1.5% - 3.0% is fair for a first employee if you are also earning a decent salary, it's comparable to the deals I've seen around the Valley. If you weren't maki

1.5% - 3.0% is fair for a first employee if you are also earning a decent salary, it's comparable to the deals I've seen around the Valley. If you weren't making a salary, you should have a conversation about being a cofounder instead. It would be reasonable for you to ask for a lower salary and more equity, or no salary and a cofounder title. You would probably be making $20,000 - $30,000 more at a non-startup job but getting no equity (and have a more boring job). The tradeoff is probably worth it depending on your risk preferences. You should make sure that your stock is the same kind as the founders stock. If not, you should understand the difference. As long as everybody gets diluted equally in case of stock issuance and the guys aren't super shady, you are probably safe. Also, make sure that your stock grant has an acceleration clause and that it all vests in case of an exit. Otherwise you are definitely a chump.