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Formation · Template 01 of 40

Founders’ Agreement (short-form shareholders’ agreement)

Use it when two or more founders share equity and need to agree roles, vesting, leavers and exit.

  • About 12 pages
  • 40 drafting notes in the margin
  • 18 clauses
  • Word (.docx)
  • England and Wales
  • Updated November 2026

What is in it

  1. Definitions and interpretation
  2. Status of this Agreement and the Articles
  3. Shares and capital
  4. Roles and commitment
  5. Management and decisions
  6. Vesting
  7. Leavers
  8. Transfers of Shares
  9. Tag-along and drag-along
  10. Intellectual property
  11. Confidentiality
  12. Restrictive covenants
  13. Deadlock
  14. Funding, loans and expenses
  15. Future investment
  16. Warranties
  17. Duration
  18. General

Plus a schedule of the commercial details and signature blocks where the document needs them.

Read the opening

The first part of the template, as it reads in Word. Blanks are shown as lines; the drafting notes sit in the margin of the file.

FOUNDERS’ AGREEMENT

This Founders’ Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made on ____________________ (the “Effective Date”)

BETWEEN:

(1) The individuals named in Part A of Schedule 1 (each a “Founder” and together the “Founders”); and

(2) ____________________ LTD, a company registered in England and Wales (registration number ____________), whose registered office is at ______________________________________________ (the “Company”).

Background

(A) The Founders have set up, or are about to set up, the Company to carry on the Business described in Part B of Schedule 1.

(B) The Founders have agreed to work together in the Company and wish to record how the Company will be owned, run and funded, what happens if a Founder leaves, and what happens if the Founders disagree.

(C) The Company has agreed to enter into this Agreement so that it can enforce it.

1. Definitions and interpretation

How it works

  1. Pay by card. The download starts at once and the link keeps working.
  2. Open the Word file. Fill in the blanks, pick the options marked with boxes, read each note in the margin.
  3. Delete the notes and the notice box, then sign. Or send it to us for a fixed-fee check first.

Word template

£99 Instant download

One-off. No account needed. No VAT to add. Stripe emails a receipt you can use as an invoice.

Or fill it in online (platform plan)
  • Drafted by a solicitor for England and Wales
  • Drafting notes explain every choice
  • Instant download, link works again later
  • Last updated November 2026
  • Not right for you? Email us within 14 days and we refund it, no questions.
  • £50 off a fixed-fee review once filled in (from £99)

Part of a pack

Founders pack, £119

5 documents for two or more founders, before anyone else is involved.

See the pack

Need more than one?

Complete template library, £299

All 40 documents, with the index and guide.