A business idea alone is rarely enough - many start-ups are created as a team. But as soon as it comes to dividing up the company shares, it often becomes difficult: Who gets what percentage? What is fair? And how can conflicts be avoided later on?
The answer is: There is no one-size-fits-all solution - but there are clear principles to help you find a fair and sustainable solution.
1. why the distribution of founder shares is so important
The distribution of the founder's shares decides on:
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- Co-determination: Who has how much influence on decisions?
- Profit sharing: Who benefits from success and to what extent?
- Motivation: Does every founder feel valued?
Unfair regulations often lead to disputes - and are a frequent reason for the failure of start-ups.
2. criteria for a fair distribution
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- Contribution to the idea
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- Who came up with the original business idea?
- Who contributed significantly to its development?
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- Time & labour
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- Who works full-time in the startup, who only part-time?
- Who takes responsibility in key areas (e.g. sales, technology, finance)?
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- Capital & Resources
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- Who brings in equity?
- Who provides contacts, expertise or infrastructure?
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- Willingness to take risks
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- Who quits their job, forgoes their salary or takes high personal risks?
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- Future contribution
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- It's not just the past that counts: Who will create what value in the long term?
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- Contribution to the idea
3. typical models
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- Equal distribution: Simple and low conflict if all founders contribute to a similar extent.
- Performance-based allocation: Percentage distribution by capital, labour and responsibility.
- Dynamic models: Shares develop over time or on the basis of milestones („Vesting“).
4. vesting as collateral
For start-ups in particular, it makes sense to hold shares in Coupling power over time.
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- Example: Each founder „earns“ their shares over 3-4 years.
- Advantage: Prevents someone from exiting early, but still retains large shares in the long term.
- In investor circles, vesting is considered the standard.
5. communication is crucial
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- Talk openly about expectations, workload and goals.
- Clarify what everyone is prepared to give - and what they expect in return.
- Keep the agreements in writing in the articles of association fixed.
6. conclusion
The fair distribution of shares in the founding team is a balancing act between the past, present and future. It is important that every founder feels seen and valued - and that the agreement is sustainable in the long term.
Tip: Uses a External moderation (e.g. coach, notary, lawyer) if the discussions become difficult. An objective view from the outside can help to defuse conflicts at an early stage.