" as defined by FINRA and the SEC.

Some companies may allow vested share sales, while others may have restrictions or set specific times for selling. While companies understand their employees' needs for liquidity, such sales could affect the company's valuation and capitalization table. Therefore, any sale of private company shares typically requires approval from the company.

Yes, selling your pre-IPO shares on your own is possible, but it requires finding an accredited investor and obtaining your company's approval. The process involves negotiating terms, handling paperwork, and coordinating with a transfer agent. Although challenging and time-consuming, it is possible to manage the sale yourself.

Additionally, some companies offer share buyback programs or tender offers, providing a structured way to sell shares. These events aren't guaranteed and come with set eligibility criteria and non-negotiable prices. It's crucial to recognize that these company-led sales might not align with your personal financial goals.

To sell your private company shares on Forge’s secondary marketplace, you will need to register and provide details about your shares including your desired sale price. Forge aims to match you with a buyer, but the final price is subject to supply and demand, and a sale is not guaranteed.

Once a buyer is found, Forge assists with documentation and seeks company approval for the transaction, which can take 30-60 days and incurs a service fee of about 5% of the sale price. Forge provides broker support throughout the process to align the sale with your financial goals.

Before selling pre-IPO shares, you will be required to secure your company's approval and understand its stock sale policies. Check for any holding period requirements or secondary sale restrictions.

You should be aware of potential tax liabilities and strategize the timing of your sale to align with your personal financial goals. Consider whether waiting could affect share value and ensure the decision you make fits your risk comfort level. Remember, platforms like Forge may facilitate finding buyers, but prices and sales are not guaranteed and are subject to company constraints and approval processes.

How can the private market help meet your needs?

Whether you’re ready to sell shares, considering diversifying your portfolio or simply want to learn more about the private market, Forge clears a path to help you reach your investment goals.

Build confidence.

Partner with a Forge Private Market Specialist to learn about the private market and how to navigate the transaction process.

Partner with a Forge Private Market Specialist to learn about the private market and how to navigate the transaction process.

Be prepared.

Explore potential funding for life’s big moments — whether it’s purchasing a home, paying for tuition or covering unexpected expenses.

Explore potential funding for life’s big moments — whether it’s purchasing a home, paying for tuition or covering unexpected expenses.

Branch out.

Consider broadening your investment portfolio by selling a portion of your private company shares to mitigate the risk associated with concentration in a single asset.

Consider broadening your investment portfolio by selling a portion of your private company shares to mitigate the risk associated with concentration in a single asset.

Selling Private Company Stock FAQs

Understand key elements of your startup equity and selling pre-IPO shares

Selling Private Shares

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What is Forge?

Forge works to help startup employees sell their vested shares so they can pursue their personal and financial goals.

As an employee at a fast-growing technology company, a large percentage of your compensation may be paid in equity, or stock in the company. Typically, you earn this stock over many years, and the amount may be refreshed throughout your career.

Today, the average startup stays private for 11 years before IPO. That means that it may be as long as 11 years before you can easily sell your shares through a traditional stock transaction.*

As a shareholder and an employee, you may want to convert some of that stock into cash to fund something else in your life, like a house. Or as a way to diversify your financial profile.

That’s where Forge comes in. Forge works to help you sell your shares so that you can use the money however you see fit.

*Jay R. Ritter, University of Florida, 6/17/2022

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How do I get started?

Selling your shares is a four-step process.

  1. Register online with Forge. This process is free and takes just a few minutes.
  2. Enter the name of the private company whose shares you wish to sell, number of shares you’d like to sell, and your asking price per share. A Forge Private Market Specialist will be in touch to share insight into the market for your shares, so it’s ok if you don’t have a price in mind just yet. This information will not be shared with your company.
  3. Forge records your interest and reaches out to its network of approximately 125,000 accredited investors and institutions to source possible buyers.
  4. If there is buyer interest in your block of shares, a Forge Private Market Specialist will reach out to you to help facilitate the terms and a final purchase price. Once the terms are set, Forge works to close your transaction.
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How do I value my private company shares?

Unlike public companies, startups and private companies trade less frequently and are not required to make financial disclosures to the general public. As a result, private company stock prices do not update as frequently.

