Best examples of partnership agreement samples for startups

Examples of partnership agreement samples for startups in different scenarios

When founders ask for examples of partnership agreement samples for startups, they usually don’t want abstract legal theory. They want to see how other real teams put things in writing. Below are practical scenarios that mirror what early-stage companies face in 2024–2025.

Each example of a partnership agreement scenario here is simplified. You should still have a lawyer review anything you sign, and you’ll want to check local law. In the U.S., the Uniform Partnership Act (or a state version of it) often fills gaps if your agreement is silent on something.

SaaS startup: two technical founders, 50/50 on paper but not in practice

This is one of the most requested examples of partnership agreement samples for startups: two engineers, one product idea, no cash.

Scenario
Alex and Jordan co-found a B2B SaaS analytics startup. They want to be equal partners but also protect the company if one of them loses interest.

Key terms they include:

• Equity split and vesting – 50/50 equity, but each founder’s equity vests over four years with a one-year cliff. If Jordan leaves after 10 months, they walk away with nothing; the unvested equity returns to the company.
• Roles and responsibilities – Alex: CTO, owns infrastructure and architecture. Jordan: CEO, owns fundraising and go-to-market. The agreement spells out that major pivots require unanimous consent.
• Decision-making – Day-to-day decisions are made by whoever owns that function; major decisions (new funding round, selling the company, adding a third partner) require both signatures.
• IP ownership – All code, prototypes, and documentation created by either founder in connection with the startup are assigned to the company, not to the individual.

Why this matters in 2025:
Remote work and side projects are now the norm. Without vesting, a “ghost co-founder” can walk away with half the company. This example of a partnership agreement structure keeps incentives aligned while still feeling fair.

Bootstrapped agency: one sales-heavy founder, one operations-heavy founder

Service businesses often skip formal agreements because they start as “just freelancing together.” That’s how disputes begin.

Scenario
Taylor is a sales and marketing pro; Sam is a project and operations expert. They form a digital marketing agency and sign a partnership agreement instead of forming an LLC at first.

Key terms they include:

• Capital and sweat equity – Taylor contributes $10,000 in cash; Sam contributes full-time work from day one. The agreement values Sam’s sweat equity at the same level as Taylor’s cash. Ownership is set at 60% (Taylor) and 40% (Sam), with a schedule to revisit after 18 months.
• Profit distribution – Profits are distributed quarterly, but 20% of net profit is automatically retained in the business to build a cash buffer.
• Buy-in for new partners – If they bring in a third partner later, that person must buy in at a price based on a multiple of the last 12 months’ profit.
• Client ownership – The agreement states that all client relationships and contracts belong to the partnership, not to individual partners, which matters if someone leaves and tries to take clients.

This kind of scenario shows why examples of partnership agreement samples for startups should not only focus on tech. Agencies, consulting firms, and creative studios need the same clarity.

Technical founder + business founder: misaligned expectations on time commitment

Here’s a realistic example of how expectations go sideways.

Scenario
Priya (technical) and Chris (business) start a fintech tool. Priya quits her job and goes full-time. Chris keeps their day job and promises “10–15 hours a week.” Six months later, Priya is burning out while Chris is still mostly unavailable.

How their partnership agreement could have avoided this:

• Minimum time commitment clause – Each partner agrees to a minimum of 25 hours per week for the first year. Falling below that average for more than two consecutive months triggers a review and possible equity adjustment.
• Performance review triggers – If milestones (MVP launch, first paying customer, etc.) are missed and the cause is tied to a partner’s area, the other partner can call for a formal review and mediation.
• Step-down and buyout – If Chris decides to stay part-time, the agreement lets Priya buy back a portion of Chris’s equity at a pre-agreed formula tied to revenue.

These kinds of examples of partnership agreement samples for startups are especially helpful for side-hustle founders. Time is a contribution, and the agreement should treat it that way.

Hardware startup: capital-heavy, long development cycle

Hardware and biotech startups face longer timelines and higher capital needs. Their partnership agreements usually pay more attention to capital calls and dilution.

Scenario
Three founders launch a smart-home hardware company. They expect at least two years of R&D before meaningful revenue.

Key terms:

• Initial capital contributions – Each founder contributes $25,000. The agreement documents the contribution and specifies ownership percentages based on those contributions and past IP they bring in.
• Future capital calls – If the company needs more cash, the partners agree that each has the right—but not the obligation—to contribute more in proportion to their ownership. If one partner does not contribute, their percentage can be diluted according to a formula.
• IP and patents – Any patents filed are owned by the company. If a founder leaves, they must cooperate with assignments and filings at the company’s expense.
• Long-term vesting – Because the roadmap is long, they use a five-year vesting schedule instead of four.

This is one of the best examples of how a partnership agreement can be tuned to the business model. Long-cycle startups need clear rules on who keeps funding the company and what happens when someone stops.

Example of a partnership agreement for a startup with an advisor as a minor equity partner

Advisors can be incredibly helpful but also a source of drama if expectations are vague.

Scenario
A health-tech startup has two core founders and brings on a physician as an advisor. The doctor wants equity but won’t be involved day-to-day.

Key terms:

• Advisor vs. partner distinction – The agreement makes it clear that the physician is a limited partner (or equity holder in a separate advisor agreement) with no authority to bind the company.
• Equity grant and vesting – The advisor receives 2% equity vesting over two years, tied to attending quarterly strategy sessions and making at least five introductions to potential customers or partners per year.
• No management rights – The advisor has no voting rights on management decisions, only on certain major structural changes.

This example of a partnership agreement setup is common in regulated industries like health-tech and fintech, where expert credibility matters but you don’t want an absentee partner controlling decisions.

