start end text 0 7920 Yes, the most common vesting period is 4 years, but you aren't supposed to accept 7920 9920 anything at face value. 9920 12000 So think about it. 12000 16920 Based on what you have thought about as your company's long-term objective, what blocks 16920 22600 of period sound right and just fit much better? 22600 26680 Try to arrive at a very natural sense of that period. 26680 33440 You see, you can adopt 4 years because that is the norm, but it really won't be yours. 33440 37840 If after having thought about your long-term goals, you have come to the conclusion that 37840 43160 yes, 4 years works for us, then it is yours. 43160 47040 You could feel that 5 years sounds much better to you. 47040 49640 Could there be some resistance from the employees? 49640 50640 Possibly. 50640 56000 Why are you doing 5 when most others do 4, they might ask? 56000 59880 Your conviction about your vision helps you answer that. 59880 66320 And most people don't mind when they see that there is some substance behind that thought. 66320 72120 Also, do not think for a moment that the longer you keep the vesting period, the longer 72120 74040 you people will stay. 74040 77040 So let me vest the options over 10 years. 77040 82080 In that case, you may not find any good people to begin with. 82080 87760 People tend to stay longer when they are excited about the goal they are pursuing. 87760 93360 If people are staying only for the options to vest, you have a not-so-interested team 93360 96760 working for you, which is not good. 96760 101920 Keep it at a reasonable level that can be justified by your long-term vision. 101920 107200 Even the long-term vision can usually be divided up into blocks of time. 107200 110840 But whatever that number is, make it yours. 110840 112400 Own your vesting period.