Field notes on agreements, leases and wills.

Most founders agree on the exciting part: what to build. It is the quieter questions that deserve an early conversation. How will decisions be made? What happens if someone wants to leave? What if you disagree?

A useful shareholder agreement reflects the way you actually work together. We start by listening to that conversation, then put the answers into clear, workable terms.

Tom Renwick / 2-minute note

The headline figure is only one part of the commitment. Repair obligations, permitted use, break conditions and service charges can matter just as much to a growing business.

Before signing, map the lease against your plans. What if you need more space? What if your business changes? Clear questions now make the next few years easier to understand.

Nina Hollis / 2-minute note

A good estate plan starts with people, not documents. Who depends on you? Who knows your wishes? What would help them if you were no longer able to make a decision?

It is a conversation worth revisiting as life changes. A new home, a new family member or a change in your business can all be a reason to take another look.

Helena Strand / 2-minute note

When a project starts well, it is easy to leave the terms for later. Put the scope, the dates and the price in writing at the start, and say how changes will be agreed.

Most disagreements are not about the work. They are about what each side assumed, and a short written note at the start is the cheapest way to avoid that.

Jonah Wren / 2-minute note