Startup with remote, international co-founders

Cross-border teams are everywhere in 2025. That adds legal complexity.

Scenario
One founder is in the U.S., the other in the U.K. They start an AI-powered productivity tool.

Key terms:

• Governing law and jurisdiction – The agreement chooses Delaware law and U.S. courts for disputes, even though one founder is in the U.K.
• Tax and compliance awareness – The partners acknowledge that each is responsible for their own tax obligations in their home country. They commit to consult tax professionals (for example, the IRS provides general partnership tax info at irs.gov).
• Data protection – Because they may have EU and U.K. users, they include a commitment to comply with GDPR-style data protection rules. They agree that the partner in the EU/UK will help interpret local requirements.

In this scenario, examples of partnership agreement samples for startups highlight the need to pick a governing law, clarify tax responsibilities, and address data rules early.

Early-stage agreement vs. post-funding agreement

Many founders ask for examples of partnership agreement samples for startups that show how things change after raising money.

Pre-funding

• Agreements are usually between the founders personally.
• Focus is on equity splits, roles, IP assignment, and what happens if someone leaves.

Post-funding

• Investors often require the company to be incorporated (for example, as a Delaware C corporation) and the founders’ partnership agreement is replaced or supplemented by shareholder agreements, stock purchase agreements, and board documents.
• Vesting may restart or be modified.
• Investor rights, liquidation preferences, and board seats are added.

The best examples show founders treating the early partnership agreement as a bridge: it gets you through the messy, pre-incorporation phase and then hands off to more formal corporate documents.

Key clauses to study in examples of partnership agreement samples for startups

If you’re reviewing templates or real examples, pay particular attention to how they handle these recurring pressure points:

Equity and vesting
How is equity split? Does everyone vest over time? Are there different vesting schedules for someone who joined later? The U.S. Small Business Administration has general guidance on choosing a structure and thinking about ownership splits at sba.gov.

Decision-making and deadlocks
What decisions can any partner make alone? What needs unanimous consent? If partners are 50/50 and disagree, is there a tie-breaker (mediator, advisor vote, or buy-sell trigger)?

Capital contributions and dilution
Does the agreement expect future cash infusions? What happens if one partner can’t or won’t contribute more capital? Many partnership statutes will default to equal treatment if you say nothing, which might not match your expectations.

IP and confidentiality
Who owns existing IP that a founder brings in? Who owns what is created after the partnership starts? The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office offers general IP education resources at uspto.gov, which is worth reviewing before you sign anything.

Exit, death, or disability
What happens if a partner dies, becomes disabled, or wants out? Good examples of partnership agreement samples for startups usually include buy-sell provisions and valuation formulas so you’re not arguing about price during a crisis.

Dispute resolution
Will you go straight to court, or try mediation or arbitration first? Many modern agreements favor mediation to preserve relationships and reduce cost.

How to use partnership agreement examples without copying blindly

Templates and real examples are starting points, not one-size-fits-all solutions. Here’s how to use them intelligently:

• Compare multiple examples – Look at several examples of partnership agreement samples for startups in your industry. Notice how they handle equity, IP, and exits. Patterns will jump out quickly.
• Translate legalese into plain English – If you can’t explain a clause to your co-founder in one or two sentences, you probably don’t understand it well enough. Rewrite it in plain language, then ask your attorney to formalize it.
• Stress-test with “what if” questions – What if someone burns out? What if a partner gets a job offer they can’t refuse? What if one person wants to sell and the other doesn’t? Your agreement should have answers.
• Get real legal review – Free templates from law school clinics or startup programs are helpful, but they’re not a substitute for advice tailored to your situation. Many law schools and nonprofit legal clinics offer low-cost or pro bono help for startups; for example, you can search for clinics through university law programs such as Harvard Law School’s clinical offerings.

When you look at the best examples of partnership agreement samples for startups, you’ll notice they all share one trait: they force hard conversations early, on paper, before emotions and money complicate everything.

FAQ: examples of partnership agreement samples for startups

Q: Where can I see real examples of partnership agreement samples for startups?
You can often find real-world style templates through startup accelerators, university entrepreneurship centers, and law school clinics. While they may not publish signed agreements, they share model documents that mirror what real startups sign. Look for resources from reputable institutions (.edu or .gov) and always adapt them with your own attorney.

Q: What is an example of a simple partnership agreement for two founders?
A simple example of a partnership agreement might assign 50/50 ownership, require four-year vesting with a one-year cliff, define each founder’s role, state that all IP is owned by the company, set profit-sharing rules, and include a basic buyout formula if one founder leaves. Even a “simple” agreement should still address equity, IP, decision-making, and exits.

Q: Do I still need a partnership agreement if we form an LLC or corporation?
Yes. The legal entity is one layer; the agreement between founders is another. For LLCs, this is often called an operating agreement. For corporations, it may be a shareholder agreement or founders’ agreement. The logic is the same as the examples of partnership agreement samples for startups discussed above—you’re defining how humans work together inside the legal shell.

Q: Can we write our own agreement using online examples?
You can draft your own using online examples as a starting point, but it’s risky to sign without legal review. Laws differ by state and country, and small wording choices can have big consequences. A practical approach is to draft your version using examples of partnership agreement samples for startups that feel close to your situation, then pay a lawyer for a few hours to tighten and localize it.

Q: When is the right time to sign a partnership agreement?
Sooner than you think. Ideally, before you build anything significant, take on debt, or accept outside money. If you’re already operating without one, use this as a prompt: sit down with your co-founders, review several examples of partnership agreement samples for startups, and negotiate an agreement while things are still relatively calm.