Founders' Agreement
Equity split, vesting, roles, IP and exits between co-founders
- 1AlignFounders agree the key terms.
- 2DraftAgreement and IP assignment prepared.
- 3EmbedArticles amended to match.
Share your details. We’ll reply on WhatsApp with the next steps and a checklist.
Pick a plan — the fee is adjusted if you hire us within 30 days.
About Founders' Agreement
A clear overview, in simple terms — what it is, why it matters, and how we handle it.
A founders' agreement sets out how co-founders share equity and work together: the equity split, vesting (commonly four years with a one-year cliff, implemented as reverse vesting since founders hold shares upfront), roles and decision-making, assignment of all IP to the company, confidentiality, and what happens if a founder leaves. Key terms should also be reflected in the company's articles to bind the company.
Most co-founder disputes come from what was never written down: who decides, what happens to unvested shares when someone leaves, and who owns code written before incorporation. A short, clear agreement prevents them.
Indian law matters here: post-exit non-compete clauses are generally unenforceable under Section 27 of the Indian Contract Act, so we rely on vesting, leaver provisions, confidentiality and non-solicitation instead.
| Vesting | Often 4 years with a 1-year cliff (reverse vesting) |
|---|---|
| IP | All founder IP assigned to the company |
| Leaver terms | Good leaver / bad leaver buy-back price |
| Non-compete | Post-exit restraint generally void under Section 27, Contract Act |
| Articles | Transfer restrictions should mirror the agreement |
Work that the law requires a advocate (for drafting and stamping) to sign or represent is delivered through Indus Tax's partner professionals; our team prepares the records, coordinates the filing and stays your single point of contact.
Who this is for
Common scenarios where this service is a good fit.
- Co-founders at or before incorporation
- Teams adding a new co-founder
- Founders preparing for a first investor
What you get
Clear deliverables so you know exactly what's included.
- Term discussion with all founders
- Agreement drafting
- Articles alignment
- IP assignment deeds
Expert review before every submission — not just data entry.
Working notes and reconciliations you can rely on in future notices.
Resident Indians, NRIs, expats and cross-border businesses — all served.
Documents required
A practical checklist. We'll tell you if anything else is needed based on your case.
* This is a base checklist. After a quick pre-check, we may ask for additional items specific to your case.
Process
A simple, trackable workflow — designed to avoid back-and-forth.
Founders agree the key terms.
Agreement and IP assignment prepared.
Articles amended to match.
Get a quote
We share a clear quote on WhatsApp after a quick checklist pre-check.
- Fixed quote on WhatsApp after a short look at your facts and documents.
- Work that legally needs a advocate (for drafting and stamping) is signed by a partner professional; we coordinate it end to end.
- Government fees, if any, are paid at actuals and shown separately.
| Factor | DIY | Indus Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Expert review | ❌ | ✅ |
| Notice risk reduction | ❌ | ✅ |
| Deduction optimisation | ❌ | ✅ |
| Audit-ready records | ❌ | ✅ |
| AIS/26AS reconciliation | ❌ | ✅ |
Share your facts and deadline. We'll reply with the right checklist and a clear quote.
Fee adjusted against our service fee if you go ahead within 30 days.
- Priority CA Call-backSkip the queue — a CA calls you within 30 minutes.₹255
- RecommendedCA Consultation (30 min)Talk one matter through properly with a CA.₹755
- In-depth CA Review (60 min)Documents reviewed before the call, written action plan after.₹1,155
Call-backs run Mon–Sat, 9 AM–6 PM IST. Booked outside these hours? We call you first thing the next working morning.
Compare the 3 plansFrequently asked questions
Answers to the most common questions we get.
Official sources
Indus Tax is a private professional services firm and is not affiliated with any government authority. Rules and fees change — we confirm current positions before filing.
