Startup Legal Document Checklist: Everything You Need Before Launch
Lock down ownership & compliance early—retroactive fixes are costly during fundraising.
Documents
- Founder / Shareholder Agreement
- Equity Vesting & Option Plan
- IP Assignment (founders & contractors)
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Data Processing Addendum (if needed)
- Contractor / Freelancer Agreements
- NDA Template
- Refund / Cancellation Policy (if billing)
Prioritization Order
- Founder equity & IP assignment
- Product compliance (privacy + terms)
- External contractor agreements
- Operational policies (refund, cancellation)