Vesting Cliff
A waiting period — usually one year — before any of your equity grant becomes yours. If you leave before the cliff, you typically get nothing from that grant.
Quick Answer
What happens if I leave one day before my cliff date?
You typically forfeit the entire grant — nothing vests incrementally during the cliff period, so leaving even one day early can mean losing 100% of that equity, not a prorated portion.
- The cliff date is a hard line, not an average
- Nothing vests gradually before the cliff
- Confirm your exact cliff date in writing, not an approximate one
The Lovie Advantage
Lovie calculates your exact vested total from your real grant date, so a cliff date is never left to guesswork.
See how this connects to Vesting Schedule. For the formal definition, see the SBA's guide to hiring and managing your team.
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