Granting equity as an independent business has never been easier.

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Our Process
Our team is here to help, from plan setup to incentive management.
1. FREE consultation (15 minutes)
Discuss your goals and questions with a Reins specialist. Learn about available plan features.
2. Plan design workshop (30 minutes included in your Plan purchase)
Collaborate with a Reins specialist to select your plan features, decide how to allocate and create drafts.
3. Finalize plan & add employees (30 minutes included in your Plan purchase)
Learn how to finalize your documents and grant incentives to employees via the Reins platform.
4. Onboarding & employee education session (30 minutes, optional add-on)
Schedule a live video conference with a Reins specialist to introduce your employees to the MARE.
5. Manage your plan and incentives
Track awards, grant new ones, and update plans in compliance with 409A. Membership includes monitoring of relevant tax, legislative, and regulatory changes.

Customers Love Reins

I was looking for a way to reward my shop manager and incentivize him to stick with me as the company grows. Reins put together a great package for him. They also created another version of the MARE for my technicians that included profit sharing. The whole experience was customized for my business, affordable, and less complicated than using a lawyer.
Wayde Yeley, Owner
Exclusive Automotive in Nevada
When The CPG Collective was started, our team wanted to ensure that we were all "owners" of the business we created. We found a great partner in Reins who helped us develop an equity program that met our needs as a new business. The MARE Phantom Stock Program did just that for us. If you are looking to create this type of program for your new business, I would highly encourage you to reach out to Chris Buttenham. His customer service and support throughout the process have been nothing short of amazing!
Matt Williams, Owner
The CPG Collective in California
As a small business owner I was looking for some help to implement a stock option agreement for a key employee. Reins offered a competitive, easy to understand and simple to implement option to create a Phantom Stock plan that met my needs. Sarah was very responsive and helpful making the process stress free!
Kevin Brown, Owner
Smash My Trash in Texas
I had spoken to several attorneys, and while they seemed capable for what we needed, I wanted to see if there was a less expensive and more efficient alternative. Reins was one of the first, if not the only service, that came up on my initial online search.
Less than 24 hours of making an online inquiry, Chris from Reins and I were speaking live.

Chris was very professional and friendly, asked the right qualifying questions, showed me how Reins could get us what we needed, and answered all my questions. I liked the simplicity of the service, that it was customizable, the tracking features for our staff, and was priced very competitively.
Kenneth Lee, Managing Partner
DirectedLink in California
Reins makes the process of awarding stock to your employees and profit sharing incredibly easy. Their support is very responsive and always on top of everything!!
Jesus Repetto, CEO
Titanium Global in New Jersey
Chris did a great job listening to our wants and needs and helped us navigate their solution to put a phantom stock plan together for our team. Would highly recommend Reins to other business owners looking to offer a phantom stock plan for their team.
Jamie A. Upson, CFP, Owner
Stonehearth Capital in Massachusetts

FAQs

What is Phantom Stock?
Phantom stock entitles an employee to a future cash payment based on the company's value, usually triggered by events like a sale. It is an innovative way for LLCs and other companies that can't or don't want to use traditional equity to get started with owner-like benefits for key employees.
What is MARE Stock?
MARE Stock is Reins' proprietary phantom stock plan. It was created with the help of attorneys and designed to be easily customizable by small & mid-sized businesses.
What is MARE Profit?
MARE Profit is Reins' proprietary profit sharing plan, tailored to meet small & mid-sized business needs for short-term cash distributions.
What is the Reins membership?
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.
What's the difference between a plan and an award?
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.
What are the tax implications?
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.
How do I know how much MARE Stock or MARE Profit to grant?
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.
Are your plans legally binding?
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.
If I grant MARE Stock to an employee, does that mean that they are now an owner?
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.
Do I need a company valuation?
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.
How do I communicate this benefit to employees?
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.
What happens if my employees or I have questions after plan implementation?
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

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Featured Resources

Features of the Modern Agreement For Rewards and Equity (MARE): Phantom Stock
February 20, 2024
The Reins MARE agreement is a customizable phantom stock template, specially designed for small businesses.
Sarah Khuwaja
What is “Phantom Stock” or a “Phantom Equity Plan”?
January 29, 2024
Phantom stock is a contract between a company and an employee that awards the employee the right to receive a cash payment based on the value of the stock at a future date (i.e. sale of the company).
Chris Buttenham

Dentless Technologies, Inc. (dba Reins) is an online service providing legal forms and information. We are not a law firm and we do not provide legal advice.

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