Should We Split Equity 50/50?
Most 50/50 splits are decided emotionally. This tool tests that decision against the contribution profile most Irish solicitors would actually score.
Compare the two founders, honestly
On each row, choose who is currently contributing more. 'About equal' is a valid answer — but try to be specific.
Have these conversations before you sign
- If our company doubled in value tomorrow, would each of us privately feel the split was fair?
- If one of us walks away in eighteen months, what does the other one keep?
- What contribution are we currently weighting in the cap table that we shouldn't be?
- What contribution are we ignoring that we should be reflecting in equity, salary or a director loan?
Questions founders ask
Is a 50/50 equity split a bad idea in Ireland?
No. A 50/50 split works well when contributions, commitment and risk are genuinely equal and when leaver provisions and a tie-break mechanism are documented in a shareholders agreement. The problem is rarely the split itself — it is the absence of structure around it.
Should we use a founder equity calculator instead of a solicitor?
A calculator surfaces the structural questions a solicitor would ask. It does not replace the legal documentation. Use this tool to align with your co-founder, then take the conclusions to a solicitor for a shareholders agreement.
What is a fair equity split for two co-founders in Ireland?
There is no single fair number. The fair split is whatever both founders would still consider fair if the company succeeded ten times beyond expectations and one of you stopped contributing in year two. The best protection is not the split — it is vesting, leaver clauses and a written agreement.