Co-Founder and Shareholder Agreements
Equity splits, decision-making, what happens if someone leaves — these conversations are much easier to have now than after something goes wrong. Get a shareholder or co-founder agreement drafted by a vetted legal professional, with a fixed price agreed upfront.
Most co-founder relationships start with trust and enthusiasm, and that is exactly when the hard conversations feel unnecessary. But an undocumented equity arrangement is a risk that grows over time. What happens if one founder wants to leave? What if someone stops contributing but keeps their shares? What if you disagree on a major decision and there is nothing in writing to resolve it? By the time these questions matter, they are expensive and emotionally charged to answer without a proper agreement in place.
Why iusmatch
- Covers the situations you haven't thought of yet: A vetted legal professional helps you structure an agreement that addresses equity, roles, decision-making, and exit scenarios — including the ones that feel unlikely right now.
- Fixed price, no open-ended legal bill: You see the full cost before work begins. A co-founder agreement is a defined piece of work, and you know exactly what it will cost before you commit.
- Written in language both founders can understand: You receive a document that is legally sound and readable. No impenetrable legalese, no clauses that require a separate explanation.
How it works
- Describe your setup and what you need covered: Log in and explain your business, how many founders are involved, the proposed equity split, and what areas you want the agreement to address.
- Receive drafting proposals from matched counsel: Vetted legal professionals respond with exactly what they will draft, the timeline, and the fixed cost. You compare and choose the right fit.
- Get your agreement and build on solid ground: Your co-founder agreement arrives via the platform. All communication and documents in one place. Ready to sign and file.
Starting a business with a co-founder is one of the most important professional relationships you will have. Like any important relationship, it benefits from clarity on the things that matter: who owns what, who decides what, and what happens when circumstances change. Co-founder and shareholder agreements typically cover equity distribution and vesting schedules, roles and responsibilities, decision-making rights, what happens when a founder leaves voluntarily or involuntarily, how shares can be transferred or sold, and how disputes between founders are resolved. These are not worst-case-scenario clauses. They are the structural foundations that allow a business to keep functioning when things do not go to plan. Getting this right early is significantly cheaper and less stressful than trying to untangle an undocumented arrangement later. iusmatch makes it straightforward. You post your question, describe your setup, and within hours receive proposals from vetted legal professionals. Each proposal outlines exactly what will be drafted, how long it will take, and the total fixed cost. There are no platform fees for clients. The agreement is drafted by a vetted practitioner with experience in business formation and shareholder arrangements, tailored to your specific situation. If you are at the stage of splitting equity with a co-founder, now is the right time to get the documentation right.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a co-founder agreement the same as a shareholders' agreement?
- They overlap significantly. A shareholders' agreement governs the relationship between shareholders in a formal company structure. A co-founder agreement can cover the same ground and may also include operational matters specific to early-stage businesses. Counsel can advise on what is appropriate for your situation.
- What should a co-founder agreement cover?
- At minimum: equity split, vesting schedule, roles and responsibilities, decision-making rights, what happens when a founder leaves, and how disputes are resolved. Counsel will ensure nothing critical is missed.
- What if we haven't finalised the equity split yet?
- You can still begin the process. Describe where you are and what decisions are still open. Counsel can help you think through the implications of different arrangements as part of the drafting process.
- What happens if we don't have an agreement and a founder wants to leave?
- Without a written agreement, the outcome depends on your company's articles of association and the default rules of Dutch company law. These may not reflect what either party actually intended. Getting an agreement in place removes this ambiguity.
- How much does a co-founder agreement cost to draft?
- Each counsel sets their own price based on the scope of work. You see the full cost before committing. There are no platform fees for clients.
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