Do you need a co-founder for your startup? 10 pros and cons of having a co-founder
Do you need a co-founder for your startup? 10 pros and cons of having a co-founder
It helps to have a friend at your side who knows you and shares your vision and passion for business, just like it does in life. Going alone may give you a more extensive interest in the firm and more authority over decisions, but having a Co-founder provides its own benefits.
Many young, intelligent, and qualified individuals with great goals dream of starting their own firm. While some people can create new businesses on their own, a group of like-minded people can always get together to form a new company. A co-founder is someone who co-founds a company with the support of others. We’ll look at what a co-founder is, what their roles and obligations are, and how to locate one in this post.
After all, a startup’s founding team must have experience in all aspects of the business, which is only genuinely achievable with a group.
What is the definition of a co-founder?
A co-founder of a firm is someone who assists the company’s founder in its formation. One or more Co-founders probably be involved in a company Venture, each with their own set of roles and obligations. A co-founder can be a member of the firm from the beginning, or a founder may bring someone on board to compensate for the talents they lack or require while starting a business. A co-founder may begin like a member of the executive team or, if they join later, may become one.
When does a business need a co-founder?
You probably seek co-founders who can assist you clarify your ideas and executing your plans if you have a company concept and a strategy but are unsure how to continue. After that, a co-founder joins the founding team. Later in the expansion stage, you can hunt for a co-founder or include someone with the specific capabilities the executive team demands. If you’re creating a technological company and need someone to assist you in selling the product, you may hire a marketing expert in form of a a co-founder.
Can a company have both a founder and a co-founder?
It is conceivable for a company to have both a founder and a co-founder. A founder is a person who develops a firm and turns profitable ideas into actual profit in the startup ecosystem. The founder establishes the company’s infrastructure and works to get it up and to run.
“Solo founders” are entrepreneurs who start a company by themselves. If many persons are engaged in the company’s founding, they may collectively be referred to by the term “co-founders.”
Companies may have a founder and one or more co-founders in some situations. The assignment of titles is contingent on when you hire your early staff.
Assume you launch a company by yourself and get the title of “founder.” After a few months, you decide to locate a co-founder to help you fill in specific skill gaps. In this situation, you may be considered the “founder” of the company. Your company partner, on the other hand, would be referred to by the term a “co-founder” (rather than a “founder”).
Assume, on the other hand, that you decide to form a company with two of your business school classmates. In this situation, you were all involved from the beginning of the project, earning you the title of “co-founder.” However, since every one of you contributed to the company’s establishment, it would be inappropriate to refer to any of you like a single “founder.”
Why do you need a co-founder in your startup?
Emotional and Moral Support
Starting a business is really difficult. Running is importantly more complex and unpleasant. A 9-to-5 job requires substantially less time and effort than a startup. With so much money on the line and constant threats from the competition, it’s important to have a partner in your journey who shares your vision and can depend on, especially during the rough times.
Investors’ Support
Investors are more probable to back enterprises operated by a team than those run by a single person. They are more inclined to support companies with several founders because they trust them. If you want to make the fundraising process go more smoothly, bring a co-founder or co-founders on board.
Making Better Decisions
You don’t want your firm to function like a dictatorship, with you making the final decision on everything. You’d have advisers, of course, but a co-founder is your partner. A co-founder would not only function like a sounding board for all of your ideas but would actively participate in making the ultimate decisions. You’ll come up with more ideas being a result of brainstorming, and you’ll be better able to close the gaps in those ideas by challenging each other. This is how startups create a strong foundation.
At the end of the day, a difference of opinion may be beneficial and aid in understanding the big picture if the final aim is kept in mind.
Responsibilities are divided.
In a startup, there are just too many duties. It is not easy to run a business. There’s too much running about to get even the simplest things done, especially while the firm is still in its early stages and you’re juggling both management and employee responsibilities. A co-founder splits the stress and duties of operating a business. As a consequence, you achieve a more favorable work-life balance.
