Entrepreneurs already have to muster a great deal of time and energy to get their businesses off the ground. Covid-19 hasn’t done them any favors: A survey by Alignable in September 2020 found that 60% of small businesses were still suffering financially from the pandemic and 42% of owners were at risk of closure.

It is not clear how much federal stimulus can change that outlook until consumer confidence rebounds, but with or without a recession, entrepreneurs will continue to find that payroll costs often compete with other strategic priorities. If they do have the cash flow to compete for talent on salary, leaders may need the money for other aspects of the business. Equity compensation is a way to attract high-quality employees and help keep payroll manageable. READ MORE