Self-complete template. You get an editable Word template, plain-English guidance notes and a completion checklist, emailed to you after payment is confirmed. Written for use in Ireland.
Not included: legal advice, tailoring, review, witnessing or filing. OnlineLegalServices.ie is operated by Plus Promotions Limited, which is not a solicitor’s practice. If you want a solicitor to review your completed document, find one through the Law Society of Ireland’s directory.
Start your Irish startup on solid legal ground
Most co-founder fallouts are not caused by bad intentions. They are caused by two founders who never wrote down what they actually agreed. The Founder Shareholders Agreement locks in the commercial reality of your startup — equity splits, vesting, decision rights, IP ownership, and exit rules — in a document Irish investors will recognise and respect.
What’s included
- Editable Word template written for use in Ireland
- Plain-English guidance notes explaining each section
- Completion checklist
- Delivered by email after payment — you fill it in yourself
Not included: legal advice, tailoring, review, witnessing or filing.
Who this is for
Irish limited companies with two or more co-founders, typically pre-seed through seed stage. Works for tech startups, consumer brands, consultancies, and any multi-founder venture where equity, IP, and commitment need to be formally recorded.
How it works
- Pay the price shown on this page by card.
- The template, guidance notes and checklist are emailed to you.
- Complete the template yourself using the guidance notes.
- If you want your completed document checked, ask a solicitor of your choice — you can find one through the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.
Related services
Also consider: Standard Shareholder Agreement, Small Business Incorporation Pack, Partnership Agreement.
Frequently asked questions
What is a founder shareholders agreement and do I really need one in Ireland?
A founder shareholders agreement is a private contract between co-founders that sits alongside your company constitution. It covers equity splits, vesting, decision rights, what happens if a founder leaves, IP ownership, and investor protection clauses. It is strongly recommended for any Irish startup with more than one founder — without it, Irish company law defaults kick in and rarely produce the outcome founders actually want.
How is this different from your standard Shareholder Agreement product?
Our standard Shareholder Agreement is designed for established SMEs with existing shareholders. The Founder Shareholders Agreement is tailored to pre-revenue or early-stage startups where all shareholders are also founders working in the business. It includes founder vesting, good-leaver / bad-leaver provisions, reverse vesting, IP assignment from each founder, and investor-friendly drafting so you are not rewriting it before your first funding round.
What is founder vesting and why does it matter?
Founder vesting means each founder earns their shares over time (typically four years with a one-year cliff) rather than owning them outright from day one. If a co-founder walks away after six months, the company keeps the unvested shares. Without vesting, a departing founder can hold 25%+ of your company forever — which is a near-automatic red flag for investors and a common cause of startup failure in Ireland.
Is this compliant with Irish company law and ready for investors?
Yes. The agreement is drafted to sit neatly with the Companies Act 2014, compatible with typical Irish company constitutions, and structured in the format Irish and UK angel investors and VCs expect to see during due diligence. the guidance notes will draft it so that when your seed round arrives, the agreement needs minor updates rather than a full rewrite.
Does this include IP assignment from each founder to the company?
Yes. A founder IP assignment clause is included as standard. Any intellectual property each founder has created relating to the business — code, designs, brand, know-how — is cleanly assigned to the company.
What if my co-founder and I disagree on the terms?
That is exactly what this document is for — to surface the disagreements now, when the cost is a conversation, rather than later when the cost is the company.
Is this only for tech startups or can non-tech founders use it?
The agreement works for any multi-founder Irish limited company — tech, e-commerce, services, product, or professional practices. The vesting, IP assignment, and decision-right clauses are just as important for a co-founded consultancy or DTC brand as they are for a SaaS startup.
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