Complementary Knowledge
Because everyone comes from a different background, it is impossible for anyone to be excellent at everything. You may have a marketing background and so be familiar with marketing challenges or concepts, but you may have little or no knowledge of the other aspects of a company, including financing, technology, and logistics. A startup’s advantage is having a co-founder team with complementary skill sets.
Varied backgrounds lead to different perspectives, which leads to other ideas. Work moves more quickly and easily since each co-founder is assigned to departments based on his expertise.
Risk Reduction
With the enormous risks involved, you’d want someone to share them with. People ignore the fact that a co-founder shares, not just the profits but the losses. By backing a firm with several founders, investors may reduce their risks. A company’s founder is its beating heart, but what happens if he leaves? With the departure of the founder, the startup may die. In the eyes of investors, having several founders guarantees more stability. The release of Housing.com’s founder and CEO is an excellent example of this.
Is a Co-founder required?
Though exhilarating and idealized by stories of tremendous achievements, the entrepreneurial road is rather lonely. It’s a location where you’re the one who makes the decisions. You have an excellent concept for a new business, and the notion goes that if you can’t persuade at least one other person to join you, how would people believe in your vision and buy your product/service? The mainline is that you do need someone else to bounce ideas off of, someone who can provide a fresh viewpoint at least occasionally, and someone who believes in the enterprise like you do.
What is the ideal number of co-founders?
There is no right or incorrect solution in this situation. I’ve worked with companiesthat have as few as two co-founders and as many as eleven. To get a business off the ground, some basic skill sets are required. It probably be an engineer and a businessperson, or two separate groups of engineering talents and a businessperson are needed. For most businesses, two to three co-founders are adequate.
From a managerial standpoint, having two co-founders is excellent. When new management is brought in, and founders start taking sides, three, although acceptable in many circumstances, probably become a crowd.
What criterion should you use to choose a co-founder?
Many companies with spouses as Co-founders have succeeded, but like an employee, I have avoided these organizations and told my friends to avoid them . Co-founders are often buddies, but is this the ideal approach to choosing co-founders? Many wonderful friendships have been broken being a result of a failed business endeavor.
Every firm needs both technical and business knowledge. A talented engineer can create something beautiful, but it doesn’t guarantee that it will sell. What good does it do for an excellent businessperson to know what will sell if he or she can’t persuade someone to make the right product? Co-founding teams should bring together abilities that are complementary, not overlapping.
Should all co-founders own the same amount of stock?
If you had asked me this question before I started my first business, I would have responded, “Why not?” Now that I’ve founded a few companies, I don’t see why co-founders should have the same equity interest. The majority of co-founders choose the ownership structure at random. If you want to learn more about this issue, I recommend The Founder’s Dilemmas, a fantastic book.
To make determining equity stakes easier, I devised the following formula:
Assume that founders A and B both launch at the same time with a comparable value proposition. Founder A will be the long-term CEO, while Founder B will be the Vice President of Engineering.
The equity is divided into two parts:
Part of the Founder’s Skills
Founder’s Contribution – For both, this should be the same. If they started at various times or contributed differently, this should be taken into account. However, in our case, they are equal.
A CEO at a high-tech business may receive 6-10% of the stock after Series A (when a VC or other authorized investor invests money into the company), but a VP of Engineering may only receive 2%. So, assuming 50 percent dilution, the CEO will receive 12-20% (say 16%), and the VP of Engineering will receive 4%.
As a result, 20% is based on talents, while 80% is based on funding status. Founder A will receive 16+40%, whilst Founder B will receive 4+40%.
This is not the only option, but it is one that I believe is justified.
Is it possible to dismiss a co-founder?
A firm is distinct from its creator, and when outside capital is raised, the connection becomes even more distinct. If one of the co-founders isn’t performing or is being disruptive or unethical, you should fire him or her immediately. Do not, however, do so for incorrect reasons, such as robbing co-founders of their stock. Also, if and when you have to fire a co-founder, treat them with respect. Everyone involved should be able to keep their dignity.
