How to fairly distribute the shares of profits and shares of ownership of a company / startup?

Question

Startups

Let's say there are some rudiments of an invented project / startup.
A programmer, an analyst, a layout designer were involved in the development of the project.
The chief manager directs and organizes everything, let him be the director.
How to correctly distribute the equity participation of all people at the initial stage of development, and how to fairly distribute profits among them?
Let's say: the director is 55%, the programmer is 15%, the analyst is 10%, the coder is 10%, the percentage for the development of the company or the reserve is 10%. Well, it's like an option. Who can offer experience? Maybe there is some technique? Maybe there is some formula? It will be interesting to learn and feel the experience of their colleagues on similar issues.

Answer 1

CTO - two percent.
Programmer, coder and designer - 0.
The rest is for investors.

Answer 2

Probably there are ready-made methodologies that we simply do not know about. In the absence of a proven method, I think we should try to figure out who makes what contribution to the development of the company.
When evaluating, you can operate with several parameters. For example the following:
Try assigning virtual points for each "achievement". The total sum of all points will be 100%, which can then be divided into shares corresponding to the number of co-founders.
With this approach, I think it is possible to separate "employees" from "owners".
If, say, a designer is ready to work for free at the launch stage, and then cut money for years for a one-time completed project, then it’s more logical to negotiate with him for a rate.

Answer 3

Above , Denis wrote a generally correct answer. I'll add a little from experience.
It all depends on who and for what works at the start. If all four work for the idea and future profits, they are actually co-owners. With equal investments of their resources (time, nerves, competence), co-owners should receive equally . Someone will object that, for example, a layout designer cannot get more than a director, and I disagree - try pushing a project where the design is constantly changing and being finalized, and where this layout designer has to give all the best, and even force majeure. So if we are not talking about external investments, do not hesitate to give associates equal shares, minus the share that will go to expenses.
If we are talking about raised money - there is a slightly different song, but in general, people should be interested in the result of the work - that is, have a percentage so that every month they can see how well it worked by the size of a bundle of money.
When a startup expands into a more sustainable structure and the flow of funds becomes more predictable, you can hire people for a salary.

Answer 4

In my opinion, all this is at the discretion of the team itself and / or the person who initiated the project. If there are several initiators-partners, discuss collectively.

Answer 5

> director 55%, programmer - 15%, analyst - 10%, coder - 10%, percentage for the development of the company or reserve - 10%
Haven't learned anything in 25 years? Does the director compensate for lack of professionalism in case of failure? In this situation, it is more profitable for the director to throw everyone and dump them. What he will do when the profit goes. Typical naebiznes in Russian.
Director - barley bag; programmers-analysts - salary + percentage of profit quarterly; the rest in reserve.

Answer 6

the director will be fed and 5%, programmers 50%, layout designers 30% of the rest :) and it’s even easier to make shares - whoever buys how much % will receive so many dividends :)

Answer 7

The answer to the first question: the profit is divided in proportion to the shares.
The answer to the second question depends on the starting conditions. I’ll make a reservation right away - I will explain “on the fingers”, because I don't have time to answer extensively. So.
If this is a service that requires intellectual work (programming, design, etc.) and all shareholders (preferably no more than three) are ready to work hard in the evenings (after the main work), then equally.
If this is a service where financial injections into iron are required (car wash, a workshop for processing something, etc.), then it is proportional to the money invested. For example: three participants. One immediately invested 1 million rubles in the pavilion, and the other two arranged everything, agreed and organized for 3 months. If we estimate that their hypothetical salary (which of course was not) was 50 thousand rubles per month. for each, it turns out that the shares are proportional to injections
of 1,000,000 / 150,000 / 150,000 rubles, i.e. 77% / 12% / 12%, or roughly in shares - 8 / 1 / 1, if there are 10 shares in total.
Once again, this is a very primitive layout. Without any loans or ventures. And in order to take everything into account more accurately, you need to study for a year in entrepreneurship courses at some university.
Yes, I almost forgot!
Profit is profit, but no one canceled the salary at a startup. It is accrued (at least it is written in the statement) only to working participants! Those. if the person from the example who invested 1 million rubles in hardware did not work in a startup, then he is not entitled to a salary - only dividends, which may not be very soon.
There are several more options for estimating calculations - but this is a long time to describe, not here.

Answer 8

How do you agree.
But, in my opinion, nonsense.
10% of the skin of an unkilled bear is twice 0. It means a quick loss of interest.
More than 2-3 co-owners should not be done.

Answer 9

The owner (initiator of the business) - 100%, the rest are on a salary, there will be less resentment who brought and received how much money, and you won’t have to get rid of an unscrupulous "partner". It does not pull 100% in one snout, take out loans or look for an investor (who is likely to take a controlling stake). You can encourage good work with bonuses or a percentage of the profits, but not with shares of the enterprise; if you want to share with the whole world, do an open joint stock company.

Answer 10

Makers and designers do not need to give profit (interest). Put them on a certain rate. And you are rightly told that you and investors should share the profits, and a percentage of the expenses of the enterprise.

Answer 11

Try to reduce the number of shareholders as much as possible. Many owners of the company - conflicts are inevitable. Think, maybe some specialist is not vital for your project at the initial stage?

Answer 12

Yes, there will be no good programmer now - when the wildest demand for good programmers - is to work for a share, as they already wrote here from "the skin of an unkilled bear." And even if it does, it will not be for 10%. And something closer to 50.
If it is, then he will be motivated for a very short time. Very quickly find out what you want to eat every day. And his interest in the project will fall. He will devote less and less time to it. Read the stories of startups - "for a share, without money." If a person does not have his own financial support sufficient for life, there will be no "for a share".
The best way is to motivate for money.