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Free Cap Table Template for Startups (Pre-Series A)
Track founder common stock, employee options, and outstanding SAFEs in one workbook before you graduate to a dedicated platform. Four linked sheets keep each instrument type clean, and the summary aggregates ownership automatically as you add rows.
Best for: Pre-seed and seed founders who have not moved to Carta or Pulley yet.
What's Inside
- Four sheets: Common, Options, SAFEs, and a formula-driven Summary
- Dropdown validation on Type, MFN, and Pro Rata fields so SAFE terms stay consistent
- Summary sheet aggregates from the source sheets automatically
- Built for the pre-Carta stage: no per-stakeholder fees while your cap table is still simple
Like all our templates, it ships as a properly formatted .xlsx with live formulas, freeze panes, and conditional formatting. Yellow cells are editable inputs; everything else recalculates automatically.
How to Use It
- 1List founder shares and vesting details on the Common sheet
- 2Record each option grant on the Options sheet as you hire
- 3Log every SAFE with amount, cap, discount, and MFN status on the SAFEs sheet
- 4Check the Summary sheet before any conversation with investors; it recalculates as you type
- 5Move to a cap table platform once you price a round; this template keeps the history clean until then
Want the concepts behind the spreadsheet? Cap table management: the full guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this cap table template free?
Yes. Direct .xlsx download, no signup or email required.
Can the template track SAFEs?
Yes. A dedicated SAFEs sheet tracks each note with dropdown-validated fields for type, MFN status, and pro rata rights, and the summary sheet includes them in the aggregate view.
When should a startup move from a spreadsheet cap table to software?
The common trigger is a priced round: closing conditions, new share classes, and 409A requirements make dedicated software worth it. Before that, most pre-seed and seed cap tables are simple enough for a well-structured spreadsheet.
Does it work in Google Sheets?
Yes. Import the .xlsx via File then Import in Google Sheets; the validation dropdowns and summary formulas carry over.
More Free Templates
Templates get you started. When you want the numbers maintained for you, StartupCFO bundles a bookkeeper, CPA, and fractional CFO from $179/mo. See pricing.
