Founders' Agreement in Siliguri
A Founders' Agreement sets out — in writing, before disputes arise — how the co-founders of a startup split equity, share roles, make decisions and part ways. Our advocates draft a tailored agreement covering equity & vesting (with a cliff), IP assignment to the company, leaver clauses, non-compete, confidentiality and deadlock resolution — the document investors expect to see during due diligence. 100% online, with the fee quoted upfront.
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Founders' Agreement in Siliguri
RoC Kolkata — Nizam Palace, 2nd MSO Building, 234/4 A.J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata – 700020
Calcutta High Court (Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench)
19 (West Bengal)
West Bengal levies Professional Tax (max ₹2,500/year). Applicable within 30 days of company incorporation.
Matigara, Sevoke Road, Tea Auction Centre, Dabgram Industrial Estate
Siliguri is the commercial gateway to North-East India and the Himalayas — a major tea, timber, and transit-trade hub at the "Chicken's Neck" corridor.
What Is Founders' Agreement?
A quick, plain-language explanation before the details.
A Founders' Agreement is a contract among the co-founders of a startup that puts the key understandings — who owns how much equity, who does what, how decisions are made and what happens if someone leaves — in writing, so disputes are prevented before they start.
It is a private, legally binding contract governed by the Indian Contract Act, 1872. There is no separate statute or registration for a Founders' Agreement; its terms — equity, vesting, IP assignment, leaver clauses, non-compete, confidentiality and dispute resolution — are enforceable as ordinary contractual obligations between the founders.
There is no government authority or portal for a Founders' Agreement — it is a private contract signed between the founders, typically on stamp paper of the applicable value in your state.
The agreement remains in force for as long as the founders hold their roles or equity, or until it is superseded — commonly by a shareholders' agreement once the company is incorporated and funded.
Quick Facts
Is This Service Right for You?
Ideal for
- Two or more co-founders starting a venture together
- Startups about to incorporate a private limited company
- Founders splitting equity, roles and responsibilities
- Teams raising external funding who need investor-ready documents
- Co-founders contributing IP, capital or sweat equity
- Existing startups that never formalised founder terms
You may need this if
- You are building a startup with one or more co-founders
- You want equity vesting with a cliff to protect against early exits
- You need IP created by founders assigned to the company
- You want clear rules for a founder leaving (good vs bad leaver)
- An investor has asked for a Founders' Agreement in due diligence
- You want to prevent and resolve co-founder disputes and deadlock
Not sure if you need this?
Talk to an Expert →Why a Founders' Agreement is Important
Co-founder disputes are one of the most common reasons early startups fail. A Founders' Agreement settles the hard questions in writing, while everyone is still aligned. Here is why it matters.
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01
Prevent Co-Founder Disputes
Recording equity, roles and decision rights in writing removes the ambiguity that later turns into disputes — the leading avoidable cause of early-stage startup failure.
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02
Equity Split & Vesting
A clear equity split with a vesting schedule and cliff ensures founders earn their shares over time, protecting the company if a co-founder leaves early.
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03
IP Belongs to the Company
An IP-assignment clause ensures code, designs, brand and other intellectual property created by founders vest in the company — not in an individual founder.
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04
Clean Founder Exits
Good-leaver and bad-leaver clauses define what happens to a departing founder's equity and role, avoiding a stranded ex-founder holding a large stake.
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05
Investor Due Diligence
Investors expect a signed Founders' Agreement during due diligence. Having one ready signals a well-governed team and smooths your funding round.
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06
Confidentiality & Non-Compete
Confidentiality and non-compete clauses protect the venture's secrets and prevent a founder from competing or poaching if they leave.
Simple, Transparent Pricing
Custom quote for your case
Fees depend on your business type and scope. Get a clear, itemised quote upfront — no hidden professional charges, government fee billed at actuals.
Who Can Apply?
Eligibility checklist
- Two or more co-founders who agree to formalise their arrangement
- A broad understanding of the equity split among founders
- Clarity on each founder's role, responsibilities and time commitment
- Agreement on capital contributions (cash, assets or sweat equity)
- Consensus on a vesting schedule and cliff period
- Agreement on how decisions are made and disputes resolved
Everything You Need. One Professional Team.
