# Cake Help Centre

Get help and support on all things Cake.

## Getting Started

- [Understanding Company View vs My Cake Portal](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/understanding-company-view-vs-my-cake-portal.md): Company View is where admins manage everything. My Cake Portal is the private space where your investors and employees see their individual holdings. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [What should I look for in a Cap Table platform?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/what-should-i-look-for-in-a-cap-table-platform.md): Eight things separate Cap Table platforms: migration support, ease of use, the equity tools themselves, scenario modelling, security and data control, pricing transparency, quality of support, and whether your stakeholders can see their own position. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-08-31)

### Set Up Cake

- [Set Up a Company](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/set-up-a-company.md): Get your Cake account and company set up in a few steps — whether you are starting fresh or adding a second company. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-14)
- [Set Up Company Details](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/set-up-company-details.md): Update your company information so it appears correctly on share certificates, legal documents, and reports. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-14)
- [Managing Multiple Company Accounts](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/managing-multiple-company-accounts.md): Switch between companies and add new ones — all under one Cake login. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-14)
- [See what needs doing on your Dashboard](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/your-cake-home-page.md): What appears on the Cake Home page once your company is set up, and how the Actions, Vesting soon and Kudos blocks work. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-14)

### Migrating to Cake

- [How long does it take to migrate my Cap Table to Cake?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-long-does-it-take-to-migrate-my-cap-table-to-cake.md): Typically 48 business hours. Our Customer Success team builds your Cap Table in Cake from your existing reports or spreadsheet at no cost, then reconciles it with you line by line on a free Power Up call. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-01)
- [How to migrate from Carta to Cake](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-migrate-from-carta-to-cake.md): The easiest way to switch from Carta to Cake: our Customer Success team migrates your full Cap Table for you, typically within 48 hours, so you don't re-enter a thing. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-01)
- [How to migrate from a Spreadsheet to Cake](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-migrate-from-a-spreadsheet-to-cake.md): How to move your Cap Table from a spreadsheet into Cake: import your Excel or Google Sheets data yourself with Cake's bulk upload templates, or have our team do it for you. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How do I export my Cap Table from Carta?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-do-i-export-my-cap-table-from-carta.md): Export three reports from Carta's Run reports section: the Cap table report, the Vesting report and Stakeholder details. Download signed agreements and prior 409A reports separately, as they are not included in the report exports. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-01)
- [What documents do you need to migrate my Cap Table?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/what-documents-do-you-need-to-migrate-my-cap-table.md): Gather your stakeholder list, your full share history by class, every SAFE, note, option, RSU, RSA and warrant, your vesting schedules, and your signed paperwork including prior 409A reports. If you are on another platform, a standard report export covers most of it. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-01)

### Get Started for Free

- [What's included in Cake's free plan?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/whats-included-in-cakes-free-plan.md): Cake's free plan covers up to five stakeholders, and for those five you get the whole product: share classes, SAFEs, option grants, stakeholder portals and round modelling. Above five stakeholders it's read-only, so you can still view your whole Cap Table for free. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-01)
- [Can I try Cake before I pay?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/can-i-try-cake-before-i-pay.md): Yes. Cake has a free plan with no time limit, no credit card and no demo to book. Start with up to five stakeholders and use the product properly, or bring an existing Cap Table across and review your real data before you decide. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-01)
- [Does Cake's free plan expire?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/does-cakes-free-plan-expire.md): No. Cake's free plan has no end date and no 14-day window. It's a plan, not a trial. It starts by covering up to five stakeholders, and above that you can still migrate your whole Cap Table across and read all of it for free. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-01)
- [Do I need a credit card to try Cake?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/do-i-need-a-credit-card-to-try-cake.md): No, you just need an email address. There's no credit card at signup and nothing billed until you choose to upgrade. You can book a demo anytime, and if your Cap Table is elsewhere we'll migrate it across for free so you can see it first. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-01)
- [Can I see my Cap Table in Cake before I pay?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/can-i-see-my-cap-table-in-cake-before-i-pay.md): Yes, all of it. Even if you have more than five stakeholders, you can view your whole Cap Table in Cake before you pay. Load it yourself with our bulk importers, or have our Customer Success team migrate you from another platform or a spreadsheet. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-01)

