
Legal Templates
What are the Legal challenges for a starting business?
As a startup founder setting up a new company or trying to raise funds, you will be aware that there are numerous legal documents that must be filled out and signed to formalize and legalize the various processes. As if it wasn’t difficult enough!
Here, we have gathered a collection of the legal templates you will need to streamline these processes, speeding up time for you and your investors, and saving some money in costly legal fees. You will still need to consult a lawyer for solid advice, but these templates should speed things up a bit. As well as this they should provide a beginner entrepreneur with a deeper understanding of the key terms and phrases used in the startup legal world. Learn from those that have gone before and made those all too common mistakes. Forbes have actually listed 10 Big Legal Mistakes made by startups. We’re here to make sure you avoid them:
- Ambiguity regarding the deals being made between co-founders
->To avoid future disputes, all co-founders must be crystal clear on
-who gets what percentage of the business?
- -% ownership subject to vesting?
- -can a co-founder buy another founder’s shares if one leaves?
- -co-founders time commitments?
- -founders salaries?
- -decision-making?
- -founder contributions?
- -selling the business?
- -if a founder isn’t living up to expectations?
- -overall vision?
Not starting the business as an LLC or Corporation
Not having a standard form contract that favors your company
Forgetting about securities laws when it comes to issuing stocks to family and friends
Leaving out employment documentation
Not giving enough thought to IP Protection
- -Patents
- -Copyright
- -Trademarks
- -Confidentiality Agreements
- Forgetting to study carefully important tax issues
- Picking a name for the company that has issues surrounding trademarks, domains etc
- Leaving out Privacy Policy and Terms of Use agreement on company’s website
- Not having solid legal counsel
If you have thought of all of these- great! You’re more clued-in than most. If not, take advantage of Eloquens to read up and grab documents you might need to ensure that your startup will be legally sound.
If you’d like to know more on Business Law, have a look at these links:
Most popular Templates
- Open Issue Tracker - Multiple Uses - Maintenance/Guest/I.T./Accounting & Audit Issues106Discussadd_shopping_cart$14.50
by Steve Lindsey
Code of Business Ethics and Corporate Conduct
An 11 page Model Template Code of Business Ethics and Corporate Conduct for your company.329Discussadd_shopping_cart$49.00by Mark Speck, CIA, CRMA
Sweat Equity Document Kit
Get launched by issuing Sweat Equity quickly and easily. All documents and instructions needed are in this kit.322Discussadd_shopping_cart$99.00by Pro Forma
Consultancy Agreement Template
An agreement that allows you to set the terms for services between an individual and the consultancy provider2,069Discussadd_shopping_cart$79.00by Singapore Legal Advice
Shareholder Agreement Template
A template document to draft your shareholder agreement when bringing new investors in.986Discussadd_shopping_cart$79.00by Singapore Legal Advice
How to Split Equity Among Co-Founders
Advice for founders on how to divide equity between co-founders.4862add_shopping_cartfreeby Michael Seibel
Term Sheet Series A Template
Guidance for founders negotiating Series A funding.5,208Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Serious Funding
Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement Template - NVCA Model
Build your own Stock Purchase Agreement for your deal with this sample document built by the NVCA.744Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby NVCA
VC Venture Capital Term Sheet Template - NVCA Model
A Series A Preferred Stock VC Term Sheet Template4,041Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby NVCA
Safe (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) Financing Documents
Documents for Simple Agreement for Future Equity Financing for replacement of Convertible Notes.527Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Y Combinator
Sales Agreement Template
A Sales template to start you out- tailored for SaaS businesses.919Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Y Combinator
KISS Debt Version
KISS stands for Keep It Simple Security: Debt Version legal document template.221Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby 500 Startups
KISS Equity Version
KISS: Keep it Simple Security; Downloadable Equity Version Template.325Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby 500 Startups
Kiss Summary
KISS: Keep it simple security. Summary of key terms to be read in conjunction with KISS Debt & Equity Versions.114Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby 500 Startups
Co-Founder Equity Split Template
Spreadsheet containing 5 calculators and a box that takes the average of everything among all 5.1,512Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Al Bsharah
Explanatory Brochure on the Anatomy of a Term Sheet
Explanatory brochure designed to help entrepreneurs understand and evaluate early-stage equity financing term sheets.934Discussadd_shopping_cart
priced Templates
Service Agreement Template
A template for a Service Agreement to bring a Service provider on-board.873Discussadd_shopping_cart$79.00by Singapore Legal Advice
Consultancy Agreement Template
An agreement that allows you to set the terms for services between an individual and the consultancy provider2,067Discussadd_shopping_cart$79.00by Singapore Legal Advice
Employment Agreement Template
A template of an employment agreement, also known as contracts for services, when you want to bring a new team member in314Discussadd_shopping_cart$79.00by Singapore Legal Advice
Non-Disclosure Agreement Template
NDA: An agreement between at least two parties to protect confidential information661Discussadd_shopping_cart$79.00by Singapore Legal Advice
Shareholder Agreement Template
A template document to draft your shareholder agreement when bringing new investors in.985Discussadd_shopping_cart$79.00by Singapore Legal Advice
Open Issue Issue Tracker
Open Issue Tracker - Multiple Uses - Maintenance/Guest/I.T./Accounting & Audit Issues106Discussadd_shopping_cart$14.50by Steve Lindsey
Code of Business Ethics and Corporate Conduct
An 11 page Model Template Code of Business Ethics and Corporate Conduct for your company.328Discussadd_shopping_cart$49.00by Mark Speck, CIA, CRMA
Sweat Equity Document Kit
Get launched by issuing Sweat Equity quickly and easily. All documents and instructions needed are in this kit.322Discussadd_shopping_cart$99.00by Pro Forma
Internal Audit Policy Manual