Consultation
Understand your startup, the founders, the equity split and your priorities.
Structure Advice
Advise on vesting, cliff, leaver terms and decision-making that fit your team.
Equity & Vesting Clauses
Draft the equity split, vesting schedule and cliff to protect the company.
IP Assignment
Draft clauses assigning founder-created IP to the company.
Exit & Leaver Terms
Draft good-leaver / bad-leaver clauses and share buy-back mechanics.
Protective Clauses
Draft non-compete, non-solicit and confidentiality provisions.
Dispute Resolution
Draft deadlock, mediation and arbitration clauses with governing law.
Review & Finalisation
Incorporate founder feedback and deliver the signature-ready agreement.
What You’ll Receive
What Information Is Needed to Draft Your Founders' Agreement?
No government filing is involved — we draft from the details you share. Keep founder identity proofs and your equity/role decisions ready; everything is collected securely online.
Founder Details
For each co-founder- Full name, address & contact of each founder
- PAN / ID proof of each founder
- Proposed equity holding of each founder
- Role, title and time commitment of each founder
Business & Equity
The venture- Business name and brief description
- Incorporation details, if the company already exists
- Capital contribution by each founder (cash / assets / sweat)
- Intended vesting schedule and cliff period
Terms & Preferences
How you want it to work- Decision-making and voting preferences
- Leaver terms (good vs bad leaver) preferences
- Non-compete and confidentiality expectations
- Preferred dispute-resolution / governing-law choice
A private contract, not a filing
A Founders' Agreement is not filed with any authority. It is a private contract signed between the founders and governed by the Indian Contract Act, 1872.
Sign on stamp paper
To be enforceable as evidence, the agreement should be executed on non-judicial stamp paper of the value applicable in your state and signed by all founders.
IP assignment matters most
The IP-assignment clause is often the most important term — it ensures work created by founders belongs to the company, which investors check carefully.
Best signed early
Sign the agreement before or at inception, while founders are aligned. Agreeing terms after a dispute arises is far harder.
Don’t have all the documents?
We’ll identify what your case needs →How We Draft Your Founders' Agreement (Step by Step)
The entire process is 100% online, with a dedicated legal expert and status updates throughout.
Consultation
A legal expert understands your startup, the founders, equity split and priorities.
Information Gathering
Share founder details, equity holdings, roles, capital and vesting preferences securely online.
Drafting
Our advocates draft a tailored Founders' Agreement covering equity, vesting, IP, exit and protective clauses.
Review & Feedback
All founders review the draft; we explain each clause and incorporate changes.
Finalisation
The agreement is finalised and delivered signature-ready for execution.
Execution Guidance
We guide you on signing, stamping and witnessing so the agreement is properly executed.
How Long Does Drafting a Founders' Agreement Take?
| Stage | Expected Time |
|---|---|
| Consultation & information gathering | Day 1–2 |
| First draft by our advocates | Day 2–5 |
| Founder review & revisions to final draft | Day 5–7 |
A standard Founders' Agreement is typically drafted within a week once all founder details and preferences are shared. Complex arrangements — multiple founders, layered vesting, intricate IP or investor-specific terms — may take longer.
Key Dates — At a Glance
| Frequency | What Is Due |
|---|---|
| At Signing | Execute on stamp paper of the applicable value · All founders sign, ideally before witnesses · Each founder keeps an original signed copy |
| On Incorporation | Align the company's MOA/AOA with the agreement · Assign founder IP to the company formally · Issue and allot shares per the agreed split |
| On Change | Amend by written consent if founders / equity change · Update when a founder joins or exits · Apply leaver terms on any founder departure |
| On Funding | Move to a shareholders' agreement at the funding stage · Reconcile founder terms with investor terms · Keep the signed copy ready for due diligence |
Dates are indicative and may change with government notifications. Our team tracks every deadline so you never miss a filing.
