Sweat Equity

Sweat Equity refers to the contribution made by owners and employees towards the company in consideration other than cash. It is beneficial for start-ups that do not have enough hard money to invest in the operation of a business.

In a partnership firm there might be where some members who contribute in the form of cash, and others contribute their time and efforts towards the common objective of the firm. Therefore, we see there are two types of contributions towards the firm’s capital: cash and the other is sweat equity in the form of time and effort. It is counted equivalent to the cash equity and distributed in equity stock to the owners and employees.

Sweat equity program is the business ownership for non-cash contribution, which might be intellect, hard work and time. The promoters or founder members of an entity contribute their time and energy to expand a business and they should be rewarded for it. This kind of equity is a recognition of the effort and value creation.

As an extension to the above idea, sweat equity shares are offered to the promoters or even employees who contribute their valuable time and effort. Thus, it is a share in the business ownership to appreciate the creation of growth potential.
This form of equity helps in creating and adding value to a business without depending on the financial contribution. It also creates and encourages a sense of interest in the entity’s growth and well being.

In sweat equity ventures, an agreement is necessary if there is a partnership. In a partnership business, each member contributes either the capital or the labor or both. Thus, in case a member is not bringing in capital, but only wants to contribute through hard work and have ownership in the business, an agreement is important. It helps in fair distribution of the work of each member.

An agreement will include clauses as mentioned below:

• There should be a specified percentage share in ownership. It might vary as per the company size and number of members.
• • The frequency of sweat equity conversion into equity must be specified. It may be monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, etc.
• • The agreement must specify the rate of equity accrual, in which, the monthly salary can be taken as base.
• • The type of equity the member contributing hard work to the business should earn must be specified.
• • The duty and responsibility of each partner must be clearly mentioned in the agreement of the sweat equity ventures.

However, if a partner leaves the business, the agreement must mention rules regarding handling that equity.

From the below mentioned example we can learn how to calculate sweat equity.

Let's say that Stuart has started a company named VVC Ltd. Stuart doesn't have a lot of capital to invest in the company. So, he decided to start VVC Ltd. at $10,000. He decides that he would hire employees on sweat equity during the initial period, and then once he gets an investor, he would pay them in full.

So, after a few years of hard work, Stuart and his employees created a company that generates handsome revenue per year. The angel investor wants to invest 0.5 million for a 25% stake. From the valuation of the angel investor, we can understand that the company is valued at $2 million.

Now, stake of Stuart is worth = ($2 million * 75%) = $1.5 million.

His initial cost of investment was $10,000. That means he has the free money of $1.49 million.

But the valuation of the company can be much more than that.

How much would sweat equity be assigned to the employees before getting the angel investor or how to calculate sweat equity?

The answer is in the company's valuation at the date when the employee is hired. A was hired during the initial days of Stuart's business. Stuart could only source a few clients at that time, and the value of his company at that time was just $100,000. If we decide upon a number, let's say 20,000 shares as the total sweat equity of the company, we get each share at $5 at that time.

If Stuart feels that A would be doing work worth $10,000, he would be given 2000 shares of the company.

That is how the sweat equity shares are calculated and assigned. If the company is a limited liability or a partnership company, doing this will provide the employees with ownership of the company.

• Sweat equity is as valuable as cash equity. People may think that since we're putting in the effort and toil, it may have less value, but ask any business owner or a real estate agent. But because the homeowner put in the effort to make improvements for his house, the house can be sold at a decent profit over and above the normal price of the house. A business owner knows the value of sweat equity program because, at the beginning of running an enterprise, most of her focus should go on the effort and toil she puts in (for money to come in).
• Sweat equity is useful when cash isn't enough. This is just the extension of the earlier point. In the beginning, a business owner doesn't have much money. But they have a lot of time. They can put in the effort during the time and can earn cash when cash isn't enough.
• Sweat equity can be paid back in the future. When a company starts its journey, it hires employees stating that they would be paid sweat equity. What does it mean? It means that the owner knows the value of the effort and his employees' time. But since there's no cash coming in, the employees can be paid in sweat equity, and when the business receives the money, the employees would be paid based on its value (if they want to sell their stakes).

• The exact valuation of sweat equity is difficult as it is a non-monetary commitment made by its owners and employees. The owners stand to lose when the investors do not value their contribution by offering a valuation much lower than what could be a detriment for them at the same time.
• Owners strive to maximize the value much greater than the market, which fails to meet the owner's expectation by offering them lower value. Owners should make sure that they agree to ward off any conflicts regarding the valuation of the business.
• The length of sweat equity could negatively impact the valuation contributed over a long period.

Sweat equity is the ownership for contribution of business owners through any other method except cash, whereas ESOP (Employee Stock Option Plan) is the method of issuing shares to employees. The basic differences between them are as follows.