Founders Agreement Generator
Create a customized agreement to formalize the relationship between company founders
Copy Agreement
Agreement copied!
Download as DOCX
Reset Form
◀
Company Info
Founders
Equity & Vesting
Roles & Terms
Legal Provisions
▶
Company Information
Company Name
?
Enter the legal name of the company if incorporated, or the intended name if not yet incorporated.
Company Address
?
The primary business address where the company operates or will operate.
Business Purpose
?
A concise statement describing what the company does or intends to do. This helps define the scope of operations and non-compete provisions.
To develop and market innovative software solutions for the healthcare industry.
Incorporation Status
?
Indicates whether the company is already incorporated and what type of entity it is or will become.
Not Yet Incorporated
LLC
C Corporation
S Corporation
Benefit Corporation
Date of Incorporation
?
The date when the company was officially incorporated. If using a future date, ensure this reflects your actual incorporation timeline.
Warning: You've selected a future date for incorporation. Please ensure this accurately reflects your incorporation plans.
Agreement Date
?
The effective date when this founders agreement will take effect.
Governing Law (State)
?
The state whose laws will govern the interpretation and enforcement of this agreement. Often the state of incorporation or primary business location.
California
Delaware
New York
Texas
Florida
Massachusetts
Other State
Note: California has strict limitations on non-compete agreements. The non-compete provisions in this agreement may not be enforceable in California.
Specify Other State
Next: Founders
Founder Information
Founder 1
Full Name
?
Legal name of the founder, which will be used for contract purposes.
Address
Email Address
Equity Percentage
?
The percentage of ownership in the company. Total across all founders must equal 100%.
Percentage of ownership in the company
Equity percentages across all founders must equal 100%
Role / Position
?
The founder's title and position within the company.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Chief Product Officer (CPO)
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
President
Co-Founder
Other (Specify)
Specify Role
Key Responsibilities
?
Describe the founder's main duties and areas of responsibility within the company.
Overall company strategy, fundraising, and business development.
Founder 2
Full Name
Address
Email Address
Equity Percentage
?
The percentage of ownership in the company. Total across all founders must equal 100%.
Percentage of ownership in the company
Equity percentages across all founders must equal 100%
Role / Position
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Chief Product Officer (CPO)
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
President
Co-Founder
Other (Specify)
Specify Role
Key Responsibilities
Product development, technology strategy, and engineering team management.
+
Add Another Founder
Total Equity:
100
%
Total equity must equal exactly 100%. Please adjust the equity percentages.
Previous: Company Info
Next: Equity & Vesting
Equity & Vesting
Equity Form
?
The type of ownership interest that founders will hold in the company. Depends on company structure.
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Membership Interest (LLC)
Future Equity upon Incorporation
Vesting Schedule
?
Vesting determines how founders earn their equity over time. A vesting schedule protects the company if a founder leaves early. With a "cliff," no equity vests until that cliff date is reached.
No Vesting (Fully Vested)
Standard 4-Year Vesting with 1-Year Cliff
4-Year Vesting without Cliff
3-Year Vesting with 1-Year Cliff
Custom Schedule
Standard 4-Year Vesting with 1-Year Cliff:
No equity vests for the first year ("cliff period"). After 1 year, 25% vests immediately, then the remaining 75% vests in equal monthly installments over the next 3 years.
Custom Vesting Schedule
?
Describe your custom vesting schedule in detail, including timeframes and any special conditions.
Accelerated Vesting
?
Determines if unvested equity vests early upon certain triggering events. Single Trigger means the event itself causes acceleration (e.g., company acquisition). Double Trigger requires two events (e.g., acquisition followed by founder termination).
No Acceleration
Single Trigger (Change of Control)
Double Trigger (Change of Control + Termination)
Custom Acceleration
Single Trigger:
All unvested equity immediately vests upon a change of control event (such as acquisition or merger).
Custom Acceleration Terms
Previous: Founders
Next: Roles & Terms
Roles & Commitment Terms
Decision Making Structure
?
Defines how day-to-day company decisions will be made among founders.
Majority Vote (One Vote Per Founder)
Unanimous Agreement
Weighted by Equity Percentage
Designated Decision Maker
Custom Structure
Designated Decision Maker
?
Select the founder who will have primary decision-making authority for day-to-day company operations.
John Smith
Jane Doe
Custom Decision Making Structure
Time Commitment
?
Specifies how much time each founder is expected to commit to the company.
Full-Time (40+ hours/week)
Part-Time (Specified Hours)
Flexible Arrangement
Custom Time Commitment
Custom Time Commitment
Initial Salaries/Compensation
?
How founders will be compensated financially in the early stages of the company.
No Initial Salary
Equal Salaries
Proportional to Contribution
Based on Role/Market Rate
Custom Compensation Plan
Custom Compensation Details
Previous: Equity & Vesting
Next: Legal Provisions
Intellectual Property
IP Assignment
?
Determines how intellectual property created by founders is assigned or licensed to the company.
Full Assignment to Company
Limited Assignment (Specified IP Only)
License to Company (Founder Retains Ownership)
Custom IP Arrangement
Custom IP Arrangement
Prior IP Exclusions
?
Intellectual property developed by founders before joining the company that should be excluded from assignment to the company.
No Prior IP Exclusions
Specified Prior IP Exclusions
Prior IP Details
Restrictive Covenants
Non-Compete Provision
?
Restricts founders from working with competitors during and after their involvement with the company. Note that non-compete provisions may have limited enforceability in some states, particularly California.
No Non-Compete
Limited Non-Compete (1 Year, Geographic Restrictions)
Extensive Non-Compete (2+ Years, Broader Restrictions)
Custom Non-Compete
Note: Non-compete provisions have limited enforceability in some states. In California, they are generally unenforceable except in very limited circumstances like business sales.
Non-Compete Details
During the term of their involvement with the Company and for a period of one (1) year following separation, Founders shall not directly or indirectly engage in a business that competes with the Company within the same geographic regions where the Company operates.
Confidentiality Provision
?
Defines how founders must protect company confidential information during and after their involvement.
Standard Confidentiality
Extensive Confidentiality
Limited Confidentiality
Custom Confidentiality
Confidentiality Details
Exit & Termination
Voluntary Exit
?
What happens to a founder's equity when they voluntarily leave the company.
Retain Vested Stock Only
Company Option to Repurchase
Other Founders Option to Purchase
Full Forfeiture of Equity
Custom Exit Terms
Custom Exit Terms
Founder Termination
?
Process for terminating a founder and what happens to their equity in that event.
By Majority of Other Founders
By Supermajority (e.g., 2/3) of Other Founders
By Unanimous Vote of Other Founders
By Board Decision
Custom Termination Process
Custom Termination Process
Dispute Resolution
?
How conflicts between founders will be resolved, whether through mediation, arbitration, or courts.
Mediation First, Then Binding Arbitration
Binding Arbitration
Courts Only
Custom Dispute Resolution
Custom Dispute Resolution
Additional Provisions
Other Additional Provisions
?
Any other terms or conditions not covered in previous sections that should be included in the agreement.
1. The Company will reimburse reasonable business expenses incurred by the Founders. 2. Each Founder agrees to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. 3. This Agreement may only be amended with the written consent of all Founders. 4. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding among the Founders regarding the subject matter hereof.
Previous: Roles & Terms
Schedule Legal Consultation
Agreement Preview
Updates as you complete the form