Interactive Tool
Interactive Startup Legal Checklist
Track the key legal documents, filings, approvals, and records a Delaware C-Corp founder should have in place before fundraising, hiring, issuing equity, or entering diligence.
Startup legal checklist for Delaware C-Corp founders
This checklist is built for U.S.-based startup founders on the Delaware C-Corp path. It is not just a formation checklist. It covers the documents and workflows that usually matter before equity grants, SAFEs, accelerators, investor diligence, and ongoing compliance.
Legal readiness
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Formation
Confirm Delaware C-Corp is the right structure
For venture-backed startups, a Delaware C-Corp is often the expected structure. FoundersForm is built around this path, not general LLC formation.
File Certificate of Incorporation
This is the core formation document for the company. Keep the filed version in your company records.
Appoint registered agent
Your registered agent keeps the company reachable for official notices and state correspondence.
Get EIN and open company bank account
These are basic operating steps, but they also help separate company activity from personal activity.
Founder equity
Issue founder stock
Founder ownership should be documented clearly through the proper stock purchase agreements and approvals.
Sign founder stock purchase agreements
These documents prove how founder stock was issued, what was paid, and whether vesting applies.
Set founder vesting terms
Vesting terms help protect the company if a founder leaves. They should match the signed documents and cap table.
File 83(b) elections if applicable
If founder stock is subject to vesting, the 83(b) deadline can be critical. Keep proof of filing in your records.
Update cap table to match signed equity documents
Your cap table should reflect what was actually signed, approved, and issued.
Company records
Adopt bylaws
Bylaws define basic governance rules for the corporation and should be stored with formation records.
Create and store board consents
Major company actions should be approved and recorded properly, especially equity, financing, and option plan decisions.
Maintain corporate minute book
This can be digital, but it should keep formation documents, consents, stock records, and key approvals together.
Track legal obligations and deadlines
Deadlines and obligations can come from formation, equity, financing, contracts, and state compliance requirements.
People & IP
Assign founder IP to the company
The company should own the product, code, brand, and other IP being built for the startup.
Use contractor IP assignment agreements
Contractors should clearly assign work product to the company, especially code, design, branding, and product work.
Use advisor agreements
Advisor roles, equity, vesting, confidentiality, and IP terms should be documented before the relationship becomes messy.
Prepare employee offer and invention assignment documents
Early hires should have clear employment, confidentiality, invention assignment, and equity documents where applicable.
Fundraising
Prepare SAFE agreements if raising
SAFE terms should be reviewed, tracked, and stored so the company understands future ownership impact.
Review valuation cap, discount, MFN, and side letter terms
Small financing terms can create obligations and ownership effects that matter later.
Track all signed SAFEs and financing documents
Investor documents should be organized and reflected in the company's legal state and financing records.
Store financing approvals
Board and stockholder approvals may be needed depending on the financing action and company documents.
Diligence readiness
Prepare a legal data room
Keep formation, equity, financing, IP, employment, and governance documents organized before investors ask.
Clean up cap table inconsistencies
The cap table should match signed stock, option, and financing documents.
Check for missing approvals
Unsigned consents or missing approvals can slow down diligence or create cleanup work during a fundraise.
Review readiness for YC, Techstars, 500 Global, or investors
Accelerator and investor conversations can surface legal gaps quickly. Clean records make the process easier.
Ongoing Delaware compliance
Track Delaware franchise tax
Delaware corporations have annual tax and reporting obligations that should be tracked before they become urgent.
File annual report
The company should keep annual state filings current as part of basic corporate hygiene.
Keep registered agent current
Registered agent information should stay active so the company does not miss official notices.
Update records after major actions
Equity, financing, hiring, contracts, and governance actions should update the company's legal record.
Related resources
Startup Due Diligence Checklist
An interactive startup due diligence checklist covering formation, governance, equity, 83(b), IP, SAFEs, and contracts so founders can find legal gaps before investors do.
SAFE Agreement Template
Use this SAFE agreement template guide to understand YC SAFEs, valuation caps, discounts, MFN terms, side letters, cap table impact, and diligence risks before raising.
Carta Alternative
Looking for a Carta alternative? Learn how Founders Form AI helps early-stage startups create, maintain, and check equity documents, SAFEs, approvals, and legal records before they need a full equity administration platform.
Cap Table Software vs Equity Automation
Cap table software tracks ownership; equity legal automation creates and checks the documents behind it. Compare the two and see what early-stage founders actually need first.
Stripe Atlas vs Clerky
Compare Stripe Atlas vs Clerky for Delaware C-Corp formation, startup legal documents, founder stock, 83(b), and what founders still need after incorporation.
Founders Form AI · Health Check
Check your startup's legal records before someone else does
The Founders Form AI Health Check reads your actual signed documents and flags missing records, inconsistent equity, SAFE issues, and approval gaps before investors, accelerators, or counsel start asking questions. It's part of Operator, which runs your full legal back office.
The Health Check is part of the Operator plan. Not legal advice.