Shareholder Agreement
A shareholder agreement (SHA) sets the rules between a company's owners — rights, decisions, transfers, exits and dispute resolution. We draft a clear, balanced SHA that protects founders and investors and prevents costly disputes.
Starts at
Custom
Professional fees, government fees, late fees, penalties, payroll size, transaction volume, number of employees, entity type, filings and compliance complexity may vary.
Timeline
Commonly 1–2 weeks
Documents
Cap table & key terms
Owner rights & decisions
Transfer & exit rules
Dispute resolution
Expert-reviewed
Pricing
Shareholder agreement
By complexity, number of parties and whether it's founder-only or investor-stage. We quote after understanding your cap table and terms.
Founders' SHA
Co-founder rules
By terms
- Founder rights & vesting
- Decision/voting rules
- Transfer restrictions
- Expert review
Investor-Stage SHA
With investors
Detailed
- Investor rights & protections
- Liquidation/exit terms
- Reserved matters
- Dedicated reviewer
Prices are professional fees and indicative. Government fees, stamp duty, DSC, PAN/TAN, state charges and third-party costs are extra and may change. A final engagement summary separates each component before payment.
Overview
What is Shareholder Agreement?
A shareholder agreement (SHA) is the contract that governs the relationship between a company's shareholders — how decisions are made, what rights each shareholder has, how shares can (and can't) be transferred, what happens on a founder's exit or a new investment, and how disputes are resolved. It works alongside the company's articles to set the real 'rules of the game' between owners.
Skipping it, or using a vague template, is one of the most expensive mistakes founders make: co-founder fallouts, deadlock, unwanted share transfers and messy exits all trace back to a missing or weak SHA. A good one — covering vesting, drag/tag-along, ROFR, reserved matters and exit — prevents most of these.
We draft a clear, balanced shareholder agreement tailored to your cap table and stage, reviewed by professionals, so founders and investors are protected and disputes are pre-empted.
Is it for you?
Who needs it — and who doesn't
Recommended if
- Co-founders setting up a company together
- Startups taking on investors
- Companies with multiple shareholders
- Anyone wanting to prevent ownership disputes
May not be needed if
- Single-shareholder companies (no counterparties yet)
- Proprietorships/partnerships (no shareholders — different documents)
Benefits
Why it's worth doing right
Prevent costly disputes
Clear rules on decisions, transfers and exits pre-empt the co-founder and investor fallouts that sink companies.
Protect founders & investors
Vesting, reserved matters, drag/tag-along and ROFR balance and protect everyone's interests.
Investor-ready
A solid SHA is expected in funding rounds — having one (or knowing what's standard) smooths the raise.
Eligibility
Eligibility & key conditions
- You have two or more shareholders (or will)
- You can share the cap table and intended terms
- You want owner relationships documented
Documents
Documents required
What we need
- Cap table / shareholding details
- Founder and investor details
- Key terms (vesting, control, exits)
- Any term sheet (for investor rounds)
- The company's articles
Process
A clear path from start to filed
Costs
Fees & cost breakdown
| Cost component | Indicative amount |
|---|---|
| Professional feeBy complexity and parties | Custom |
| Articles alignmentAligning AOA can be a separate step | If needed |
Deliverables
What you receive on completion
After this filing
What you need to stay compliant next
Align the articles
Some SHA terms should reflect in the company's articles — we coordinate the AOA amendment via our MCA services.
Update on changes
New investors or founders mean SHA updates — we revise as your cap table evolves.
Avoid delays
Common mistakes & reasons for rejection
Common mistakes
- No SHA until a dispute erupts
- Vague templates that don't fit the cap table
- No founder vesting or exit terms
- SHA inconsistent with the company's articles
AI-powered assistance
AI does the heavy lifting. Experts make the call.
AI assists with checks, drafting and explanations only. A qualified professional reviews every defined checkpoint and the final filing before submission. AI does not make consequential compliance decisions on its own.
Protect your company's ownership
We draft a clear, balanced shareholder agreement — vesting, transfers, control and exits — so founders and investors are protected and disputes pre-empted.
Compare
Shareholder Agreement vs Legal Documents
| Factor | Shareholder Agreement | Legal Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | The shareholders' relationship | All everyday business documents |
| Covers | Vesting, transfers, control, exits | Contracts, policies, NDAs |
| Best for | Multi-owner companies | Broad document needs |
Use cases
Built for how real businesses operate
Co-founders
Need: Set the rules early
We suggest: Founders' SHA with vesting and exit terms.
Funded startup
Need: Investor protections
We suggest: Investor-stage SHA with reserved matters.
Why MyFinancialAdvisory
A more accountable way to stay compliant
Quality & accountability
Reviewed by compliance experts
Every shareholder agreement engagement is prepared with structured checks and signed off by qualified professionals before anything is filed — speed without sacrificing accuracy.
Reviewed by
Reviewed by MyFinancialAdvisory Compliance Team
Accounting, payroll & compliance review
Your books, payroll and filings are prepared with AI-assisted checks and reviewed by qualified accountants and compliance professionals before anything is filed. Business compliance, powered by AI — verified where possible, reviewed by experts, tracked by you.
Structured document checks
Documents and eligibility follow structured checks before expert review.
Expert-reviewed before filing
A qualified professional signs off every defined checkpoint.
Compliance-safe guidance
Advice mapped to current rules — no shortcuts, no guesswork.
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FAQs
Shareholder Agreement — frequently asked questions
What is a shareholder agreement?
A contract governing the relationship between a company's shareholders — decision-making, each shareholder's rights, share transfers, founder exits, new investments and dispute resolution. It works alongside the company's articles.
Why do I need a shareholder agreement?
It prevents the most expensive founder mistakes — co-founder fallouts, deadlock, unwanted transfers and messy exits — by setting clear rules upfront. It's also expected by investors.
What does an SHA typically cover?
Founder vesting, voting and decision rights, reserved matters, share-transfer restrictions (ROFR), drag-along and tag-along rights, exit and liquidation terms, and dispute resolution.
When should we put an SHA in place?
Ideally when co-founders start, and certainly before or during a funding round. The earlier, the cleaner — disputes are far costlier to fix later.
How is an SHA priced?
By complexity, number of parties and stage (founder-only vs investor-stage). We quote after understanding your cap table and intended terms.
Does the SHA need to match the company's articles?
Some SHA terms should be reflected in the articles (AOA). We flag these and can coordinate the AOA amendment via our MCA services.
Do single-owner companies need an SHA?
Not until there's more than one shareholder. Once you add a co-founder or investor, an SHA becomes important.
Ready to get shareholder agreement done?
Start with a quick conversation. We’ll confirm scope, documents, fees and the next deadline.