The Startup Founder's Guide to Compensation Benchmarking

Paying too little loses great candidates. Paying too much burns runway. Here is how to find the number that is right for your stage.

Compensation is one of the most consequential decisions you make as a founder and one of the least systematically approached. Here is a practical framework for setting pay that is competitive, sustainable, and legally sound.

Why compensation benchmarking matters

The primary data sources

How to set a pay philosophy

Equity compensation basics

Pay transparency and equal pay