Free Founders Agreement Templates (Word)
Legal
by waltherdewald
Spelling out who owns what before a startup takes off can save a friendship and a company down the line. This set of 22 founders agreement templates helps co-founders put equity splits, vesting schedules, roles, and intellectual property terms in writing while everyone's still on good terms. Early-stage teams and solo founders bringing on a partner can see exactly which decisions belong in the document.
Each template is editable in Microsoft Word, so you can fill in names, percentages, and terms, then print or export a clean copy to sign. Company law and vesting norms differ by state and situation, so treat these as a starting draft and have a lawyer review anything complex before you sign. Download the version that fits your team and get the conversation on paper.
When to use this Founders Agreement template
- Early-stage tech co-founders splitting equity between two or three members need a clear framework for vesting, roles, and exit clauses before writing a single line of code. This template helps avoid disputes when stakes are still low and relationships are strong.
- A solo founder about to bring on a non-technical co-founder to handle business development or marketing should define equity, decision-making rights, and IP ownership upfront to prevent future conflicts over contributions and control.
- Two founders with complementary skills—like a developer and a designer—should outline how disputes will be resolved, how equity adjusts if one leaves early, and what happens if they can’t agree on a pivot or major product shift.
- Co-founders in a creative startup (e.g., a media company or app) with no prior legal experience must document how ideas generated by one founder during pre-launch belong to the company, not personally, to protect the business from intellectual property claims later.
Which format should I download?
Use the Word format for this collection because it’s the standard for drafting, revising, and sharing legal documents collaboratively. Word’s track-changes feature is ideal for co-founders editing terms together, and its compatibility with lawyers’ tools ensures smooth transitions if you later need professional review.
Choose from 22 Founders Agreement Templates
Founders Agreements
Founders Agreement
How to use this Founders Agreement template
Why does this collection include both ‘Founders Agreement’ and ‘Founders Stock Purchase Agreement’ templates? Shouldn’t we just use one?
A Founders Agreement covers governance, equity splits, and roles among co-founders who’re already part of the company. A Founders Stock Purchase Agreement is for when you’re bringing in an early investor or advisor as a founder—it formalizes how they earn equity (e.g., via future funding rounds). Use both if your team is growing and you’re issuing stock to new members.
The template mentions ‘vesting schedules.’ What happens if the document doesn’t specify one, and a co-founder leaves after six months?
Without a vesting schedule, a departing co-founder could walk away with 100% of their promised equity immediately, diluting your remaining founders. Vesting (e.g., 4-year cliff with monthly vesting) ensures founders earn equity over time, tying their compensation to long-term commitment. Always include this—even if it feels like overkill early on.
Can we use one of these templates if we’re a non-profit or social enterprise with founders who aren’t taking salaries?
These templates assume equity is tied to ownership and financial stakes, which may not fit a non-profit. However, you can adapt clauses like ‘IP ownership,’ ‘decision-making authority,’ and ‘exit terms’ to your structure. Focus on defining how unpaid founders contribute (e.g., time, skills) and how disputes over mission or operations will be resolved—these are the critical protections for mission-driven teams.
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