At What Stage Should You Find a Co-founder?
There is no set moment when you should begin looking for a co-founder. You can obtain one even before you start thinking about your product or when your product is already on the market, and you want to expand. It’s all up to you!
When you’ve covered the fundamentals, experts recommend hiring a co-founder. This implies that you should:
Have a minimum viable product (MVP) or a marketable product at the very least.
Determine which abilities will be beneficial to your startup.
Determine how much equity you may provide each co-founder.
Have a good concept of what you’re going to offer to the table.
What Qualities Should a Co-Founder Have?
Make a preliminary sketch of attributes you need in a co-founder after you have a good sense of your own strengths and flaws.
1. Someone who helps to reduce the danger
First and foremost, seek someone who can reduce hazards. Investors are constantly on the lookout for a challenging and responsible co-founder for a firm. Even if you aren’t planning to generate funds anytime soon, the characteristics remain the same. Find a co-founder who owns the company and can openly discuss their own inadequacies.
It is preferable to seek out co-founders with diverse backgrounds. Don’t rely on a single area of knowledge, such as ‘programming’ or management,’ for example. Instead, look for people that have a track record of success with a single business.
2. Someone who assists you in constructing
They aren’t just another employee, even if you want them to assist you with your business. Find co-founders who can help you in introducing new components to the company. Someone who is willing to take risks in order to generate fresh ideas and identify flaws in the present startup.
You’ll need co-founders who can not only reinvent the wheel but also make it derivable.
3. Someone who assists you in being successful In two places at the same time
Let’s assume you have a team meeting to attend, but you can’t miss an interview with this TV channel. What do you do if both are critical to your product launch?
This is where co-founders can help. One constructs while the other sells. Instead of finding a co-founder that roughly fits your skillset, go for someone who is entirely contrary. If you’re a developer, employ a marketer to help you build and promote your business more quickly.
4. Someone who helps you see things from a different viewpoint
Another reason to employ a co-founder is to get a fresh perspective on your business (particularly your product). Most company founders are unable to detect problems in their products. It just does not occur to them that they might make the product in a more efficient manner. In most businesses, the founders meet once a week to discuss the previous week’s activities and create strategies for the future. This also provides them with valuable insight into how to enhance their products.
Co-founder Duties and Responsibilities
What are the roles and duties of co-founders?
Most co-founders work alongside a company’s leadership and have a set of responsibilities. The actual function of a co-founder may vary depending on the company. Some people may not be involved in day-to-day company choices. Some people may take on positions like CFO or COO and handle operations on a daily basis. Typical co-founder responsibilities include:
Obtaining funding
One of a co-primary founder’s responsibilities is fundraising. Not all co-founders invest in the firm they helped start. Instead, they can assist the firm in raising financing. The expertise of a co-founder about the product or service and its capabilities might aid them in making a convincing pitch to potential investors. Investors like co-founders that are passionate about their product or service, convincing, and able to communicate effectively. Knowing the financial requirements of a business is advantageous to a co-founder. This enables them to plan and carry out the tasks necessary to raise operating capital.
Risk evaluation
The capacity to take risks is one of the attributes that distinguishes an entrepreneur from an employee. Product, market, financing, staff, and execution are all risks that a new firm or startup may face. A co-founder is familiar with each risk and may assist the company’s management team in minimizing its impact. They may enlist the assistance of skilled specialists or risk managers with relevant experience.
Creating leadership teams
A co-primary founder’s role is to find and develop the company’s executive team. The efforts of a management team usually result in success in most businesses. The skill of the co-founder resides in choosing individuals whose vision corresponds with that of the company and who are willing to work tirelessly to achieve it. A co-founder provides tasks and responsibilities to the team, maintains morale, and inspires them to keep the momentum rolling in the early days. They also assist in dispute resolution, allowing each team member to function at their best.
