Granting equity as a small business has never been easier.

MARE Stock is Reins' proprietary phantom stock plan. It was created with the help of attorneys and designed to be easily customizable by small businesses.

MARE Profit is Reins' proprietary profit sharing plan, tailored to meet small business needs for short-term cash distributions.

When you sign up for Reins, you sign up for our membership, which transforms a static legal agreement into a living, editable benefits program. Membership benefits include: quarterly compliance checks, secure document storage, ability to grant and monitor awards, add and remove plan participants, employee education, and ongoing Reins support.

A plan is a company-specific authorization to make an award. An award is an employee-specific enforceable contract that outlines the specific details of the grant.

MARE Stock has been designed to comply with the rules of 409A right out of the box. Phantom Stock is a type of deferred compensation, meaning it is subject to the rules of Internal Revenue Code 409A. When employees receive cash payouts, they are taxed at ordinary income rates. Reins is not a law firm and we do not provide legal or tax advice.

There are many ways to determine equity allocation and the decision is contingent on many factors, including but not limited to outstanding company shares, succession plans, hiring plans, and more. We suggest talking to your accountant and legal counsel about the specifics of your business. Reins can help share what other similar businesses in your industry typically choose.

Our plans are built by attorneys and customized by you. Every plan is legally-binding, regularly monitored, and created to meet your business's needs. Though our software was built with guidance from top-tier lawyers, Reins is not a law firm and we encourage you to consult with your attorney.

No, phantom stock does not mean ownership. Phantom stock provides employees with financial benefits similar to stock ownership without granting actual equity or ownership in the company. It is a contractual agreement that awards cash or equivalent payouts based on the value of the company's stock at a future date or upon certain events.

You are not required to get a valuation of the company should you choose the full value plan option. However, the appreciation-only plan does require a company valuation.

We suggest discussing MARE Stock and MARE Profit in the context of your larger benefits program. Business owners often discuss MARE awards during quarterly or annual employee reviews, as well as during the hiring process. Reins will help by communicating plain-english versions of awards to employees when granted and reminding them as they vest over time.  Upon implementation, you can also purchase an employee education session, which is conducted live by a Reins specialist.

Our customer care team is here to help! You can always reach us via the chat function or phone number on our website, or email us at hello [@] myreins.com