> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.equa.cc/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Managing Your Cap Table

> How to add shareholders, define security types, and view ownership in Equa

# Managing Your Cap Table

The cap table is the heart of Equa. It tracks who owns what in your organization — every share, every security class, and every ownership percentage. This guide covers setting up and managing your cap table.

## Prerequisites

* Active Equa account
* An organization created in Equa
* `viewCapTable` permission to view; `editCapTable` permission to make changes

## Understanding the Cap Table

Your cap table shows:

* **Shareholdings** — Who holds shares and how many
* **Security types** — The different classes of stock or equity in your company
* **Ownership percentages** — Both outstanding and fully-diluted views
* **Capital changes** — A history of every issuance, transfer, and cancellation

## Getting Started

### Step 1: Navigate to the Cap Table

From your organization dashboard, click **Cap Table** in the sidebar. This opens the main cap table view showing all current shareholdings.

### Step 2: Review the Layout

The cap table displays:

* A list of all shareholders with their share counts and ownership percentages
* A breakdown by security type
* Fully-diluted ownership calculations that include outstanding, authorized, and reserved shares

## Common Tasks

### Adding a Security Type

Before issuing shares, define at least one security type.

1. Navigate to **Cap Table > Security Types**
2. Click **New Security Type**
3. Fill in the details:
   * **Name** — e.g., "Common Stock"
   * **Share class** — The class designation
   * **Share type** — Common, preferred, options, warrants, etc.
   * **Price per share** — Default price for this class
   * **Voting shares** — Toggle on if this class has voting rights
   * **Fractional shares** — Toggle on to allow fractional ownership
4. Click **Save**

### Viewing Ownership Percentages

The cap table shows two ownership views:

* **Outstanding** — Percentage based on currently issued shares only
* **Fully diluted** — Percentage including outstanding, authorized, and reserved shares (options pools, convertibles, etc.)

Toggle between these views using the controls at the top of the cap table.

### Recording a Funding Round

1. Navigate to **Cap Table > Funding Rounds**
2. Click **New Funding Round**
3. Enter the round details:
   * **Name** — e.g., "Seed", "Series A"
   * **Round number** — Sequential number
   * **End date**
   * **Total common shares** in this round
   * **Total preferred shares** in this round
4. Click **Save**

### Recording a Valuation

1. Navigate to **Cap Table > Valuations**
2. Click **New Valuation**
3. Enter:
   * **Valuation date**
   * **Valuation amount**
   * **Currency**
4. Click **Save**

### Viewing Capital Changes

The capital changes log records every modification to your cap table. Navigate to **Cap Table > History** to see a chronological list of all issuances, transfers, and cancellations.

### Configuring Security Type Seniority

Seniority determines the liquidation preference order among your security types.

1. Navigate to **Cap Table > Security Types**
2. Click **Edit Seniority**
3. Drag and drop security types to set the order (highest seniority at the top)
4. Click **Save**

## Tips

<Tip>
  All financial values in Equa use arbitrary-precision numbers to avoid floating-point rounding errors. Your ownership percentages and share counts are always exact.
</Tip>

<Tip>
  Each shareholding is automatically assigned a sequential serial number within your organization. This number is used on share certificates for identification.
</Tip>

## Design References

Design-system source for this guide: [Cap Table screenshot gallery](/architecture/design-system/screenshots/cap-table) and [EquaTable](/architecture/design-system/components/equa-table), [EquaButton](/architecture/design-system/components/equa-button), [EquaModal](/architecture/design-system/components/equa-modal), [EquaBadge](/architecture/design-system/components/equa-badge).

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="I cannot see the cap table">
    **Cause:** You may not have the `viewCapTable` permission.

    **Solution:** Ask your organization admin to assign you a role that includes the "View Cap Table" permission.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Ownership percentages do not add up to 100%">
    **Cause:** This can happen when there are reserved shares in option pools or convertible instruments that are included in the fully-diluted calculation.

    **Solution:** Check the fully-diluted view. The difference between outstanding and fully-diluted percentages accounts for reserved but unissued shares.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I cannot create a security type">
    **Cause:** You may not have the `editCapTable` permission.

    **Solution:** Ask your organization admin to grant you a role with the "Edit Cap Table" permission.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related

* [Issuing Equity](/guides/issuing-equity)
* [ESOP Administration](/guides/esop-administration)
* [Convertible Instruments](/guides/convertible-instruments)
* [Reports and Analytics](/guides/reports-and-analytics)
* [Cap Table Specification](/specs/003-cap-table/spec)