Business development
Startups are enthralled by a concept and the product or service that results from it. A co-founder can help the company expand by forming ties and alliances. From the inception of the company, co-founders adopt critical business efforts. One of a co-main founder’s responsibilities is to focus on the company’s long-term viability.
Investigating market possibilities
A co-founder could conduct market research and identify items that customers demand. They can also determine whether the product or service they want to offer has a viable market. Because a co-founder can see the larger picture, they can figure out what works and what doesn’t for a consumer. They can then communicate with other members of the executive team and coordinate processes to improve their product or service. They may see new market opportunities and make efforts to increase their present market share.
Documenting commercial transactions
A company’s ability to develop and maintain adequate documentation for all of its activities and transactions is critical. Business registration, taxation, financial accounting, and employment are all required documentation. The co-founders collaborate with tax specialists, auditors, and attorneys to verify that all essential paperwork is in order and in compliance with the law. Because these documents are scrutinized by investors, keeping and updating them is a crucial task for a co-founder.
Financial management
Many co-founders are involved with a company from the beginning and have a thorough awareness of its financial situation and future objectives. They work closely with the creator or other co-founders to manage expenses and spend wisely until a regular stream of revenue is established. Because of inadequate financial preparation, many firms fail to prosper. A co-founder assists the company in following sound financial planning procedures.
Financial management
Many co-founders are involved with a company from the beginning and have a thorough awareness of its financial situation and future objectives. They work closely with the creator or other co-founders to manage expenses and spend wisely until a regular stream of revenue is established. Because of inadequate financial preparation, many firms fail to prosper. A co-founder assists the company in following sound financial planning procedures.
Recruiting the appropriate people
One of the most crucial responsibilities of a co-founder is to put together an effective team. They identify people who are a good match for their jobs and persuade them to join the endeavor. Salary and job security may be critical worries for most individuals. Others might wish to test themselves and grow with a new business. A co-job founder is to discover the best applicants for the job depending on the company’s needs and budget.
Increasing morale
Businesses with one or more co-founders are often tiny at first until they raise the necessary cash to expand. Some firms may receive funding, yet their products may have problems. Businesses may face marketing hurdles, or their product may not receive adequate exposure. These are common risks for any new firm. A co-founder of the creator himself may get demotivated, lose interest, and desire to give up. In such situations, a co-founder knows what to say and do to assist the team get back on their feet and continue working.
Where Should You Look for a Co-founder?
1. Individual contacts
Look through your personal contacts for co-founders. What about a coworker who could be interested in a side hustle? Or perhaps a classmate who possessed an entrepreneurial spirit? You may also search your extended network for co-founders. Consider a buddy of your brother-in-law who has his own software company. Alternatively, form a joint venture with an active investor who is interested in bringing in the funds.
You begin the activity by proposing your concept to them. No one will know what kind of person you’re searching for or what kind of assistance you need until you tell them.
Don’t forget to tell your team leaders and management about your suggestion. They may know folks who would make excellent co-founders.
2. Matchmaking sites co-founded
Crowdfunding platforms like CoFoundersLab are another option for locating co-founders for your firm. You may quickly find co-founders who are enthusiastic about your business concept.
But, given the stigma linked to matching sites, the main question is whether they are the best venues to look for co-founders.
Consider these applications and websites as a starting point for your search for a company co-founder. Once you’ve selected a few prospects, undertake in-person, phone, or Skype interviews with them to learn more about them.
3. Online communities
Next, look for co-founders in startup-related social media groups. Many professionals will be willing to join your business and give their expertise in exchange for ownership.
However, just like with matchmaking sites, you should be aware that there are many fraudsters in these groups, and you should try to meet them in person before entering into any agreements.
4. Startup conferences and events
Co-founders can also be seen at startup events and conferences. It’s not difficult to discover startup events in a large city. They occur twice a month, so finding a like-minded person who is also interested in your company shouldn’t be difficult.
