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A 50/50 split with no way to break a tie
Equal owners can reach a standstill. Decide in advance how major disagreements will be handled.
Partnership agreements
Adding a Business Partner? Get the Agreement Right.
The ownership split is only the start. Decide how you will make decisions, earn equity, and handle an exit before money or stress makes those conversations harder.
Talk with our team before choosing an option
Serving Iowa and Texas business owners
Starting together? Launch Basic is usually the better fit.
For most new founders, start with Launch Basic. It includes five months of support, monthly payments, tailored operating documents, unlimited legal email support, and training. It can also make sense if you already have a DIY LLC and want stronger operating documents and ongoing support as you add an owner.
Add a multi-owner founders agreement to Launch Basic or Launch Advanced for $195 one time. Launch Basic is $195 per month for five months, or $975 for one owner and $1,170 for multiple owners. Launch Advanced is $390 per month for five months, or $1,950 for one owner and $2,145 for multiple owners. Listed Launch prices exclude state filing and processing charges.
The mistakes that make partner problems expensive
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Equity handed over all at once
If a new partner is earning their place through work, vesting can define what they earn and what happens if they leave early.
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A verbal plan for a future buyout
Write down the process while you agree, including the decision rights and exit terms that fit your situation.
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Treating every partner like an owner
A profit-sharing employee, contractor, and equity owner need different arrangements. Getting that distinction right comes first.
Add a partner or use a vesting agreement
Every standalone option starts with a call, so we can understand the ownership change before we recommend a path.
Partnership agreement options
Add a Partner
A straightforward ownership addition for an existing business.
- Clarify the new owner's role and ownership terms
- Document decisions, rights, and exit terms that fit your business
- Built for a quick, straightforward ownership change
- Call (515) 994-0404 to talk with Surge first
Vesting Agreement
For a new partner who earns ownership over time.
- Start at 0% ownership and earn up to the target you choose
- Set terms for an early exit or a relationship that does not work out
- No universal vesting schedule assumed
- Call (515) 994-0404 to talk with Surge first
Momentum member price
$1,490 Save $100
Talk with Surge before we begin
Non-member: $1,590
Call Surge How we build a founders' agreement
Step 1
Each partner watches a short video
It covers the common decisions that become partner disputes, including ownership, decision-making, compensation, and exits.
Step 2
You complete a worksheet together
You decide how those issues will be handled while you are still aligned.
Step 3
We turn those answers into an agreement
The founders' agreement is incorporated into the company's operating documents.
Already in a serious disagreement?
A new partnership agreement may not solve an existing dispute. Start with our business-partner dispute service. If you have agreed to part ways or are close, see flat-fee partner separation options.
Partnership agreement questions
Can I add a partner to an LLC I already own?
Yes. The important questions are the ownership terms, decision rights, exits, and tax consequences. Our Add a Partner option is built for a straightforward ownership addition.
What is a vesting agreement for a business partner?
It lets an incoming partner begin at 0% ownership and earn toward an agreed target over time. The agreement also addresses what happens if the partner leaves early or the relationship does not work out.
How much does it cost to add a partner to an LLC?
Our Add a Partner service is $790 for Momentum members and $890 for non-members. A vesting agreement is $1,490 for Momentum members and $1,590 for non-members. Call us first so we can confirm which option fits the situation.
Do we need a founders' agreement if we have an operating agreement?
For a new multi-owner business, the founders' agreement records the decisions you make together about ownership, decisions, compensation, and exits. We incorporate it into the company's operating documents.
What if my business partner and I already disagree?
A new partnership agreement may not solve an existing dispute. Read about our business-partner dispute service and flat-fee partner separation options to find the right starting point.
Talk through the ownership change before you commit
Call Surge Business Law to discuss whether a simple ownership addition, a vesting agreement, or Launch Basic fits your business.