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Restricted Stock Award Agreement (RSA)

Free restricted stock award (RSA) agreement template for granting actual shares subject to vesting, distinct from an RSU grant.

This free restricted stock award agreement (rsa) covers 1. Grant, 2. Vesting Schedule, 3. Repurchase Right, 4. Section 83(b) Election, 5. Restrictions and Rights with 7 clearly marked [placeholder] fields to fill in — built for founders, freelancers, and small business owners formalizing a business decision or agreement without paying a lawyer to draft it from scratch. Copy it into your own word processor, fill in the placeholders, and review it — or adapt it — before use. It's part of docstoc's free document template library, alongside business, legal, real estate, finance, and HR templates. Every template here is free to copy with no signup required, and each one carries a plain disclaimer: this is a starting point for informational purposes, not a substitute for advice from a licensed professional in your jurisdiction.

Template — click to edit

Restricted Stock Award Agreement

Company: [Company Name] · Recipient: [Recipient Name] · Grant Date: [Date]

1. Grant

Subject to this Agreement and the Company's [Equity Incentive Plan Name], the Company grants Recipient [Number] shares of [Class] common stock (the "Shares"), issued as of the Grant Date and subject to the vesting and repurchase terms below.

2. Vesting Schedule

The Shares vest as follows: [e.g. "25% after one year, then monthly over the following 36 months"]. Unvested Shares remain subject to the Company's repurchase right in Section 3.

3. Repurchase Right

If Recipient's service ends for any reason before the Shares are fully vested, the Company may repurchase any unvested Shares at [original purchase price / $0.00], at its option.

4. Section 83(b) Election

Because the Shares are issued at grant subject to vesting, Recipient may file a Section 83(b) election with the IRS within 30 days of the Grant Date to be taxed on their value now rather than as they vest. Recipient is solely responsible for this election and should consult a tax advisor.

5. Restrictions and Rights

Recipient may not sell, transfer, or pledge unvested Shares. Recipient holds voting and dividend rights in the Shares from the Grant Date, whether or not vested, unless the Plan states otherwise.


Company: ______________________ Date: ____________ Recipient: ______________________ Date: ____________

*This document is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. An RSA differs from a Restricted Stock Unit (RSU): an RSA issues real shares at grant (enabling an 83(b) election), while an RSU only delivers shares later, at vesting. Consult a securities attorney and tax advisor before granting equity.*

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What's included

Who this template is for

Freelancers & solo founders

Handling routine business paperwork without commissioning custom legal drafting for every document.

Small businesses

Standardizing recurring documents — leases, agreements, notices — across a growing operation.

Anyone reviewing before signing

Using a clear starting structure to understand what a document should cover, even if a lawyer finalizes it.

Early-stage businesses

Getting the basics documented before things get more complex.

FAQ

Is this restricted stock award agreement (rsa) template really free?

Yes. Like every template in docstoc's library, this restricted stock award agreement (rsa) is free to use, with no account or signup needed to view, edit, or download it.

What does this restricted stock award agreement (rsa) cover?

This business template includes 1. Grant, 2. Vesting Schedule, 3. Repurchase Right, 4. Section 83(b) Election. Fill in the [bracketed] placeholders, edit any clause online, then download a PDF — the docstoc.io footer stays on every export.

Is this legal advice?

No. This is a general-purpose starting structure, not advice for your specific situation. Business agreements can hinge on details — state of formation, industry-specific regulation, how a dispute would actually play out — that a template can't account for. Have a business attorney review anything that involves real money or real risk before you rely on it.

Can I edit the wording?

Yes — edit directly on the page, adjust any section or clause, and re-fill the 7 placeholder fields to match your situation before downloading a PDF. It's a starting structure, not a rigid script.

Where can I find more free templates like this?

Browse more free business and related document templates in the docstoc library at /document-templates/.

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