The simplest way to keep your best employees without giving up equity
Reins helps you set up equity-style incentives for your key people, and reward them for growing and staying—without giving up control.
No equity transfer — you keep full control
409a-compliant legal framework included
No long-term contracts
Industry leaders trust Reins to create incentives that have real impact
I went snowboarding with my son. I didn't have a single concern or interruption. That's the kind of business I want to build.
Trent Urban, Owner of Wirenut Home Services
Reins does an awesome job of taking a difficult subject and making it easy.
Stuart Baldick III, Owner of Stuart's Plumbing Service
Absolutely, Reins has met our expectations — it was a breeze. We really felt like it was a great experience and very easy to get it going.
Shauwn Collins, Owner of Absolute Electric LLC
The leader in alternative equity solutions for the trades
See what our customers are saying
Tony Cooper
Owner, Cooper's Plumbing
Wes Carver
Owner, Wes Carver Electric
Eddie McDonald
Owner, Zen Air Heating & Cooling
The Problem
Are you tired of feeling...
Worried your best tech will leave the moment a competitor makes him a better offer
Frustrated that bonuses aren't working — your team cashes the check but still doesn't act like they have skin in the game?
Stuck being the person your business can't run without — even on weekends?
Scared to offer equity because you don't want to hand over control of what you built?
Like you're working harder than anyone on your team — but your people don't feel that investment?
Unable to take a real vacation without your phone going off the entire time?
You're Not Alone.
This isn't a you problem. It's a gap in how small businesses retain people.
Most business owners are stuck choosing between two bad options: give up equity and lose control, or keep things as-is and be chained to the business forever. Neither works.
The truth is, your best employees want more than a paycheck. They want to feel like they have something to build toward. They want skin in the game.
But traditional equity structures are expensive, complicated, and built for private equity, venture-backed startups, or big corporations.
They don’t make sense for contractors, construction firms, or trade businesses.
That’s why we built Reins. We make it simple for business owners to roll out alternative equity programs like phantom stock or profit sharing. All without lawyers, headaches, or restructuring.
Leading service businesses use Reins to retain, grow, and exit their business
Retention
93
%
of employees given an incentive on Reins are still employed
Growth
16
%
average increase in valuation within the first 24 months
Succession
20
%
average increase in exit value vs companies without Reins
How does it work? With the right incentives.
Phantom Stock
Alternative equity that rewards employees long-term without owner dilution
Profit Sharing
Mid-term profit sharing based on growth and business goals
Performance Bonuses
Short-term rewards to motivate day-to-day behaviors
Our process
Delivered through easy-to-use software
Reins creates incentive programs that align employees with the long-term success of your business.
We draft the legal contracts
We design a plan that fits your business
Employees get visibility into their incentives
We help you administer & manage the plan
How it compares
The simpler way to keep your best people
Features
Recommended
Hire a lawyer
Custom plan
Traditional equity
ESOP, SAR, ISO, RSU
Setup time
Days
Weeks to months
Months
Cost to get started
Fraction of the cost
$5k–$20k+
$10k–$50k+
409a Compliant
Depends on lawyer
Owner keeps full control
Varies by structure
Built for SMBs & trades
Employee visibility & dashboard
No long-term contracts
Ongoing admin & support
FAQs
What is phantom stock?
Phantom stock entitles an employee to a future cash payment based on the company's value, usually triggered by events like a sale. It is an innovative way for LLCs and other companies that can't or don't want to use traditional equity to get started with owner-like benefits for key employees.
Are your plans legally binding?
Our plans are built by attorneys and customized by you. Every plan is legally-binding and created to meet the needs of small to mid-sized private businesses. Though our software was built with guidance from top tier lawyers, we are not a law firm and encourage you to consult with your attorney.
Why do I need Reins? Why can't I just use your document?
Reins transforms a static legal agreement into a living, editable benefits program. Reins Membership benefits include: an employee portal to monitor incentives, quarterly compliance checks, secure document storage, ability to grant and monitor awards, add and remove plan participants, and ongoing Reins support.
What is the difference between phantom stock and profit sharing?
The main difference between phantom stock and profit sharing is that profit sharing is not linked to the company's value or stock price. Profit sharing is often done quarterly or annually, while phantom stock pays out on a specific trigger (like retirement or the sale of the company, for example).
Profit sharing is a powerful feature to pair with phantom stock, since it integrates more frequent, shorter-term incentives into your benefits plan.
Profit sharing is a powerful feature to pair with phantom stock, since it integrates more frequent, shorter-term incentives into your benefits plan.
How long does this typically take to setup?
Our technology makes creating, customizing and managing phantom stock plans nearly instant. Often the majority of the time required to implement Reins is deciding what plan features make sense for your business.
How can I get in touch with you?
Call or text us at (725) 237-5396 between Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm Pacific time if you have questions or would like to get started. You can also email us at hello [@] myreins.com.