## Cap Table

### Shareholders & Shares

- [Add Shareholders and Issue Shares](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/add-shareholders-and-issue-shares.md): How to add shareholders and issue shares in Cake, including setting an optional vesting schedule at the point of issue. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Add vesting to founder shares](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/add-vesting-to-founder-shares.md): How to add a vesting schedule to founder or ordinary shares in Cake at the point of issuance - set the vest start date, choose a cliff and vesting interval, and see vested amounts on your cap table. (author: Shannon, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Add a New Share Class](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/add-a-new-share-class.md): How to add and structure share classes in Cake: set the record type, terms, and rights and preferences for each class. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Edit or Delete Share Classes](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/edit-or-delete-share-classes.md): Update share class details or remove unused share classes from your cap table. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Update Authorized Shares](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/update-authorized-shares.md): Update the total shares your company is authorized to issue for a given share class. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Share Class Conversion](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/share-class-conversion.md): Convert shares from one class to another — commonly used when preferred shares convert to common during a funding round or exit. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Adding a Stock Split](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/adding-a-share-split.md): Split your existing shares into a larger number of shares at a proportionally lower price. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Process a Share Buy-back or Repurchase](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/process-a-share-buy-back-or-repurchase.md): Record a share buy-back or repurchase when your company acquires shares back from a shareholder. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Search, filter, and sort your cap table](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/search-filter-and-sort-your-cap-table.md): Find any stakeholder or grant fast — search, filter, and sort across your cap table, People list, and option pools in Cake. (author: Shannon, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Share Certificate Types: Holdings vs Transactional](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/share-certificate-types-holdings-vs-transactional.md): Understand the two certificate types in Cake — holdings certificates and transactional certificates — and how to choose between them. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Attach Previously Issued Share Certificates](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/attach-previously-issued-share-certificates.md): Upload and link share certificates that were issued outside Cake so shareholders can access them in My Cake. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How to Issue Share Certificates](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-issue-share-certificates.md): Generate share certificates for your shareholders using holdings, transactional, or bulk certificate methods. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Set Up Your Share Certificate Template](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/set-up-your-share-certificate-template.md): Configure your share certificate template — add company details and digital signatures so certificates generate automatically. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Create and Manage Bare Trusts](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/create-and-manage-bare-trusts.md): Add a bare trust to your cap table and issue or transfer shares through a trustee arrangement. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Read your Cap Table: Summary, Fully diluted, and Outstanding views](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/read-your-cap-table.md): How to read your Cap Table in Cake as one source of truth: what the Summary, Fully diluted, and Outstanding views each show, what every number means, and where to find the detail. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How to keep a single source of truth for your equity](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-keep-a-single-source-of-truth-for-your-equity.md): A single source of truth for equity means one always-accurate record of who owns what, instead of spreadsheets that drift apart. In Cake, your shares, options, SAFEs, warrants, and signed documents live together, update as events happen, and show the right view to admins, investors, and employees. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [What is a Cap Table?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/what-is-a-cap-table.md): A Cap Table is the record of who owns what in your company: shares by class, options, RSUs, RSAs, SAFEs, convertible notes and warrants. A good one is live, connected to the documents and valuations behind it, and visible to the people it belongs to. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### Transfers

- [Transfer Shares Between Parties](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/transfer-shares-between-parties.md): How to transfer shares between shareholders in Cake, either with electronic signing or by recording a completed offline transfer. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Transfer Shares to a Trust or Related Entity](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/transfer-shares-to-a-trust-or-related-entity.md): Transfer shares when the transferor and transferee share the same signer — generate the contract in Cake and execute signing offline. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Understanding Share Transfer Amounts](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/understanding-share-transfer-amounts.md): Understand the difference between investment amount and transfer amount when recording a share transfer in Cake. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### SAFEs & Convertible Notes

