The conversations founders avoid having early are usually the ones that cause the most damage later. This founders agreement template walks through equity split, roles and responsibilities, vesting schedule, and what happens if a co-founder leaves, so a startup founders agreement gets the hard questions answered while the relationship is still good.
Once everyone agrees the terms, getting them signed shouldn't be the bottleneck. Each founder signs from the same link, and the record stays filed as the reference point if questions come up later.
What's Included
Everything you need to create a professional proposal
Professional Design
Fully Customizable
Ready to Use
Mobile Responsive
How to Use This Template
Get started with your professional proposal in just a few simple steps
1
Choose Template
Select this template and click "Use template for free" to get started
2
Customize Content
Fill in your details, add your branding, and tailor the content to your needs
3
Send & Track
Send your proposal to clients and track when they view and approve it
Who Benefits From Founders Agreement Template?
Early-stage founding teams use this agreement to align on the terms that matter most before the company grows.
First-Time Founder
Get equity and roles agreed in writing before the company takes on its first outside investment.
Co-Founder
Confirm what happens to unvested equity if a founder leaves the company early, before it becomes a dispute.
Startup Advisor
Guide a founding team through documenting terms they have discussed but never formally recorded.
Legal Counsel
Give a founding team a starting structure to build from instead of drafting founder terms from a blank page.
Everything you need to know about using this template
It should cover the equity split, each founder's role and responsibilities, a vesting schedule, and what happens if a founder leaves. A founders agreement template gives you these sections ready to fill in.
Yes. Founders agreement and co-founder agreement refer to the same document, and this template works for two or more founders.
Yes. Describe the founding team and the proposed terms, and the agreement comes back drafted in your branding, ready for you to shape further.
Yes. Every section is editable, so you can set vesting timelines, cliffs, and equity percentages specific to your founding team.
Yes. The agreement supports signatures from every founder directly inside the document, with the signed status and date recorded for each.
Yes. Duplicate the agreement to reflect a new founder joining or terms changing, keeping the structure and branding consistent.
Have the equity conversation while it's still easy
Have the hard conversation now, while it's still an easy one to have.
