Founders Agreement Review Checklist
10 clauses to work through before you sign — the same list our lawyers check on every Founders Agreement review, ordered highest risk first. Nothing here leaves this page — check as you go.
0 of 10 checked
Before you start
General prep, not a legal-risk check — those start below.
- Have the final (or latest) version of the document in front of you, not a draft you've since revised.
- Confirm both parties' full legal names and correct signing entities are in the document.
- Note the governing law and jurisdiction stated in the agreement — clause interpretation depends on it.
- Check the effective date, term, and any renewal or expiry mechanics before reading the clauses below.
The Founders Agreement clause checklist
Equity vesting, IP assignment, and buy-back mechanics are structured differently depending on the governing law and corporate form of your company. We review each clause against the law and jurisdiction your company is incorporated in.
Check these first — high risk
Review closely
Standard clauses
Frequently asked questions
Is this Founders Agreement checklist a substitute for a lawyer's review?
No. It's the same clause list our lawyers check on every Founders Agreement review, in checkbox form, so you can spot obvious gaps yourself first. It doesn't tell you whether a specific clause is enforceable under your governing law, or how to negotiate it — that's what the paid review adds.
Does checking every box mean my contract is safe to sign?
It means the clause is present and worth a closer look — not that its wording is fair or enforceable. A clause can exist and still favour the other side. For that judgment, send it for a lawyer's review.
Want a lawyer to check it properly?
This checklist catches what's missing. A founders agreement review from ContractDesk tells you whether the wording that is there actually protects you — upload for a free Contract Health Check, then a lawyer reviews in 24–48 hours.