Guide for founders
How compensation models work
Capstacker deals pay for outcomes instead of hours. The app offers four compensation models. You pick one when you set up the deal, and the terms go into the Project Assignment before any work starts.
Equity
Equity for Delivery
The operator is compensated in equity when cash is tight.
The grant is restricted stock or stock options, vesting across four milestones in unequal portions. The animation shows one example.
Equity counts as payment only when it is issued. If it is promised and never issued, the services are treated as unpaid and the operator keeps the work.
Hybrid
Combine equity with a cash floor
The operator gets a guaranteed cash minimum plus equity upside.
A fractional CMO might take $5K a month plus 0.5% equity vesting over 12 months.
Offer compensation that cuts their risk. A cash floor plus equity reads as a partner deal.
Milestone
Pay for Results
Payment is released when a milestone is reached.
You and the operator agree on each milestone and what “done” means upfront. If a milestone isn’t completed, payment doesn’t trigger.
Choosing a model
Match the model to your runway
Match the model to your runway.
Expect some operators to ask for a cash floor before they start. If cash is tight, equity and milestone structures with deferred fees are supported, and operators see the full offer upfront.
You pick one when you set up the deal, and the terms go into the Project Assignment before any work starts.
Revenue share: Pay from Results
The operator earns a percentage of the revenue they drive. A growth agency might take a $3K monthly retainer plus 10% of revenue above an agreed baseline. Write down the baseline and how revenue gets counted on day one, because that's where these deals go wrong.
Equity: Equity for Delivery
The operator is paid in restricted stock or stock options, usually vesting over time, and you share ownership instead of spending cash. Equity counts as payment only when it is issued. If it is promised and never issued, the services are treated as unpaid and the operator keeps the work.
Hybrid: Combine equity with a cash floor
The operator gets a guaranteed cash minimum plus equity upside. A fractional CMO might take $5K a month plus 0.5% equity vesting over 12 months. Some operators will insist on a cash floor before they start, so this is the model to reach for when you can't offer equity alone.
Milestone: Pay for Results
Payment is released when a milestone is reached. A milestone can be a product or revenue target, a date such as 12 months after inception, or an event such as a successful fundraise. That last type is how fee deferral works on Capstacker: a finance or legal specialist defers fees until your round closes. You and the operator agree on each milestone and what "done" means upfront, and both of you track progress. If a milestone isn't completed, payment doesn't trigger.
Choosing a model
Match the model to your runway. If cash is tight, equity and milestone structures with deferred fees are supported, and operators see the full offer upfront. Expect some operators to ask for a cash floor before they start.
What happens after you sign
Every deal runs the same loop. The operator submits work against a milestone. You have 10 days to accept or request revisions, and no response counts as acceptance. Acceptance triggers the payment step, due within 15 days by default. The operator's work becomes yours once payment is made. Tell your team to flag issues fast.