What is a good vesting schedule for founders?

Updated Oct 1, 2026

Short answer: The standard is four years with a one-year cliff: nothing vests in the first 12 months, 25% vests at the cliff, and the rest vests monthly over the next 36 months. It's what most investors expect and what most founder agreements use.

Common variations

Founders sometimes credit time already worked by starting the vesting clock before incorporation. Some agreements add double-trigger acceleration, which vests unvested shares if the company is sold and the founder is then let go.

Why investors care

Vesting protects the company — and the remaining founders — if someone leaves early. Without it, a departed cofounder can keep a large stake the rest of the team has to work for, which makes a startup harder to fund.

See exactly how much vests each month with the vesting calculator.

Vesting calculator →Guide: Cofounder agreement checklist →

General information, not legal, tax or investment advice.