Protect · 5 min read
What a student founder should do before incorporating
Five decisions to make and write down before you register a company.
Start with people, not paperwork
Before you register anything, decide who the founders are and what each person will actually do. Write it in a short note and have everyone confirm it.
Decide how ownership will be shared
Even a rough split agreed now is better than none. Think about whether shares should be earned over time, and what happens if someone leaves early.
The right structure depends on your facts. Take professional advice before you finalise it.
Search the name early
Check whether a similar name is already used for similar goods or services before you commit to a logo, domain and social accounts.
Keep what you built in one place
Put source code, designs and documents in shared, company-controlled accounts rather than personal ones.
Do not leave student rules out
If you are a student, check your institution’s policies on IP and incubation, since they may affect ownership.