- [Issue and Manage SAFEs & Convertible Notes](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/issue-and-manage-safes-convertible-notes.md): How to issue and manage SAFEs and convertible notes in Cake, including notes with different valuation caps and MFN terms. Add, edit, duplicate, or cancel them, and send for signing or record offline. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Stages of a SAFE & Convertible Note Offer](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/stages-of-a-safe-convertible-note-offer.md): Track SAFEs and convertible note offers through each stage from invite to issuance — what each status means and what to do next. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Converting Notes to Shares](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/converting-notes-to-shares.md): How SAFEs and convertible notes convert to shares when your priced round closes: Cake auto-calculates the conversion at each note's cap or discount, or you can enter it manually. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [What is a SAFE, and how is it different from a convertible note?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/what-is-a-safe-and-how-is-it-different-from-a-convertible-note.md): A SAFE buys the right to shares later, not shares now. A convertible note does the same job structured as a loan, with interest and a maturity date. Both convert to equity when you raise a priced round. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-14)
- [Valuation cap or discount: which one applies when my SAFE converts?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/valuation-cap-or-discount-which-one-applies.md): When a SAFE carries both a valuation cap and a discount, only one applies. Whichever produces the lower price per share wins, because a lower price buys the investor more shares. It is a term of the document, not a choice made at conversion. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-14)
- [When does a SAFE convert, and what triggers it?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/when-does-a-safe-convert.md): A SAFE converts on a trigger event, not on a date. The three standard triggers are an equity financing, a liquidity event and dissolution. Convertible notes add a fourth, maturity. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-14)

### Warrants

- [Issue and Manage Warrants](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/issue-and-manage-warrants.md): Issue warrants to stakeholders, apply vesting, and manage the full lifecycle — from issue to exercise or lapse. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### Modeling & Valuations

- [How to model dilution from SAFEs and funding rounds](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/cap-table-modeling.md): Model a priced round, plus SAFE and convertible-note conversions at different valuation caps, and see how each dilutes your Cap Table before anything is finalised. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Add Your Company Valuation](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/add-your-company-valuation.md): How to add your company's post-money valuation in Cake so shareholders and option holders see an estimated equity value in My Cake. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How to view your Cap Table at any date](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/generate-cap-table-reports-by-date.md): Generate a point-in-time Cap Table snapshot, or compare ownership between any two dates, for board reports and due diligence. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Managing Estimated Value for Stakeholders](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/managing-estimated-value-for-stakeholders.md): Control whether stakeholders can see estimated equity value in My Cake, and update the valuation that drives those estimates. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### Transaction History

- [Edit or Delete Transactions](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/edit-or-delete-transactions.md): Correct transaction details or remove incorrect entries — most transactions can be edited directly, some must be deleted and recreated. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### Importing Your Cap Table

- [How to migrate your Cap Table to Cake](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/importing-your-share-registry.md): The easiest way to move your Cap Table to Cake, whether it's in a spreadsheet, Carta, or on another platform. Import it yourself, or have our Customer Success team migrate it for you in 48 hours. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Bulk Upload Your Cap Table and Stakeholder Details](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/bulk-upload-your-cap-table-and-stakeholder-details.md): How to import your entire Cap Table history at once with Cake's bulk upload template: shares, SAFEs, warrants, options, and more, in a single upload. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Bulk Upload Stakeholder Contact Details](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/bulk-upload-stakeholder-contact-details.md): Upload contact details for multiple stakeholders using the Stakeholders tab in Cake's bulk upload template. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Bulk Upload Shares](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/bulk-upload-shares.md): Upload historical share issues, transfers, and buybacks using the Shares tab in Cake's bulk upload template. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Bulk Upload SAFEs, Convertibles & Custom Notes](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/bulk-upload-safes-convertibles-custom-notes.md): Upload SAFEs, convertible notes, and custom notes — including converted or cancelled notes — using Cake's bulk upload template. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Bulk Upload Warrants](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/bulk-upload-warrants.md): Upload warrant grants — including exercised or lapsed warrants — using the Warrants tab in Cake's bulk upload template. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### Dilution

- [What is dilution?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/what-is-dilution.md): Dilution is what happens to your ownership percentage when the company issues new shares. You keep the same number of shares. There are more shares in total, so your slice is a smaller share of a bigger company. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-14)
- [What is the difference between pre-money and post-money valuation?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/pre-money-vs-post-money-valuation.md): Pre-money is what the company is worth before the investment lands. Post-money is pre-money plus the money raised. The investor's stake is measured against post-money, so agreeing a number without saying which one you mean can cost founders percentage points. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-14)
- [How an option pool affects your dilution](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-an-option-pool-affects-your-dilution.md): An option pool is new shares set aside for future hires, so creating or topping one up dilutes everybody who already holds shares. The timing decides who pays for it: a pre-money pool comes out of the existing shareholders alone. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-14)

