Option Exercise Cost Estimator

Know exactly what it costs to exercise your options.

Most people find out the price of exercising their startup equity far too late. MoveWealth shows you the full number, the strike cost plus the tax, in under a minute. Then we show you how to afford it.

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Your Options

Most employees only hear about one option.
MoveWealth shows you all of them.

Cashless / net exercise
Some companies let you exercise without paying cash by withholding a portion of your shares to cover the cost and taxes. It requires employer participation and is not available everywhere. When offered, it can be one of the simplest paths.
Availability depends on your company's plan.
HELOC
A home equity line of credit can offer one of the lowest interest rates of any option if you own a home with equity. The line is secured by your home, and you repay over time. No equity in your company is involved.
Personal loan
A standard unsecured loan from a bank or online lender. Typically used for smaller exercise costs and depends on your income and credit.
Non-recourse financing
Companies cover your exercise cost and taxes with no monthly payments, in exchange for a share of your equity's upside at exit, typically a meaningful percentage (often 20 to 40%), plus fees. A fit for some situations, especially larger exercises where you would rather not take on debt.

Not sure which path fits? Start with your numbers.

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MoveWealth helps startup employees exercise their options and decide what to do with their shares afterward, from selling on the secondary market to longer term wealth planning. We work with the partners who make that possible. If you are a financing provider, secondary buyer, wealth advisor, or investor, we would like to hear how you work.

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FAQ

Common questions.

When you leave a startup, you typically have 90 days to exercise your vested stock options before they expire. Exercising means paying the strike price, and for NSOs or disqualifying ISO dispositions, taxes as well. After the window closes, unexercised options are usually forfeited with no compensation. Use our estimator to see exactly what exercising would cost you.
The cost to exercise equals the strike price multiplied by your number of shares, plus any taxes triggered at exercise. For ISOs, the spread between strike and fair market value can trigger Alternative Minimum Tax. For NSOs, that spread is taxed as ordinary income. A typical exercise at a mid to late stage company runs from $30,000 to $250,000. Our estimator calculates your exact number in under a minute.
Yes. MoveWealth connects startup employees to third-party financing partners who fund option exercises. Options include recourse loans, personal loans, and HELOCs. MoveWealth is a platform, not a lender, and never charges the employee. Run the estimator to see your total cash needed and your options.
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) is a parallel tax system that can apply when you exercise Incentive Stock Options and hold the shares. The spread between your strike price and the fair market value at exercise is an AMT preference item, which can create a tax bill even though you have not sold any shares. This is the most common surprise cost when exercising ISOs. Our estimator includes an AMT estimate.
ISOs (Incentive Stock Options) generally do not trigger ordinary income tax at exercise, but the spread can trigger AMT. NSOs (Non-Qualified Stock Options) are taxed as ordinary income on the spread at exercise, whether or not you sell. The same paper gain can produce very different tax bills depending on which you hold.
Most option grants give you 90 days after leaving a company to exercise your vested options. If you do not exercise within that window, the options typically expire and are forfeited. Some companies offer extended windows, but 90 days is standard, which is why departing employees often face an urgent and expensive decision.
Yes. Several financing paths can cover the cost, including recourse loans, HELOCs, personal loans, and cashless exercise where available. MoveWealth estimates your full cost and connects you to financing partners who fund exercises, so you do not have to let valuable options expire because of the upfront cost. Start with the estimator to see your number.
Non-recourse financing covers your exercise cost and taxes with no monthly payments, in exchange for a share of your equity's upside at exit, typically 20 to 40 percent plus fees. A traditional recourse loan is repaid from income and does not take a share of your equity. Each fits different situations.
MoveWealth is paid by capital and financing partners, never by the employee. The platform is free for startup employees to use, including the estimator and the financing match.
No. MoveWealth is an AI-native platform that connects startup employees to third-party financing partners. It does not issue loans or make credit decisions. Financing is provided by independent lending partners.
A cashless or net exercise lets you exercise options without paying cash by withholding a portion of your shares to cover the exercise cost and taxes. It requires employer participation and is not available at every company, but when offered it can be one of the simplest paths.
Sometimes. Secondary markets let some employees sell private company shares before an IPO, subject to company approval and transfer restrictions. Availability depends on your company's policies and buyer demand.
It depends on your company's prospects, your tax situation, the cost to exercise, and your personal finances. Start by understanding the full cost, including taxes, then weigh it against the potential upside and your timeline. MoveWealth's free estimator shows your exact cost so you can make an informed decision. We are not financial advisors.