for Corporations
A short-term debt instrument that converts into equity at a later stage, often used in early-stage funding rounds before a valuation is established. Why You Need This: If your corporation wants to raise capital without setting a valuation right away, this debt instrument converts into equity later, allowing flexible early-stage fundraising while deferring valuation discussions.
LLCs
A Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) designed specifically for LLCs, allowing startups to raise capital without issuing immediate ownership or debt. Why You Need This: If your startup operates as an LLC and is raising capital without issuing immediate equity, this agreement allows investors to fund your business now in exchange for future equity, simplifying the fundraising process.
Employment Agreement
A contract ensuring employees maintain confidentiality and assign any intellectual property created during employment to the company.
Why You Need This: It formalizes the employee relationship, protects confidential information, ensures IP created on the job belongs to the company, and outlines dispute resolution.
Employment Agreement
A formal employment offer detailing job role, compensation, at-will employment status, and conditions such as signing confidentiality agreements. Why You Need This: This document sets clear expectations from covering key terms like salary, benefits, and job responsibilities. It also ensures candidates understand and agree to critical policies before joining, protecting both sides and preventing misunderstandings.
Consulting Agreement
Similar to the employee version but for consultants, ensuring confidentiality and assignment of inventions made during consultancy. Why You Need This: Clearly defines consulting terms, protects confidential information, and ensures any IP created belongs to the company, reducing risks when working with external partners.
Agreement
Outlines the scope of work, payment terms, and independent contractor status for consultants engaged by the company. Why You Need This: Clearly defines the consultant’s role, deliverables, and compensation while protecting the company by confirming independent contractor status — avoiding misclassification and legal risks.
Agreement
A document that sets conditions on how founders and employees can sell or transfer their shares, often including vesting schedules and buyback provisions.
Why You Need This: If you’re issuing equity to founders or employees, this agreement ensures shares are subject to vesting schedules or transfer restrictions, preventing early sell-offs that could disrupt ownership structure.
You’ll find helpful shortcuts to services from Mercury and Clerky—two startup essentials for banking and legal automation.