Forge has completed over 16,000 private market transactions in more than 450 private companies and has a proprietary platform of trading and valuation data that is used to help price your shares. In addition, Forge Private Market Specialists are experienced in facilitating private market transactions. They can share their market insight and bring together all available information to assist you in determining the value of your shares.

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Will my company approve the sale of my shares?

Generally, startups and private companies (sometimes referred to as “issuers”) are supportive of their shareholders selling shares so they have cash for family and personal needs. Private companies often have different procedures in place to manage stock transfers. Your Forge Private Market Specialist will help you navigate your interactions with the company and its preferred transaction process.

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What is Forge’s minimum transaction amount?

Our standard minimum transaction size is $100,000 USD; however, there may be opportunities to sell a smaller amount. Your Forge Private Market Specialist can discuss transaction sizes with you.

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Does Forge charge a fee?

Forge supports multiple structures for private market investments and so fees vary. Typically, Forge’s commission is 5%. Participants may pay a higher commission if the total dollar amount of the transaction is less than our minimum transaction amount of $100,000.

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How long will it take to sell my shares?

On average, a transaction may take 50 days from the time Forge matches a buyer and a seller. Forge keeps you apprised of the timelines and next steps, every step along the way.

Exercising Options

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What is the difference between shares and options?

A stock option is the right – but not the obligation – to purchase company stock at a fixed price, known as the exercise price (or grant price), within a set period of time. Options are granted to employees as part of an Employee Stock Option Plan. Options provide you with the right to purchase actual shares of company stock and become a shareholder sometime in the future. As a shareholder, you may have voting rights and can potentially receive dividends. Option holders do not have those rights until they exercise their options and purchase shares.

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What is vesting?

Vesting is the process by which you earn the right to exercise the options in your Employee Stock Option Plan. In your stock option plan, there is a vesting schedule that details when and how your options "vest" or become available to exercise. Typically for a new employee, options vest over a four-year period with 25% becoming available to exercise on the first anniversary of the option grant. After the first year, it's common for option to vest on a monthly basis. However, option plans vary widely and it's important to read the details of your plan.

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Do my options expire?

Yes, options expire – timing varies, and you should refer to information provided by the company that granted the options. Option holders can exercise the option and realize profits or losses, or if they let the expiration date pass, the options cease to exist.

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What happens to my options if I leave my company?

Your expiration date may change if your employment status changes, and if you leave your company voluntarily, you may have up to 90 days from your termination date to exercise your vested options. This varies and should be confirmed with your employer.

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How do I exercise my shares?

A stock option is exercised when you pay the exercise (or grant) price to receive the shares.

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What is the Forge Options Exercise Bridge Loan?

It can be difficult to come up with the funds needed to exercise your vested, private company stock options, and Forge believes that option holders should have the ability to acquire and sell the equity they have earned. Forge Lending LLC offers employees an Options Exercise Bridge Loan that can provide you with the funds needed to exercise options and sell the resulting stock without incurring a significant upfront cash expense. Learn more here.

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What is Fair Market Value?

Fair Market Value (FMV) is the valued price per share of the stock; FMV is important for tax calculation purposes (at time of exercise and/or at time of sale depending on the type of stock options granted). A stock option may be worth exercising if the FMV of the underlying common stock is more than the grant price. For private companies, it is typically based on the company’s valuation. For public companies, it is based on the price the stock is trading on the stock market that day.

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Do I have to exercise my options?

Exercising options is a personal investment decision. Employees who want to sell their shares with Forge, however, must exercise their options.

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What is my exercise price?

Your exercise price is the price per share you must pay to purchase your shares.

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What is “early exercise”?

Early exercise is when you choose to exercise your stock options before they have vested. This can be a way to minimize your tax liability and increase potential gains depending on the Fair Market Value of your company and your exercise price. Some option holders choose to early exercise so that when the options vest, they already hold the shares. This can be tax advantageous to start the long-term capital gains clock ticking. It's important to point out that not all stock plans or companies offer early exercise.

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What is a “cashless exercise”?

A cashless exercise is when you exercise your options and then immediately sell the resulting shares. With a cashless exercise, you cover the expense of exercising the options with the sale proceeds. This is sometimes referred to as a same-day sale. Again, not all stock plans/companies offer this option.

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Can I exercise options before they vest?