## Incentive Plans

### Setting Up Your Plan

- [How to set up an employee incentive plan](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/create-a-stock-option-plan.md): Set up an incentive plan for stock options, size your option pool, customise your plan documents, and start granting options to employees and contractors. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Bulk Upload Options, RSAs, RSUs & Share Plans](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/bulk-upload-options-rsas-rsus-share-plans.md): Upload equity grants across all plan types — options, RSAs, RSUs, and share plans — using the cap table bulk upload template. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Update Option Pool Details](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/update-option-pool-details.md): Edit your option pool settings including pool size, plan documents, and default grant configurations like board approval and PTEP. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Create a New Option Grant](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/create-a-new-option-grant.md): How to create a stock option grant in Cake for an employee or contractor: set the grant size, vesting schedule, strike price, and grant settings. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Delete Option Grants and Pools](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/delete-option-grants-and-pools.md): Permanently remove individual option grants or an entire option pool. For departing employees, use the offboarding flow instead. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How to manage vesting schedules for your employees](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/create-custom-vesting-schedules.md): Set up different vesting schedules and cliffs for different hires or teams, and save them as reusable templates for future grants. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How Cake calculates diluted equity ownership for option holders](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-cake-calculates-diluted-equity-ownership-for-option-holders.md): Understand how Cake calculates fully diluted ownership percentages for option holders and where to view them. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### Granting Options

- [Granting Your Employee Options](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/granting-your-employee-options.md): How to issue or send an option grant — the difference between Issue Grant and Send Grant, and how to update grant dates. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Send Option Grants for Board Approval](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/send-for-board-approval-options.md): How to send a stock option grant for board approval in Cake: generate the board consent document and send it for signing, all in one place. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Require a Company Signature on Option Grants](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/require-a-company-signature-on-option-grants.md): Set up company co-signing for option grants so an authorized signee signs before the grant reaches your employee. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Check whether your option grants are ISO or NSO](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/check-whether-your-option-grants-are-iso-or-nso.md): See how each option grant is classified as ISO, NSO, or a split grant, and export the designation for every grant from your cap table report. (author: Shannon, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How to enable early exercise for your employees](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/enable-early-exercise-for-option-grants.md): Let your employees buy shares before they vest, so they can file an 83(b) election. Configure early exercise at the plan level or per grant. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Edit Option Grants After Issuance](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/edit-option-grants-after-issuance.md): Correct strike prices, grant dates, vesting start dates, or expiration terms on individual grants or in bulk after they have been issued. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Option Repricing](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/option-repricing.md): Lower the strike price on existing option grants when options are underwater. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Allow Employees to Nominate a Trust for Their Options](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/enable-permitted-nominees-for-employee-options.md): Let Australian and New Zealand employees hold their options through a family trust — configure at the plan level or for individual offers. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Stock Option Offer Statuses and What They Mean](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/stock-option-offer-statuses-and-what-they-mean.md): A reference guide to every status an option grant can have in Cake, and what action (if any) is required at each stage. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How to set up equity approval workflows](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-set-up-equity-approval-workflows.md): An equity approval workflow is how every grant, resolution, and board consent gets reviewed, approved, and signed the same way each time. In Cake, you set up your approvers and signees once, then send grants for board approval and route resolutions for electronic signing, all tracked in one place. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Benchmark equity offers for employees and advisors](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/benchmark-equity-offers-for-employees-and-advisors.md): Use Cake's Benchmarking tool to see market medians and typical equity ranges for a role, then draft an option offer from the insights. (author: Shannon, updated: 2026-09-07)

### RSAs & RSUs

- [Create a New Restricted Stock Award (RSA)](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/create-a-new-restricted-stock-award-rsa.md): Grant restricted shares to an employee or contractor — set the share amount, purchase price, vesting schedule, and additional settings. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Create a New Restricted Stock Unit (RSU)](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/create-a-new-restricted-stock-unit-rsu.md): Grant a promise of future shares to an employee or contractor — RSUs vest automatically with no upfront cost to the recipient. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### Exercises & Employee Departures

