Founder agreements
Set out each founder's role, time commitment and agreed equity expectations.
Address what happens if a founder steps back, leaves or has not yet earned all expected shares.
For Irish founders and growing companies
Start-Up, Founder and Shareholder Agreements
Most founder disputes start with an agreement nobody wrote down. Ian's Covenant prepares founder and shareholder agreements, confidentiality arrangements and collaboration contracts that make ownership, responsibilities and decision-making clear.
Useful at formation, before a first hire and ahead of investment discussions.
Put the working relationship in writing.
Clear terms give each founder a shared reference point as the company grows.
01Agree founder roles
02Set ownership terms
03Prepare for growth
04Plan for change
Documents for the next stage
Documents We Prepare for Growing Companies
Choose documents around the decisions your company needs to make now. Each agreement should fit the people involved and the way the business will operate.
Shareholder agreements
Agree how owners make decisions and what happens when shares may change hands.
Terms can cover reserved matters, board arrangements, transfer restrictions and exit routes.
Confidentiality agreements
Set clear limits around sensitive information shared in business discussions.
Useful when speaking with prospective investors, suppliers or commercial partners.
Collaboration and joint venture agreements
Record the terms for a shared project before work and costs begin.
Define contributions, responsibilities, ownership of work and how either party can bring the arrangement to an end.
First customer and supplier contracts
Set practical terms for early sales and the services your company depends on.
Clarify scope, payment, delivery, liability and the steps for resolving a contract issue.
The detail that matters
The Terms That Shape Your Company
Small gaps in early paperwork can become hard questions during a founder departure or investment review. Decide the rules while everyone can still discuss them clearly.
Make the expectations explicit.
Equity and vesting
Record how ownership is allocated and what happens to unvested shares if a founder leaves before the agreed period.
Decision-making
Set ordinary approval rules and identify important matters that need unanimous or special consent.
Share transfers
Agree restrictions, pre-emption rights and permitted transfers so existing owners know when they can buy or approve a transfer.
Intellectual property
Confirm how work created by founders, employees or contractors is assigned to the company.
Exit arrangements
Plan for a company sale and consider drag-along and tag-along terms before a transaction is on the table.
Plan before due diligence
Prepared for Investment Conversations
Clear founder and shareholder documents help investors understand who owns the company, how key decisions are made and whether the business owns the work it is built on.
Confidentiality terms can set boundaries for fundraising discussions. A shareholders' agreement should also be read alongside the company constitution, so the documents work together.
Resolve ownership questions early.
A clear working process
A Straightforward Route to Signed Documents
Start with the company's stage and the decisions in front of you. The drafting then follows the commercial position the stakeholders have agreed.
Step 01
Scope the priorities
Discuss the company stage, stakeholder roles and the documents needed first.
Step 02
Prepare the draft
Draft around the agreed commercial position and review how it fits with the constitution.
Step 03
Review the key terms
Work through a review round with plain-English commentary on the provisions that matter.
Step 04
Finalise and sign
Receive signing guidance and a short note on terms to revisit as the company develops.
Start with a clear brief
Get Your Founder Documentation in Place
Tell Ian's Covenant what the company does, who its stakeholders are and which decisions need to be recorded. We support Irish businesses from Navan, County Meath.
A useful first step is a short outline of your situation.
Send an enquiry
Call +353 83 903 3213
Your company stage and location
The founders or shareholders involved
The agreement or decision you need help with