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A capitalization table (cap table) tells you who owns what percentage of a company. It often starts as a spreadsheet, but there are programs that can help you create and manage your cap table. 

A startup’s cap table could list different types of securities, such as common and preferred shares, options, SAFEs, and warrants along one axis. On the other axis, it could list the owners (e.g., founders, employees, and investors) in groups or individually and what percentage of the company they own. 

Cap tables can become increasingly complex as startups grow. But maintaining an accurate and up-to-date cap table is important. The cap table can show potential investors how much equity the founders have, your previous investors, and how many shares you’ve set aside in an employee stock option pool, which you can use to attract and retain employees in the future.