- [How to Vest Manually](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-vest-manually.md): Record a vesting event outside the automatic schedule for accelerated or corrective vesting. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Enable Employee Exercise Requests](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/enable-employee-exercise-requests.md): Set up the exercise request flow so employees can request to exercise their vested options directly from their My Cake portal. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Exercise Stock Options for Employees](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/exercise-stock-options-for-employees.md): Convert vested options into shares by processing an exercise — enter the exercise date, number of options, and issue a share certificate. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Pause Vesting for Option Holders](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/pause-vesting-for-option-holders.md): Temporarily stop vesting on a grant — for example, when an employee takes extended unpaid leave. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Cancel Employee Options (Lapse Options)](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/cancel-employee-options-lapse-options.md): Cancel unvested options and return them to the unallocated pool — use this when an employee leaves or options expire unachieved. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Recording Historical Option Cancellations](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/recording-historical-option-cancellations.md): Record a lapse for an option grant that was accepted outside Cake and later cancelled — to keep your cap table accurate. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Managing Employee Stock Options When Employees Leave](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/managing-employee-stock-options-when-employees-leave.md): What happens to vested and unvested stock options when an employee leaves, what your Plan Rules govern, and how to handle it in Cake. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Off-board an Employee or Stakeholder](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/off-board-an-employee-or-stakeholder.md): Use Cake's off-boarding flow to manage all of a departing employee's equity in one place — set a departure date, lapse unvested equity, and handle vested options. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Option Vesting and Expiry Notifications](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/option-vesting-and-expiry-notifications.md): Set up automatic notifications so employees are alerted about upcoming vesting milestones and option expiry dates. (author: Shannon, updated: 2026-09-07)

## Bonus

- [Create and Track a Bonus](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/create-and-track-a-bonus.md): How to create a bonus plan in Cake: set a goal and baseline, add tiers paid as a fixed amount or a percentage of salary, add stakeholders, and post progress updates your team can follow. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

## People & Permissions

### Users & Permissions

- [Invite a Company User](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/invite-a-company-user.md): Give a team member access to your Cake account — choose their permission level and send an invitation. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- ['Co-pilots': What are they?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/co-pilots-what-are-they.md): Understand what co-pilots are and why you'd add them to your Cake account. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Give An Advisor Access](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/give-an-advisor-access.md): Invite a lawyer, accountant, or other external advisor to access your Cake account for reporting or compliance work. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Set Up Officers & Directors for Document Signing](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/set-up-officers-and-directors-for-document-signing.md): Add your company's officers and directors, and choose who can sign share certificates and legal documents on behalf of the company. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Edit or Remove Officers & Directors](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/edit-or-remove-officers-and-directors.md): Update an officer or director's details, or remove them from your company records in Cake. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Managing User Access and Permissions](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/managing-user-access-and-permissions.md): Change a user's permission level or remove their access to your Cake account. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Understanding User Permissions in Cake](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/understanding-user-permissions-in-cake.md): Learn what each permission level can and can't do — so you can give team members the right level of access. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### Stakeholder Management

- [Create and Manage Lists](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/create-and-manage-lists.md): Organize stakeholders into Smart Lists that update automatically, or Static Lists you control - then message or share documents with everyone on the list. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Invite Stakeholders to My Cake Portal](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/invite-stakeholders-to-my-cake-portal.md): Give investors and employees access to their My Cake portal so they can view their holdings, sign documents, and track their equity. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Edit or Delete Stakeholder Details](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/edit-or-delete-stakeholder-details.md): Update a stakeholder's contact information or remove them from your company registry. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Merging Duplicate Stakeholders](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/merging-duplicate-stakeholders.md): Combine two duplicate stakeholder records into one — preserving all equity holdings, documents, and transaction history. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

## Messaging

- [Send Messages to Shareholders and Employees](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/send-messages-to-shareholders-and-employees.md): Use Cake's Communications tool to send announcements and updates directly to your stakeholders. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Send Messages with Attachments](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/send-messages-with-attachments.md): Add files to your stakeholder communications — save as a draft first, then attach before sending. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

## Documents

### Contracts & Templates

- [Available Contract Templates](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/available-contract-templates.md): The contract templates Cake provides out of the box, for incentive plans, fundraising, and share certificates, and how to use them. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Duplicate a Contract Template in Your Incentive Plan](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/duplicate-a-contract-template-in-your-incentive-plan.md): Create a custom version of a contract template for different recipients or grant types — without modifying the original. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How to Upload a Custom Option Grant Template](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-upload-a-custom-esop-template.md): Replace Cake's default option templates with your own .docx documents while keeping the variable tag system. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Download Option Docs for Offline Signing](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/download-option-docs-for-offline-signing.md): Download grant documents to handle signing outside of Cake — useful when wet signatures or physical copies are required. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### Signing & Resolutions