Doing It Yourself vs TaxClue
Doing It Yourself
- Decide a fair equity split and defensible vesting schedule yourself
- Draft an IP-assignment clause that actually vests IP in the company
- Structure good-leaver / bad-leaver terms and buy-back mechanics
- Word non-compete and confidentiality clauses to be enforceable
- Add workable deadlock and dispute-resolution clauses
- Ensure the agreement stands up to investor due diligence
- Risk a generic template that misses your specific situation
With TaxClue
- Advocates advise on a fair, protective equity & vesting structure
- IP-assignment clauses drafted to vest founder IP in the company
- Good-leaver / bad-leaver terms tailored to your team
- Enforceable non-compete and confidentiality clauses
- Clear deadlock and dispute-resolution mechanics
- A document that stands up to investor due diligence
- A tailored agreement — not a one-size-fits-all template
Skip the guesswork.
Let an expert handle it →Common Mistakes That Delay Your Application
TaxClue reviews your documents before filing to reduce avoidable errors.
What to Keep in Mind After Signing
At Signing
- Execute on stamp paper of the applicable value
- All founders sign, ideally before witnesses
- Each founder keeps an original signed copy
On Incorporation
- Align the company's MOA/AOA with the agreement
- Assign founder IP to the company formally
- Issue and allot shares per the agreed split
On Change
- Amend by written consent if founders / equity change
- Update when a founder joins or exits
- Apply leaver terms on any founder departure
On Funding
- Move to a shareholders' agreement at the funding stage
- Reconcile founder terms with investor terms
- Keep the signed copy ready for due diligence
Penalties & Consequences
What is at stake if you do not comply
- No founders' agreement leads to equity and IP disputes
- Equity split with no vesting lets an early leaver keep an unearned stake
- Missing IP-assignment clause leaves company IP with an individual founder
- No leaver clauses strand an ex-founder holding a large idle stake
- Unsigned agreement fails investor due diligence and stalls funding
Regulatory Updates 2025–26
- 2025: DPIIT-recognised startups can claim the Section 80-IAC tax holiday and angel-tax exemption.
Why Businesses Choose TaxClue
Drafted by Advocates
Your agreement is drafted by qualified advocates, not filled into a template.
Tailored to You
Every clause is drafted around your founders, equity split and priorities.
Investor-Ready
Structured to satisfy the due-diligence questions investors ask.
100% Online
Everything over WhatsApp / email — no office visits required.
Transparent Fees
A clear fee quoted upfront — no hidden professional charges.
Post-Draft Support
Guidance on signing, stamping and execution after the draft is delivered.
Your Documents Deserve Professional Care
- Documents and founder details handled under confidentiality
- Access limited to the team working on your agreement
- Communication over secure digital channels
- Documents retained only as long as needed for your engagement
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Founders' Agreement?
Is a Founders' Agreement legally binding in India?
Do I really need a Founders' Agreement if we trust each other?
What is vesting and why do we need a cliff?
What are good-leaver and bad-leaver clauses?
How is equity usually split between co-founders?
Why does IP assignment matter in a Founders' Agreement?
Do investors ask for a Founders' Agreement?
When should we sign the Founders' Agreement?
What is the difference between a Founders' Agreement and a Shareholders' Agreement?
Can a Founders' Agreement be changed later?
Does TaxClue draft the Founders' Agreement or use a template?
What clauses should a founders' agreement include?
Does a founders' agreement need to be registered or stamped in India?
How does a founders' agreement handle sweat equity and IP?
What happens to a co-founder's shares if they leave the startup?
Should a single founder still have a founders' agreement?
Official Sources & Legal References
A Founders' Agreement is a private contract with no dedicated statute. The legal framework and related registrations can be verified from these official sources:
- Indian Contract Act, 1872 — full textThe governing law for private contracts, including Founders' Agreements · India Code
- MCA — Company incorporationMinistry of Corporate Affairs portal for incorporating your startup company
- Startup IndiaOfficial portal for DPIIT recognition and startup benefits
- DPIIT — Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal TradeRecognises startups and administers startup policy
Related Guides
Founders' Agreement Resources — All Free
Get Your Founders' Agreement Drafted by Advocates
A tailored Founders' Agreement covering equity, vesting, IP assignment, roles, exit and dispute resolution — drafted by advocates and ready for investor due diligence. Free consultation, transparent fee quoted upfront, zero hidden charges.