How do I accept my option grant? (Holder)

When joining a new startup, it's easy to miss accepting a crucial benefit: your option grants. An option grant offers a personal stake in the company's success. By accepting it, you gain the option to buy shares at a set price, potentially leading to financial gains as the company prospers. Understanding this early on allows for smarter financial decisions. With Carta's easy-to-use platform, accepting your grant is just a click away. To learn why it is recommended to always accept your option grants,  check out our blog .  Click on a topic below to learn more about the acceptance process.    How do I accept an option grant? How do I accept multiple option grants? How do I accept additional grants after registering an account?

How do I accept an option grant?

If this is your first time accepting an option grant and navigating the Carta platform, please follow the steps below. If you have previously registered an account and are accepting additional grants, skip to the steps below.

If you are receiving an error when accepting your option grant(s), please refer to the troubleshooting steps within Why Can’t I Accept my Security?

1. When a company issues you an option grant, you will receive an email notification that includes the grant number in the subject line. After opening the email, click Accept on Carta.
   
    
2. You will be prompted to register a Carta account. Follow these steps to register.
    
3. After your account has been created, use your new credentials to log in.
    
4. You will be directed to the Tasks page. If you are not automatically directed there, click Tasks in the top right and select Accept grants from the dropdown.
   
    
5. Click Review and accept.
   
    
   1. If multiple options grants have been issued, skip to the steps below.
       
6. Read the terms and any attached documents before checking the box next to the Equity Incentive Plan, Form of Option Agreement, and Form of Exercise Agreement.  Next, type your name as your electronic signature, then click Accept grant.
    
    

   If you have questions for the issuing company regarding your option grant information, you can send a message by clicking Report Issue to [Company name].

   
   
    
7. Congratulations. You have accepted your security.
   
    

↑ Return to table of contents
 

How do I accept multiple option grants?

If your company has issued multiple options grants, follow steps 1-4 in the section above first. 

1. Once you have reached theTasks page, check the box in the top left of the option grant list to highlight all. Next, click Review and accept.
   
    
2. Read the terms and any attached documents before checking the box next to the Equity Incentive Plan, Form of Option Agreement, and Form of Exercise Agreement. Next, type your name as your electronic signature, then Accept option grant and continue.
   
    
3. Navigate through the options grants and accept the terms and type your electronic signature for each.
    
   1. If you would like to skip the acceptance of a particular option grant, click Accept later.
      
       
4. Congratulations. You have accepted your securities.
   
    

↑ Return to table of contents

---

How do I accept additional option grants after registering an account?

1. You will receive an email notification that includes the grant number in the subject line. After opening the email, click Accept on Carta.
   
    
2. You will be brought to the Carta login page.
    

   If you are brought to a registration page, then the company may have issued you a security to a new  email not yet registered on Carta.  Do not register again as this will create duplicate accounts. Instead, follow these steps to add this new email as a backup email on your existing account. Once the new email has been verified, navigate back to the option grant email and click Accept on Carta once more.

   
    
3. You can now follow these steps to complete the acceptance process. 

↑ Return to table of contents