CO-FOUNDER FAQs:
ANSWERS TO THE MOST COMMON BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP QUESTIONS

1. What is a co-founder in business?

A co-founder is someone who joins you in running a business. Together, you share ownership, responsibilities, and the risks and rewards of growing a company.

2. Do I need a co-founder in my business?

No, not always, and it depends hugely on the specifics of your business. While a co-founder can bring skills, support, and shared responsibility, many founders go solo - especially with access to freelance talent, capital, or fractional executives. It depends on your goals, strengths, and risk appetite.

3. What are the pros and cons of having a co-founder?

Pros:

• Shared workload and decision-making

• Extra skills and expertise

• Built-in accountability and emotional support

Cons:

• Shared control and equity

• Potential for misalignment or conflict

• Slower decisions if you're not aligned

Check out my Confessions of a Co-Founder series for an honest insight into some of the challenges people experience

4. How do I find the right co-founder?

Look for someone who:

• Shares your long-term vision and values

• Has complementary skills (e.g. if you're technical, look for commercial or operational strengths)

• Is willing to commit and ride out tough moments

I’ve got a free resource, What to Consider When Choosing a Co-Founder, so go check that out. I’m also launching a self-lead course to help people find Co-Founders, so stay tuned.

5. What makes a strong co-founder relationship?

• Clear and honest communication

• Defined roles and responsibilities

• Mutual respect and shared values

• Regular check-ins and tough conversations early

• A solid co-founder agreement (more on that below)

Look at my resource library for FREE tools on defining roles, aligning vision, having hard conversations, and more.

6. How should co-founders split equity?

There's no one-size-fits-all. Equity should reflect:

• Time and financial investment

• Skills and market value

• Risk taken

• Prior experience or IP brought in

Use equity calculators and seek legal advice to explore fair options - and get it in writing. Check out my partners page for my recommended professional experts.

7. Do we need a co-founder agreement?

Yes - it’s essential. A co-founder agreement outlines:

• Equity and ownership terms

• Roles and responsibilities

• Decision-making rights

• Conflict resolution plans

• What happens if someone leaves or under delivers

It protects both of you and reduces risk down the line. I’m releasing a co-founder template that I’ve created in collaboration with a lawyer, which will be launching soon.

8. How do we make decisions together as co-founders?

Agree early on:

• What decisions require mutual sign-off

• Who has the final say in different areas

• How to handle deadlocks

Many successful co-founders divide domains: e.g., one owns product, the other marketing. Still, major decisions (like funding or pivots) need alignment. There’s help on this in my resources, and check out my co-founder coaching info for deeper support.

9. How do we handle conflict as co-founders?

Conflict is inevitable. The key is how you deal with it. Try:

• Having regular partnership check-ins

• Naming issues early, not letting resentment build

• Bringing in a coach or advisor if you’re stuck (HELLO!)

The goal isn't to avoid conflict - it's to make it productive.

This is a complex area and one I work on a lot with clients, so check out my co-founder coaching programs, and book a call to explore how coaching can strengthen your partnership and supercharge growth.

Also take a look at my Confessions of a Co-Founder series, as I cover lots of different forms of conflict.

10. What happens if a co-founder wants to leave?

This is where your agreement matters. You'll need to address:

• What happens to their equity (vesting? buyout?)

• How their responsibilities will be covered

• How to communicate the change internally and externally

This can be an incredibly complex and stressful process, and I guide co-founders through this in my 1:1 coaching. Have a look at my expertise and book a call if I can help. Be sure to also seek legal and financial advise as needed.

11. Can co-founders have different levels of involvement?

Yes, but only if it's clearly defined and agreed. For example:

• One founder might go full-time, the other part-time

• Equity and compensation should reflect contribution and risk

Misunderstandings around involvement are a top source of friction, so over-communicate here.

12. What are alternatives to bringing on a co-founder?

You don’t always need a co-founder. Consider:

• Hiring early employees or contractors instead of giving up equity

• Fractional executives or freelance specialists (e.g. a part-time CTO)

• Advisors or mentors for strategic support

• Equity-based collaborators with limited roles

These give you flexibility without diluting ownership or complicating decision-making.

Still unsure about your co-founder setup?

Fill out the form on my contact page, and I’ll be in touch to talk through your options. Whether you’re going solo or considering a partnership, I’ll help you map out how to move forward with confidence.

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