Generate a professional stock certificate with stock ledger entry and board resolution for your corporation. Customize share class, par value, restrictive legends, CUSIP number, and officer signatures with real-time preview and instant download.
I built this stock certificate generator to help corporations properly document equity ownership with formal certificates, stock ledger entries, and board resolutions. Whether you are issuing founder shares at incorporation, granting equity to early employees, or documenting an investment round, this tool generates the complete set of corporate documents you need to maintain proper corporate formalities and satisfy your obligations under state corporate law.
This generator produces three companion documents: a formal stock certificate with decorative border styling suitable for printing, a stock ledger entry that records the issuance in the corporation's official books, and a board resolution authorizing the share issuance. Together these documents provide a comprehensive record of the equity transaction that satisfies corporate governance requirements and supports clean cap table management.
Every field updates the live preview instantly, so you can see exactly how your certificate and supporting documents will look before downloading. The generator includes support for multiple share classes (Common Stock, Preferred Series A/B/C), par value configuration, certificate number tracking, CUSIP number fields, and multiple restrictive legend options including Rule 144, Section 1202 QSBS, and Section 83(b) legends.
Key features include: share class selection with common and preferred stock options, number of shares displayed in both words and figures, multiple restrictive legend checkboxes, dual officer signature blocks for President/CEO and Secretary, auto-generated certificate numbers, and complete board resolution language authorizing the issuance.
A stock certificate is a physical or electronic document that serves as legal evidence of share ownership in a corporation. While most states no longer require paper certificates, many corporations still issue them as formal documentation. Stock certificates are particularly important for early-stage companies and investment rounds where investors may request physical evidence of their equity position.
Common Stock represents basic equity ownership with voting rights and residual rights to assets. Preferred Stock provides preferential rights including liquidation preferences, anti-dilution protections, and conversion rights. Preferred Stock is typically issued to outside investors, while founders and employees receive Common Stock.
Par value is the minimum price at which shares can be issued. Most Delaware corporations set par value at $0.0001 per share to minimize franchise taxes. Par value does not reflect market value. Issuing shares below par value is prohibited and creates director liability.
Common legends include the Securities Act legend (shares not registered under the 1933 Act), transfer restriction legend (referencing shareholder agreements), Section 83(b) legend for vesting shares, Rule 144 legend for restricted securities, and Section 1202 QSBS legend for qualified small business stock.
A CUSIP number is a nine-character code that uniquely identifies a security. Most private companies do not need one. You would typically need a CUSIP only if your shares will be traded on an exchange or if institutional investors require it.
Stock certificates must be signed by at least two corporate officers, typically the President or CEO and the Secretary. The signatures attest that the certificate has been authorized by the board and complies with the corporation's charter documents.