- [Require Witness Signatures on Contracts](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/require-witness-signatures-on-contracts.md): Add a witness signature requirement to ESOP offers or fundraising documents before sending for signing. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Send Resolutions or Consents for Electronic Signing](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/send-resolutions-or-consents-for-electronic-signing.md): Create and send shareholders resolutions or board consents for electronic signing using Cake's Blank Contract feature. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Track Document Signing Progress](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/track-document-signing-progress.md): Check which documents are waiting for signatures and send reminders to outstanding signatories. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How to centralize signed equity documents and board approvals](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-centralize-signed-equity-documents-and-board-approvals.md): Cake keeps every signed equity document, board consent, and resolution in one place, generated from templates, sent for electronic signing, and stored automatically against the right stakeholder and security. You can track pending signatures, chase signers, and find any document later without leaving Cake. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### Document Management

- [Customize Your Contracts and Agreements](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/customize-your-contracts-and-agreements.md): Edit the wording and clauses in Cake's standard templates to suit your company's specific needs. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Upload and Share Documents](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/upload-and-share-documents.md): Store, organize, search, and share your company's equity documents in Cake, and control who can see them. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Moving Documents to a New Folder](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/moving-documents-to-a-new-folder.md): Move a document or folder to a different location in Cake using the Actions menu, and understand which folders Cake locks. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

## Settings, Billing & Security

### Billing & Subscriptions

- [Upgrade or Change Your Cake Subscription](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/upgrade-or-change-your-cake-subscription.md): Change your plan or billing frequency at any time directly from your Cake account. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-08-05)
- [Cancel Your Cake Subscription](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/cancel-your-cake-subscription.md): Steps to cancel your Cake subscription — including how to export your data before you go. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Cancellation Policy and Refunds](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/cancellation-policy-and-refunds.md): Cake's refund policy and what happens to your account and data after cancellation. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Understanding Pro Rata Billing](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/understanding-pro-rata-billing.md): How Cake calculates charges when you upgrade mid-billing cycle. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-08-05)
- [Update Your Billing Details](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/update-your-billing-details.md): Update your credit card or billing contact information in Cake. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How to Download Your Cake Invoice](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-download-your-cake-invoice.md): Download past invoices from your billing history for accounting and record-keeping. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Why Can't I Downgrade to the Starter Plan?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/why-cant-i-upgrade-to-the-starter-plan.md): If the Starter plan is greyed out, it's because your account is using features that require Growth. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### Account & Security

- [How to track Cap Table changes over time](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/audit-log.md): Track every change to your Cap Table over time: who did what and when, with a full audit trail for due diligence and board reporting. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Enable or Reset Two-Factor Authenticator](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/enable-or-reset-two-factor-authenticator.md): Require all users on your account to use two-factor authentication for added security. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-08-05)
- [Account Access Troubleshooting & Quick Fixes](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/account-access-troubleshooting-quick-fixes.md): Fix common login issues — account not found, wrong login method, verification codes, and more. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-08-05)
- [Reset Your Password](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/reset-your-password.md): Step-by-step guide to resetting your Cake password. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-08-05)
- [Use Cake on Your Mobile Device](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/use-cake-on-your-mobile-device.md): Add Cake to your home screen for quick mobile access — works like an app on iOS and Android. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-08-05)
- [Change Your Cap Table Currency](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/change-your-cap-table-currency.md): Update the default currency for your Cake account — all instruments will use the new currency. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Not receiving emails or invites from Cake?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/not-receiving-emails-from-cake.md): Cake emails going to spam or a missing invite? How to allowlist the cakeequity.com domain in Gmail / Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, mark Cake as not spam, and make sure invites, equity grant notifications, 409A updates and account emails reach your inbox. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-07-17)

### Leaving Cake

- [Export Your Cap Table Data](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/export-your-cap-table-data.md): Download a full copy of your cap table from Cake as a spreadsheet or PDF. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Download Your Documents Before Leaving](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/download-your-documents-before-leaving.md): Save your signed agreements, certificates, and board resolutions before cancelling your account. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