If your options aren't vested, employers typically won't allow you to exercise them until a certain period of time passes, which tends to range from 3-5 years. This varies and should be confirmed with your employer.

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How is an exercise price determined?

The exercise price (or grant price) is the amount you pay to the company for each share, set by the company at the time the stock option grant is made.

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What is the difference between exercise price, grant price and strike price?

These terms are used interchangeably; it's the price at which an underlying security can be purchased when exercising the right to buy that security which the option gives you.

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Will my exercise price change?

The exercise price does not change. This means that if the value of the stock goes up, you have the opportunity to purchase a stock below Fair Market Value (FMV) and potentially profit the difference of your exercise price and the current FMV.

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Difference between common and preferred stock?

Common stock is typically issued to founders and early employees of a private company. The private company usually offers employees a stock plan that allows them to purchase common shares at a specified exercise price. Preferred shares are usually issued to investors and institutions when they participate in a primary funding round. Preferred shares typically come with certain rights and privileges that give them priority over common shares in the event of an acquisition, liquidation or bankruptcy.

Tax & Other Questions

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What are the tax implications of exercising?

Based on the type of stock option you’ve been granted (Non-Qualified Stock Options vs. Incentive Stock Options), you may owe taxes at exercise and sale or only at sale. Talk to a tax advisor about your total tax liability to avoid any unexpected surprises at the end of the year.

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What’s the difference between personal income tax and capital gains tax?

Income tax is paid on earnings from employment, interest, dividends, royalties, or self-employment, whether it’s in the form of services, money, or property. Capital gains tax is paid on income that derives from the sale or exchange of an asset, such as a stock or property that’s categorized as a capital asset.1

1. Investopedia

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What is the 83b form?

The 83(b) election is a provision under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) that gives an employee, or startup founder, the option to pay taxes on the total fair market value of restricted stock at the time of granting. The 83(b) election applies to equity that is subject to vesting and alerts the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to tax the elector for the ownership at the time of granting, rather than at the time of stock vesting.1

1. Investopedia

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What is a 409a valuation?

Private companies that want to issue shares to their workers must be appraised because, unlike public companies, there are no share prices available to view at any time. This is called a 409a valuation – an appraisal of a private company’s stock in preparation for issuing shares to workers. 409a valuations should be made every 12 months or at every round of funding.1

1. The Balance

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What is a RSU and difference between stock option?

Stock options allow you to purchase shares in your company’s stocks at a predetermined price (i.e. strike price) for a limited number of years. Employers encourage employees to stay longer because there’s typically a vesting period before the options become exercisable. This means that you have to be employed for a certain amount of time before you can actually exercise (or buy) the stock you were granted.

Restricted stock units (RSUs) are the most common type of equity compensation and are typically offered after a private company goes public or reaches a more stable valuation. Like stock options, RSUs vest over time, but unlike stock options, you don’t have to buy them. As soon as they vest, they are no longer restricted and are treated exactly the same as if you had bought your company’s shares in the open market.1

1. HBR

Equity Glossary

Shares

Smallest whole piece of a company an individual investor can own; a unit of ownership (e.g. 50 shares)

Stocks

Represent shares of ownership in individual companies; a measurement of equity (e.g. own 5% of the company)

Restricted stock units (RSU)

Stock of a company that is not fully transferable until certain conditions have been met; when conditions are met, the stock is no longer restricted and becomes transferable to the person holding the award

Options

Contracts with other investors that let you bet on which direction you think a stock price is headed

Vesting

Period of time over which a stock award is earned

Vested options

These are earned options

Unvested options

These are unearned options

One-year cliff

This is the very first point you earn the first of your options

Exercise

Purchasing the options

Exercise price

Price at which an employee is eligible to purchase shares once options are vested

Lockup period

The window of time in which employees are not allowed to redeem or sell shares

Fair Market Value (FMV)

The price per share of the stock at a given time

Incentive Stock Options (ISOs)

Corporate benefit that gives an employee the right to buy shares of company stock at a discounted price with the added benefit of possible tax breaks on the profit

Non-qualified Stock Options (NSOs)

Employee compensation offered by employers wherein the option holder pays ordinary income tax on the profit made when they exercise the shares

Warrants

Right to purchase a company's stock at a specific price and at a specific date

Grants

Occurs when an employer pays a part or all of the compensation of an employee in the form of corporate stock

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