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You offered him 20% less money and some percentage of nothing? Are you really shocked he didn't take it?

If it wasn't your company, would you "spend" $15,000 on the equity you offered?

Exactly. Every startup I've worked for the owners have this weird attitude that their equity is worth something. It's not. It's worth jack shit until the company is worth something. It doesn't pay bills. It doesn't let me buy the new shoes I want. It's essentially an investment. Usually if someone is in the position to invest, they don't need to work a day-job to cover bills.

Ahem, it's not a "weird attitude" to offer less salary in return for equity. Of course equity is worth something.

Not shocked, I was a little bummed.

Would you recommend just granting some equity to try and engender the "ownership" aspect?

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