Internal Audit Policy Template with accompanying Procedure Manual439Discussadd_shopping_cart$39.00by Mark Speck, CIA, CRMA
Corporate and Business Law Course
The need to know course for everything relating to Corporate and Business Law215Discussadd_shopping_cart$9.99by Rowan Malherbe
The Complete Course of Audit and Assurance
Let's get a firm understanding of Auditing and Assurance.73Discussadd_shopping_cart$9.99by Rowan Malherbe
Sales Agreement with Reserving the Right of Ownership
A conditional sales agreement is a financing arrangement where a buyer takes possession of assets61Discussadd_shopping_cart$20.00by ECF Consultancy
Most popular Legal categories
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Internal Audit Template
Audit your business’ processes to improve its performance with this Internal Audit Excel Template.142Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Someka
Sales Agreement with Reserving the Right of Ownership
A conditional sales agreement is a financing arrangement where a buyer takes possession of assets61Discussadd_shopping_cart$20.00by ECF Consultancy
Founder Friendly Term Sheets & Startup Contracts
Addendum for term sheets, employment agreements, bylaws, etc. with favorable terms for entrepreneurs.1,8982add_shopping_cartfreeby Eisaiah Engel
Open Issue Issue Tracker
Open Issue Tracker - Multiple Uses - Maintenance/Guest/I.T./Accounting & Audit Issues106Discussadd_shopping_cart$14.50by Steve Lindsey
Sweat Equity Document Kit
Get launched by issuing Sweat Equity quickly and easily. All documents and instructions needed are in this kit.322Discussadd_shopping_cart$99.00by Pro Forma
The Complete Course of Audit and Assurance
Let's get a firm understanding of Auditing and Assurance.74Discussadd_shopping_cart$9.99by Rowan Malherbe
Corporate and Business Law Course
The need to know course for everything relating to Corporate and Business Law216Discussadd_shopping_cart$9.99by Rowan Malherbe
UK Job Contract - full-time or part-time employment
A balanced employment contract for anyone to customize.84Discussadd_shopping_cartAre you wasting money filing patents?
Facts few people know about patents, addresses the true costs, and suggests other paths for protection.84Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Dave Berkus
Term Sheet Word Template
This Term Sheet template is an effective template for outlining the terms of an investment opportunity.3,279Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby CFI
Letter of Intent (LOI) Word Template
This is a professional Letter of Intent (LOI) Word Template, provided by CFI.5,103Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby CFI
Making Redundancies
This pdf offers an in-depth explanation of redundancies.87Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Law Donut
Job Offer Letter Template
This Word document, brought to you by Start Up Donut, provides a job offer template for employers to use when recruiting200Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Start Up Donut
Breach of Employment Contract
This pdf provides a useful insight into employment contract terms and breaches.137Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Law Donut
How to Create an Employee Handbook That's Actually Useful for Your Business
Watch the latest from New Venture Mentor in how to create an effective and friendly Employee Handbook for your business.114Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Cate Costa
Code of Business Ethics and Corporate Conduct
An 11 page Model Template Code of Business Ethics and Corporate Conduct for your company.329Discussadd_shopping_cart$49.00by Mark Speck, CIA, CRMA
Full catalog
Real Estate Non Disclosure Agreement Template
A ready-made template tailored to real estate that protects all parties involved in a real estate deal859Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Anita Grose
Finance Introduction Agreement Template
A template for an agreement that covers the sourcing and introduction of any form of finance on a commission-only basis.389Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Jonathan Lea
Non-Circumvention Clause Template
This non-circumvention template is one that is sometimes part of a confidentiality agreement.1,532Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Jonathan Lea
KISS Equity Version
KISS: Keep it Simple Security; Downloadable Equity Version Template.325Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby 500 Startups
Extended Team Member Agreement/Engagement Agreement
An agreement template for an external consultant being hired into your company.346Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Startup Commons
Invention Agreement Template
To ensure that employee inventions made within working hours belong to company.543Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Mukund Mohan
Service Agreement Template
A template for a Service Agreement to bring a Service provider on-board.874Discussadd_shopping_cart$79.00by Singapore Legal Advice
Celebrity Personal Appearance Agreement Template
This is a template for an agreement between celebrity (or entity) and company for appearances at events.1,713Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Jonathan Lea
Internal Audit Template
Audit your business’ processes to improve its performance with this Internal Audit Excel Template.142Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Someka
Explanatory Brochure on the Anatomy of a Term Sheet
Explanatory brochure designed to help entrepreneurs understand and evaluate early-stage equity financing term sheets.934Discussadd_shopping_cartShareholders Agreement Template
A simple template to help you bring your new shareholders on board on a legal standpoint565Discussadd_shopping_cartMutual Non Disclosure Agreement Template
An easily amendable template to provide a legally binding contract between 2 or more parties. Guidance Notes included.426Discussadd_shopping_cartUK Book Publishing Agreement Template
This is a template for a simple book publishing agreement in the format of a letter.386Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Jonathan Lea
Friends and Family Guidance on NACO Term Sheets
Case Study and Guidance concerning Friends & Family investments.292Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Naco Canada
Monthly Advisor Update Sample Template
Monthly Advisor Update Template to help you best manage advisor meetings.354Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Mukund Mohan
Cease and Desist Letter Before Action Template
This template is a basic outline of a cease and desist letter in terms of online defamation.429Discussadd_shopping_cartfreeby Jonathan Lea
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