Yes you can. The problem is, stock in a private company is virtually worthless. You won't have enough stock to be involved in any decisions, and there will be no one to sell it to. The business owners won't want your stock because it will not be enough to change the ownership structure, and chances are no one else will want it either. I have stock in a fairly successful brewing company as a result of a deal like this. At one point it was a measurable amount, maybe 1% or so of the business. Then the management, who own a majority of the shares, voted to issue 300% more shares, which were distributed to key employees and management. Now my 1% is worth 1/4 of 1%, I still have the stock and no one wants it.

A minority shareholding in a private company is basically worthless. Value may possibly arise if the company goes public (IPO) or effects a trade sale.

What this adds up to is an exit route. You can easily buy shares in a start up or new company (for cash or services), in fact the company will probably bite your hand off, but how do you sell them to make a profit?

A better way is to possibly take part cash and part shares just for a gamble. As they say, someone has to win the lottery.

Actually, I do this all the time when I start a new business. Typically there's a bit of cash and stock options or convertibles but it's a very legitimate thing to ask for if that's within that companies business model and you're talking with an owner.

You can't call a basic sales rep and ask for stock, but if you get to speak with the owner then stock is an option if that's how you want to be paid for your services.

Business owners are allowed to do quite a lot with their company stock. Won't know until you try. Just make sure that you are speaking with the right person.

Forgive me because I'm very ignorant of the technicalities of the financial world. Basically there is this super small, brand new business I've come across online. I want to offer my services of graphic design to them, but instead of payment I want what I guess is called part ownership, or stocks in the company as compensation. Just a tiny piece. I believe these guys might get huge one day and I'd like to be part of it. What's the professional way of wording that request, is it even a legitimate thing to ask for? I read how Mark Zuckerberg did something similar back when Facebook was just beginning, giving stocks as compensation to an artist who did some work for him. Thanks!