5. Job Posting Websites
Another option for finding a co-founder is to post the vacancy on employment boards. Some job posting platforms may not accept job postings without a wage description, but don’t panic; there are many of them.
You must specify how much stock you will provide to the co-founder.
10 Pros and cons of having a co-founder
Entrepreneurs sometimes compare co-founder relationships to weddings. Throughout your trip, you discover the best and worst of your business partner. It’s nice to have co-support and founders, but things may go wrong when items become tough.
These ten benefits and drawbacks of having a co-founder may help you determine if you need one or are better off doing it alone.
The pros
1. Complementary capabilities
When a co-founder has complementary abilities, they might be an excellent addition to your company. When you don’t have the ability to build an app or SaaS platform, a tech co-founder can assist you.
2. One goal, two heads
Co-founders are excellent for discussing business ideas and obstacles. Rather than depending on your own intellect, a co-founder allows you to bounce ideas off one another and gain a fresh perspective. Two brains are better than one, and the other brain can help you double-check your thoughts.
3. Reliable assistance
In both good and terrible times, you and your co-founder will be a team, celebrating successes and supporting one another.
4. Protect investors from danger
Having a co-founder onboard shows investors that someone other than you believes in the concept. A two-person team examines the firm and can allay any investor concerns about its chances of success.
5. Resource sharing
You and your co-founder should ideally come from diverse backgrounds, have distinct contacts, and have different spheres of influence. Combining forces will allow you to have a greater effect and grow more quickly.
The disadvantages
1. They must be 100 percent out if they are not 100 percent in.
Getting your co-founder to commit to the same degree of engagement as you might be difficult. If they aren’t entirely ‘onboard,’ you may run into issues at some time.
2. Maintaining consistency across time
As the company develops and evolves, so will your own opinion of where the company should go. If your co-founder has a different idea in mind, this might be a problem.
3. Dissensions
Not everyone thinks the same way, and conflicts are a regular issue that causes co-founding teams to fall apart.
4. Dedication
It’s a major step to commit to a co-founder. You’ll be contractually obligated to continue with them through good and bad times, or you’ll be out of money.
5. Work distribution
It might be difficult to figure out who is accountable for what, especially if you and your co-founder have comparable skill sets.
Before you jump, think about it.
Do You Really Need a Co-founder?
It’s an excellent idea to pick a co-founder from your circle of friends.
You’ll need assistance and someone you can count on, which is one of the key reasons you might require a co-founder. As a result, while making a decision, most people consider choosing someone from their circle of friends or relatives.
Of course, your closest friends and family members will comprehend you better than anybody else. However, other people believe that friends and family aren’t the greatest people to work with since they’re constantly prejudiced, and if there’s a disagreement, you’ll probably ruin your relationship. According to Kabir Ahmed, CEO and Cofounder of Favored:
We are a four-person co-founding team of friends who have known each other for at least 20 years. Previously operating together professionally or as distinct organizations, they are now working together. We realized we’d have to work together to make a difference in this business.” ― Favorey CEO and Cofounder Kabir Ahmed.
A co-founder will round out your abilities and provide value to the company.
When you run your own company, you must be well-versed in a wide range of issues, from coding to marketing. And, more often than not, you don’t have all of them. In such a situation, you’ll need someone who can complement your abilities while also sharing your workload and obligations.
It is important to have co-founders with whom to share daily responsibilities and decision-making. “One man will never be able to do the tasks of many.” ― Tan Han Sing, Tueetor Founder.
Francesco Magro, Cofounder and CEO of Winelivery, and Martn Andrés López Espia, CEO and Founder of Voguin, share the same viewpoint:
“What is required, in my opinion, is a devotion to the concept, the ability to learn, and the desire to put in 100% effort in the business.” Of course, team members must have great interpersonal skills and the capacity to operate in a group.” — Francesco Magro, Winelivery Cofounder, and CEO
“I’m still looking for a co-founder that can complement my talents and assist me in developing a wonderful product.” — said Martn Andrés López Espia, Voguin’s CEO and Founder.
