# Simplify equity management with our cap table template

A cap table (or capitalization table) is a list of all the securities a company has issued and who owns them. It might sound simple, but cap tables can get complicated quickly. Any time you raise a funding round, create an option pool or have a liquidity event, it becomes harder to keep an accurate record of company ownership.

## How to use this cap table template

- Download and open the spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets
- Follow the instructions to input your company’s data in the securities ledger
- Review your summary cap table, auto-populated using formulas and your data
- Keep your cap table up to date by recording each new share issuance in the securities ledger

Advanced [cap table software](/content/equity-management/cap-table/index.html) streamlines how you manage equity and scales as you grow. Over 65,000 private companies in 160+ countries use Carta for cap table management, company valuations and employee share plans. Learn more about our [early-stage fundraising support](/content/uk/en/equity-management/fundraising/index.html) for UK and European startups.