As the 5th member that's pretty low. Last year I was offered 1.5% and would have been the 12th employee at a company that had been around just under a year, the only reason I didn't take it was the salary was too low to live any kind of half-enjoyable life. Now of course the company has about 35 employees and they seem to be doing well, although they're in a saturated market and I can't imagine them fairing very well in an economic depression. At this point I'll only kick myself if they get acquired and my 1.5% is suddenly worth upper 6 to low 7 figures.
If you're to be the 5th and crucial member, I'd fight for more or don't bother. The fact is most startups don't get acquired and you aren't going to get rewarded for your 80 hour weeks and below market salary - but you will have learned a lot and you'll probably have less hair.
If you're to be the 5th and crucial member, I'd fight for more or don't bother. The fact is most startups don't get acquired and you aren't going to get rewarded for your 80 hour weeks and below market salary - but you will have learned a lot and you'll probably have less hair.