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If you're not looking to sell everything, the ESO Fund also offers cash advances against shares. Each of these firms have different structures. EquityZen and Sharespost typically require a full transfer with company approval while Forge Global has been known to do forward contracts.

The general process for a full transfer is as follows:

Find a buyer Agree on a Stock Transfer Agreement with the buyer Notify the company about the sale The company has 1-3 months to exercise their Right of First Refusal (the company has the chance to purchase the shares first) (note: some companies don't allow transfers at all) If the company allows the transfer to occur, then you can finally close the deal.

This process takes up to 3-6 months depending on how easy it is to find a buyer, negotiate terms, get the company approval, etc.

A forward contract or a deal with ESO can close extremely quickly, usually within a few weeks or even days!

Disclaimer: I work at the ESO Fund