## My Cake: Investor & Employee Portal

### Your Portal Account

- [Create your My Cake Portal Account](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/create-your-my-cake-portal-account.md): Two ways to set up your My Cake account and access your equity holdings. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Understanding My Cake: Your Stakeholder Portal](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/understanding-my-cake-your-stakeholder-portal.md): An overview of what My Cake gives you — real-time equity visibility, document access, and more. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### Shares & Investments

- [Accept an Offer to Invest](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/accept-an-offer-to-invest.md): How to review and sign your investment agreement through Cake as an investor. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Download Your Holding Statement](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/download-your-holding-statement.md): Download a PDF of your holding statement directly from your My Cake portfolio. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How to Sell Your Shares](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-sell-your-shares.md): Selling shares requires contacting the company directly — Cake doesn't process secondary share sales. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [View the Current Value of your Shares](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/view-the-current-value-of-your-shares.md): See the estimated value of your shares in your My Cake portfolio — if your company has added a valuation. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Update Your Street Address as an Investor](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/update-your-street-address-as-an-investor.md): To update your address, you need to contact the company — Cake can't edit investor details directly. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How to Change Your Email Address as an Investor](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-change-your-email-address-as-an-investor.md): Update the email address linked to your My Cake investor account. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Download your share certificate](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/download-your-share-certificate.md): Download a copy of your share certificate from your My Cake portfolio or documents section. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How to Request a Shareholder Name Change on Investment Certificates](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-request-a-shareholder-name-change-on-investment-certifica.md): To update the name on your share certificates, contact the company — they need to reissue them. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### Stock Options

- [Accept your stock option offer](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/accept-your-stock-option-offer.md): How to review and sign your stock option grant through My Cake as an employee or advisor. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [How to Request to Exercise Your Options](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-request-to-exercise-your-options.md): Submit an exercise request to your employer through My Cake to convert vested options into shares. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [View the Current Value of your Options](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/view-the-current-value-of-your-options.md): See the estimated value of your stock options in My Cake — if your company has added a valuation. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Estimate Your Option's Future Value](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/estimate-your-options-future-value.md): Use Cake's built-in equity calculator to model what your options could be worth at different valuations. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Add Trust Details When Accepting Options](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/add-trust-details-when-accepting-options.md): How to nominate an SPV (AU/NZ: bare trust) to hold your options when accepting a grant. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

## Compliance (USA)

- [Do I Need a Transfer Agent?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/do-i-need-a-transfer-agent.md): Most private US companies don't need a transfer agent. Here's when you do — and how Cake can help. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)

### 409A valuations

- [What is a 409A valuation?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/what-is-a-409a-valuation.md): A 409A valuation is an independent appraisal of what one share of your common stock is worth. It sets the strike price you grant stock options at, and you need a current one before you can issue them. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [How do I add a 409A valuation to my Cake plan?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-do-i-add-a-409a-valuation-to-my-cake-plan.md): Two 409A valuations a year come with an annual Team or Pro plan. Need more, or on Build? Add them for $1,500 USD at any time on an annual plan. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [How to start your 409A valuation in Cake](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-start-your-409a-valuation-in-cake.md): Go to Compliance, select 409A and click Start 409A now. It takes about 20 minutes to submit and your draft comes back within 3 business days. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [How do I upload an existing 409A valuation to Cake?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-do-i-upload-an-existing-409a-valuation-to-cake.md): Go to Compliance, select 409A and click Upload 409A Valuation. Enter the fair market value and the date it takes effect, and attach the report. Works for valuations done elsewhere and for historical ones from previous years. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [When do I need a 409A valuation?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/when-do-i-need-a-409a-valuation.md): Before your first stock option grant, then every 12 months or whenever a material event happens, whichever comes first. Closing a priced round is the material event most founders hit first. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [What is 409A safe harbor, and does my valuation qualify?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/what-is-409a-safe-harbor.md): Safe harbor is the protection you get when a qualified independent appraiser does your 409A. With it, the IRS has to prove your valuation is wrong. Without it, you have to prove it is right. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [What does my 409A valuation mean for option strike prices?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/what-does-my-409a-valuation-mean-for-option-strike-prices.md): Your 409A is the number you grant at. Options need a strike price at or above the fair market value in your current valuation, and you can apply the finalised number to your option pools so new grants use it. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [How long does a 409A valuation take through Cake?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-long-does-a-409a-valuation-take-through-cake.md): About 20 minutes of your time, then a draft within 3 business days. A valuation expert walks you through the draft before it is signed off. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [What data do I need for my 409A valuation?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/export-data-for-409a-valuation.md): A point-in-time snapshot of your Cap Table and equity data. Cake has two exports depending on your plan, and both work whether you run your valuation through Cake or with an outside firm. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)

