How to share a stake in the business

Many entrepreneurs for a long time in a state of uncertainty and vagueness in many aspects of interaction with a partner. It is therefore important to agree on the beach.

1. Determine how disputes will be resolved

If you have two, then someone must be controlling interest - someone has to be over, and someone to give up - so it will be easier to deal with controversial issues and you do not have to resort to an arbitrator. If you have three or more - Define the decision tree: the decision of the majority vote or majority owner.

2. Use the vesting

Stipulate and mount what would happen if one of the participants come from the race before it ceases to be necessary to the project (as a rule, takes place three years after the launch of the project: it becomes a mature company and ceases to be a startup).
Please respect the shares

Highlight them with a sense of greed and is very rare. Always imagine what will happen with your shares, when her razmoyut three rounds of investments: Divide the initial share of the eight - whether you are psychologically satisfied with this figure? If after all the circles of hell you decide to bring in a startup hired CEO from 10% option (which is a common practice), would not it be higher than your share?

3. Give the proportion of only trusted people

The smallest unit of testing - 1 year or jointly earned 1 million. The crisis, and the money can open people that they are carefully concealed. All that is withheld can climb out.

4. Give the proportion of only those whom they will motivate

Maybe your CTO is a key employee without it the company can not exist. Maybe he checked with him and you have passed through fire and water. At the same time it is not psychologically drives and motivates a sense of ownership - that is, the proportion of it is not needed. And while he dreams of a secluded workplace with a hammock and an aquarium. Then do not let him share until he did not come to this desire, and invest in a hammock and an aquarium.

5. Involve the smart money

Financing is considered smart, if coupled with investors' money brings to the project its unique expertise, communication, access to sales channels and strategic partners. Money does not smell, but they have different costs, depending on the source of. If you are an inexperienced investor provides the investment, the investment to its discount to be applied - it may be equal to the dollar to 10 cents, because the money he was still a high probability to attract and problems, as well as unnecessary questions, and panic can demotivate. But the dollar experienced investors, and even with expertise in your market may be worth $ 100 for you - as it is the smart money, enrich you both morally and financially.