Free Shareholder Register Template (Excel)
What's in the shareholder register template
The workbook has two tabs. Shareholders lists up to 60 holders with name, share class (common, preferred series A/B/C, or founder), and shares held - percent of total ownership calculates automatically and is IFERROR-protected so it never shows a divide-by-zero error before any shares are entered.
Transfer History is a running log of up to 100 share transfers: date, from, to, shares transferred, and certificate number - the record most simple template scrapes leave out entirely, since they only offer a flat current-holder list.
Together, the two tabs give you both a current cap table snapshot and the transfer trail that supports it, in one linked file rather than two documents you reconcile by hand.
Share class tracking versus a flat holder list
Most free shareholder register templates found online are a single flat list: name and share count, nothing else. That works until you issue preferred stock, at which point a flat list can't show you ownership percentage by class, only in aggregate.
This template's Share class dropdown (common, preferred series A/B/C, founder) means you can filter or sort by class and still get an accurate percent-of-total for every holder, calculated off total shares outstanding across all classes.
It's a register, not a full cap table modeling tool - it doesn't calculate liquidation preferences, conversion ratios, or fully diluted ownership including unexercised options. For governance record-keeping and percent-of-total math, it's built to be precise.
Who this template is for
Founders and small-company officers who need to maintain a stock ledger many states require as part of corporate recordkeeping - who owns what, what class, and when shares changed hands.
It's a working record you maintain yourself, not a substitute for the cap table software (Carta, Pulley, and similar) that larger companies use once they have preferred rounds, option pools, and SAFE conversions to model.
How to use it
- On Shareholders, list every holder with share class and shares held - percent of total calculates automatically.
- On Transfer History, log every share transfer with date, from, to, shares, and certificate number.
- Check the summary below each table for total shares outstanding and total shares transferred.
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Frequently asked questions
Does this calculate fully diluted ownership including options?
No. It calculates percent of total based on issued shares held per the Shareholders tab - it doesn't model unexercised options, warrants, or SAFE conversions into fully diluted ownership.
Can I use this in Google Sheets?
Yes. Upload the downloaded file to Google Drive, then open it and choose File > Save as Google Sheets. Both tabs and all formulas keep working.
How many shareholders and transfers does it support?
Up to 60 shareholders on the Shareholders tab and up to 100 transfer records on Transfer History - add more rows if you need additional capacity.
Does this replace corporate cap table software?
No. This is a straightforward register for share class, holdings, and transfer history - it doesn't model liquidation preferences, option pools, or SAFE/convertible note conversions the way dedicated cap table software does.
Is this legal advice?
No. This template is not legal advice and does not replace your state's required corporate records - consult counsel for share issuances, transfers, and other cap table events.
What's the usage license?
Personal use or use within one business. It's not meant to be resold or redistributed as a template product.