For founders

Contracts for founders

Founders send and receive contracts every week, with little legal budget. Contracts.io lets you draft each one with Lex, share one link, and get it agreed and signed.

Last updated 28 October 2026

Draft this with Lex

Free for the other side

Lex drafts it in Plain English beside the legal wording. Share one link; both sides agree and sign.

Templates founders use most

NDAs & IPMutual NDAA mutual NDA lets two businesses share confidential information both ways before a deal, and says what each side can do with it.Read →HiringIndependent contractor agreementAn independent contractor agreement hires someone to do work as a business of their own, setting the work, pay, ownership and how the arrangement ends.Read →Client workFreelancer agreementA freelancer agreement sets the brief, deliverables, rate, rights and payment terms between a freelancer and a client.Read →Client workConsulting agreementA consulting agreement sets out advice and expertise you provide to a client, billed by the day, the month or the project.Read →Client workServices agreement (MSA)A services agreement sets the standing terms for every project with a client, so each new job needs only a short statement of work.Read →HiringOffer letterAn offer letter offers a role with job title, salary, start date and key terms, usually before a fuller employment contract.Read →

Which contracts does an early-stage company need?

Most early-stage companies need the same handful. with investors, hires and partners. Contractor and freelancer agreements. Advisor agreements. A founder agreement between the people who started the company. Customer terms, such as a services agreement. Lex drafts each one from a short description in Plain English and explains every clause, so you know what you are agreeing to.

How do I get the other side to sign faster?

Contracts.io is built for both sides. The other side reads the agreement in Plain English, can counter it for free without an account, and sees every change. That means fewer rounds of email and a faster yes. Every version is kept, so you can always see what changed and when.

Can Contracts.io replace a lawyer for a SAFE or term sheet?

No. For a SAFE, a or a side letter, Lex explains what each clause means in plain language, so you go into the conversation prepared. It does not replace a lawyer. For anything that sets your equity or your control of the company, have a lawyer read it before you sign.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a founder agreement template?

Not as a ready-made template yet. Lex can draft a founder agreement from a few sentences about who does what, who owns what and how shares vest. It sets out the deal you describe, and a lawyer should read it before you sign.

Does the other side need an account?

No. You share one link, the other side reads the agreement in Plain English, can counter it for free, and signs. They never need an account, and every version is kept.

Which law do the agreements use?

England & Wales, unless you change the . If the other side is somewhere else, you can pick a different one, and a lawyer in that country should check it.

Related

The legal wording governsLast reviewed 28 October 2026Pending lawyer review