Maria Andrea Gonzalez, CEO of Heartpoo, came up with a brilliant idea:
“…finding the ideal fit for your skillset, vision, and aspirations is similar to falling in love. After all these years, I’ve realized that having a co-founder is a must, not just because he or she offers something fresh to the table but also because they share your deepest objectives. It’s the purest kind of affection for the aim.
This type of battle, in which you go deep into debate over the same issue, speak the same language, and read each other between the lines, elevates the ride to a whole new level of merit. The friction that occurs from going deeper, challenging one another, and asking the same fundamental questions is what makes great firms impact the world.
“Without friction, there is no fire.” — Heartpoo CEO Maria Andrea Gonzalez.
After four years as an entrepreneur, Maria has learned one thing: there is no room for rash decisions when selecting a co-founder:
For almost 13 years, my co-founder and I have been together. We met when I was 14, and he was 16. As in all relationships, love at first, sight isn’t always the best option, just like choosing a hacker to make my vision a reality or a hustler to market what I’ve created. Instead, it’s getting to know each other, enduring through good times and bad, and making the decision to keep going that makes all the difference.
Is having a co-founder, however, always a smart idea?
Can there be times when being the lone member on the board is preferable? Let’s see what the business owners have to say about it.
There’s no need to add another board member if you have a well-thought-out company strategy and know exactly where you’re going.
Furthermore, no one can promise that your good ties with your co-founder will endure. There may be a time when he or she decides to depart. It may end out peacefully in certain situations, but there may be times when disagreements emerge, and you may lose a portion of your business or your entire firm.
Just keep in mind that businesses with more than one co-founder are more likely to fail if one of them decides to quit.
“I don’t have a co-founder, and I don’t believe having one is necessary.” Individuals might become co-founders of a freshly formed startup if they gathered together and came up with a business plan. In my case, I don’t believe I require a co-founder. I started this firm, provided seed capital, and hold 100% of the shares.” — Eric Northcutt, CopyCat Media’s CEO
He continues:
I don’t believe it is essential because my company has been in operation for several years and is doing well. Today’s startups do not require several founders, but every firm would benefit from having a solid advisory board.
At the same time, Francesco Magro, who is a co-founder, points out that:
I believe that if the creator is capable enough, a co-founder is unnecessary.
Workplace inequity
Another disadvantage of having a co-founder is that you may feel like one of you is working harder and putting in more effort than the other.
This becomes more difficult as time passes because, as a startup founder, I am constantly looking for ways to keep the company afloat, which makes me feel stronger and more confident in making judgments. At the same time, the potential co-founder is missing out on the most significant experience of the days when the company was founded on mud.” López Espia, Martn Andrés
Of course, no definitive solution exists to this topic. On the one hand, an additional employee will undoubtedly add significant value to the company. How can you be confident, on the other hand, that your co-founder will be as committed to your business as you are? Every circumstance is unique, and everything is dependent on your particular tastes, choices, and other factors.
Even on terrible days when you don’t feel like going the extra mile or moving out of your comfort zone, having a co-founder keeps you motivated and on your toes. Regardless of how great a master of all trades you believe you are, chances are you are only a jack of certain trades and possibly the master of none. This should never dissuade someone from starting their own business.
So find like-minded partners that can complement your abilities and help you grow your company to heights that would not have been conceivable if you were the only one in charge.
Before we go any farther, there are a few guidelines to remember. Finding a co-founder for your firm is not difficult. You should not set unrealistic goals for yourself or agree to more than you can safely provide the co-founder.
Finally, it’s preferable to take your time when hiring a co-founder than to choose someone who isn’t a good fit for your company.
edited and proofread by nikita sharma
