Free startup and legal templates
Battle-tested, customizable contracts and board resolutions drafted by Indian corporate lawyers and CAs for early-stage founders.
- Founders & EquityPrivate Limited • LLP
Co-Founder Agreement with Reverse Vesting
Clarify initial equity splits, 4-year reverse vesting with a 1-year cliff, decision rights, full-time commitment, and intellectual property transfer before incorporating.
Executed on Non-Judicial Stamp Paper (minimum ₹100 or state-specific stamp duty) and signed by all co-founders.- 4-Year Reverse Vesting with 1-Year Cliff: Protects the company if a co-founder leaves early. Unvested shares are repurchased at nominal face value.
- Full-Time Commitment & Exclusivity: Bars founders from taking outside employment or running competing business ventures.
- IP Assignment to Venture: All domain names, software code, patents, and customer databases are assigned irrevocably to the company.
- Deadlock & Dispute Mechanism: Provides mediation and mutual buy-out terms if voting rights reach a 50/50 deadlock.
- Legal & IPPvt Ltd • LLP • OPC
Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement (Bilateral NDA)
Comprehensive two-way non-disclosure agreement to protect confidential software code, architectural designs, financial forecasts, and proprietary business methods.
Executed on Non-Judicial Stamp Paper (minimum ₹100 or state rate) when executing commercial partnerships.- Expansive Confidential Information Scope: Covers oral, electronic, source code, financial, and strategic discussions.
- Standard 2-Year Term: Standard non-disclosure lifecycle recognized by Indian Courts.
- Clear Permitted Exclusions: Excludes information already public, independently developed, or mandated by law/court order.
- Immediate Injunction Rights: Allows the disclosing party to seek emergency court injunctions against leaks.
- Hiring & HRPrivate Limited • LLP
Startup Employment Offer Letter with IP Assignment
Clean startup employee appointment letter featuring compensation terms, probation period, termination notice, and strict work-for-hire intellectual property assignment.
Issued on official company letterhead and signed by the designated Director / HR Lead.- Work-for-Hire IP Transfer: Ensures all code, designs, and copy written by the employee belong 100% to the company.
- Probation & Notice Period: Specifies 3–6 months probation with short notice during probation vs. confirmed status.
- Non-Solicitation & Non-Poaching: Bars ex-employees from poaching clients or team members for 12 months after departure.
- Confidentiality Obligations: Binds employee to permanent non-disclosure of internal secrets and customer data.
- Board & MCA ResolutionsPrivate Limited
Board Resolution for Bank Current Account Opening
Certified extract of board resolution mandated by Indian banks (HDFC, ICICI, Axis, SBI) to open a current account following incorporation.
Printed on company letterhead with company seal and certified by at least two directors.- Companies Act 2013 Compliance: Formal board approval under Section 179(3) of the Companies Act.
- Authorised Signatory Designation: Authorises directors to operate singly or jointly.
- Digital Banking & Debit Card Mandate: Authorises NetBanking, corporate credit cards, and digital token issuance.
- Board & MCA ResolutionsPrivate Limited
Board Resolution for GST Registration & Signatory
Mandatory board resolution and authorization letter required when applying for Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration on the GSTN portal.
Issued on company letterhead and uploaded to the GST Common Portal with digital signature (DSC).- Primary Authorised Signatory Designation: Authorises one director to verify filings using their PAN and Aadhaar.
- DSC Authorization: Allows use of Digital Signature Certificate (Class 3 DSC) for GST verification.
- Authority for Assessments & Refunds: Empowers the signatory to represent the company in assessment proceedings.
- Office & OperationsPvt Ltd • LLP • OPC
Registered Office NOC & Utility Bill Letter
No Objection Certificate (NOC) from property owner required by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to use a residential or commercial premises as registered office.
Signed by the property owner whose name appears on the electricity/gas/water bill.- Ownership Declaration: Confirms the grantor is the absolute lawful owner of the premises.
- Unconditional Permission: Grants permission to store books of account and receive official postal notices.
- Utility Bill Alignment: Ensures the address matches the electricity bill exactly character-by-character.
- Founders & EquityPrivate Limited
Angel & Pre-Seed Term Sheet (CCPS Structure)
Founder-friendly term sheet structure for pre-seed and angel rounds using Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS).
Non-binding summary of terms except for Exclusivity and Confidentiality clauses.- Pre-Money Valuation & Investment Size: Clear statement of investment amount and pre-money valuation.
- CCPS Instrument Details: Conversion ratio upon subsequent Series A institutional round.
- 1x Non-Participating Liquidation Preference: Protects founder upside compared to burdensome participating preferences.
- Information & Board Observer Rights: Provides periodic updates without giving away board control.
- Legal & IPPvt Ltd • LLP • OPC
Independent Contractor & Consultant Agreement
Engagement contract for freelance developers, legal advisors, designers, and growth consultants, with clear deliverables and tax withholding (TDS Section 194J) clauses.
Executed on Non-Judicial Stamp Paper (minimum ₹100 or state rate).- Clear Independent Contractor Status: Prevents labor claims of employment status or PF/gratuity liabilities.
- Deliverables & Milestone Payment: Ties payments to defined sprint goals or milestone approvals.
- TDS & GST Withholding: Clarifies applicable Section 194J TDS deductions.
- Complete IP Assignment: Consultant yields all code, Figma files, and marketing assets.
Execution Playbook
How to execute startup agreements in India
Downloading a template is only step one. For an agreement to be legally enforceable in an Indian court, three conditions must be met:
- 1
Non-Judicial Stamp Paper (e-Stamping)
Print or attach the agreement to non-judicial stamp paper purchased in the state of execution. Most commercial agreements require ₹100 or ₹200 e-stamps (StockHolding Corporation of India).
- 2
Authorised Signatory Authority
For a Private Limited company or LLP, ensure the signing director or designated partner has formal Board Resolution authority to bind the entity.
- 3
Attestation by Two Witnesses
Have two neutral adult witnesses sign the execution page along with their full legal names, residential addresses, and dates.
Frequently asked questions
Are these startup templates legally binding in India?
Yes. When printed on appropriate non-judicial stamp paper (as per your state's Stamp Act), signed by authorized parties, and attested by witnesses, these agreements are legally enforceable under the Indian Contract Act, 1872 and the Companies Act, 2013.
How do I determine the correct stamp duty for an agreement?
Stamp duty varies by state and agreement type. For example, in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi, general commercial contracts like NDAs and Consultancy Agreements typically require ₹100 or ₹200 non-judicial stamp paper. Shareholder and equity purchase agreements depend on the deal value.
Do Board Resolutions need to be filed with the MCA?
Only specific resolutions (such as loan approvals under Section 179(3) or special resolutions) require filing in Form MGT-14 with the Registrar of Companies. Routine resolutions—such as opening a bank current account or appointing an authorized signatory for GST—are submitted directly to the bank or tax portal.
Can Corpunex customize these templates for my specific startup?
Yes. While these templates cover standard legal safeguards, our practicing Chartered Accountants, Company Secretaries, and corporate advocates can tailor custom founder agreements, vesting clauses, and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) to fit your exact cap table.
Need custom clauses or cap table advice?
Our Chartered Accountants and Company Secretaries can draft custom founder vesting schedules, ESOP schemes, and shareholder agreements tailored to your business.