### Form 3921

- [What is IRS Form 3921?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/what-is-irs-form-3921.md): Form 3921 is the IRS information return your company files when an employee exercises Incentive Stock Options. One form per exercise, filed by the company, not the employee. It reports five figures the employee needs to get their tax right. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [How to generate Form 3921 in Cake](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/irs-form-3921-iso-exercise-reporting.md): Go to Compliance, select Form 3921 and download the report for your tax year. Cake generates Copy B and Copy C for you and files them under Documents. Requires the Cake Pro plan. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [Which ISO exercises appear on your Form 3921](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/which-iso-exercises-appear-on-your-form-3921.md): Cake reports every Incentive Stock Option exercise that settled during the calendar year, one form per exercise. NSO exercises are excluded. Every exercise is reported, whether or not the person still works there. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [What do I do with Form 3921 once Cake generates it?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/what-do-i-do-with-form-3921-once-cake-generates-it.md): Three copies, three destinations. Copy B goes to each employee who exercised, Copy C stays in your records, and Copy A goes to the IRS through your accountant or tax software using the report Cake generates. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [Who needs to file Form 3921, and by when?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/who-needs-to-file-form-3921-and-by-when.md): Your company files if it is US-incorporated and at least one person exercised Incentive Stock Options during the calendar year. Copy B is due 31 January, Copy A is due 28 February on paper or 31 March electronically. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)

### ISO $100K Limit

- [What is the $100K ISO limit?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/what-is-the-100k-iso-limit.md): What the $100K ISO limit is, what counts toward it, and how options split from ISO to NSO once a person passes it. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [How Cake handles the $100K ISO limit](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-cake-handles-the-100k-iso-limit.md): Cake automatically splits stock option grants that exceed the $100K ISO annual vesting limit into ISO and NSO portions. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)

### ASC718 Stock Based Compensation Reporting

- [Stock-Based Compensation Reporting](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/stock-based-compensation-reporting.md): How to generate ASC 718 stock-based compensation data in Cake for your financial statements and auditors. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)

### QSBS: Qualified Small Business Stock

- [QSBS: Qualified Small Business Stock](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/qsbs-qualified-small-business-stock.md): What QSBS is, how Cake tracks it, and where to go for compliance guidance. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)

### Rule 701

- [What is Rule 701?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/what-is-rule-701.md): What Rule 701 is, who it covers, and the three limits Cake tracks for your equity grants. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [How Cake calculates your Rule 701 position](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-cake-calculates-your-rule-701-position.md): How Cake values each grant, which grants count, and how it measures your position against the three Rule 701 limits. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [What is the Rule 701 disclosure rule?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/what-is-the-rule-701-disclosure-rule.md): What the $10M Rule 701 disclosure threshold means and what it triggers for your team. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)
- [How Cake tracks your $10M disclosure threshold](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-cake-tracks-your-10m-disclosure-threshold.md): How Cake builds your running total against the $10M Rule 701 disclosure threshold. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)

### 83(b) Elections

- [How to handle 83(b) elections](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/how-to-handle-83b-elections.md): An 83(b) election is an IRS filing an individual can make within 30 days of receiving restricted stock, early-exercised options, or founder shares with vesting. Cake surfaces the IRS form and an FAQ in the employee's My Cake portal, and can send a deadline reminder on early exercises. The filing is made by the individual with their tax advisor. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-08)

## Compliance (AU)

- [Adding Your Registered Agent](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/adding-your-registered-agent.md): Set up automatic registered agent notifications for share issuances, transfers, and conversions in Cake. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Does Cake Integrate with ASIC?](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/does-cake-integrate-with-asic.md): Cake does not automatically sync with ASIC. Here's what that means and what you need to do. (author: Cake, updated: 2026-09-07)
- [Export your ESS statement report](https://help.cakeequity.com/article/export-your-ess-statement-report.md) (author: Shannon, updated: 2026-09-07)