For founders
Your prenup should reflect where your company is today and where it could be tomorrow
A bootstrapped startup and a late-stage company about to go public present completely different financial pictures. Your prenup needs to account for both what exists now and what may change as the business grows.
Flat fee of $5,000 per couple. No payment to get started.
Stage by stage
What changes at each phase of the founder journey
The financial picture of a startup shifts dramatically between stages. Your prenup should reflect the complexity that actually exists, not a generic template.
Bootstrapped or pre-seed
You own most of the company, but on paper it is worth very little
- Your sweat equity and intellectual property may not have a market price yet, but a prenup can acknowledge the work you put in before the marriage.
- If you hold patents, code, or trade secrets, your attorney can help you think through how those are addressed going forward.
- Many founders at this stage also carry personal debt from self-funding. A prenup can clarify how business-related debts are treated separately from shared household obligations.
Seed through Series B
Investors are in, your cap table is growing, and dilution is real
- SAFEs, convertible notes, preferred shares, and option pools create multiple equity classes with different rights. A prenup can describe these instruments and address each category.
- Your ownership percentage changes with every round. Your attorney can help you think through how future dilution and anti-dilution provisions affect the analysis.
- Co-founder vesting agreements, drag-along rights, and investor consent clauses may limit what you can do with your shares. These constraints matter in a prenup conversation.
Pre-exit or late stage
A liquidity event might be years away, or it might happen next quarter
- Whether you are approaching an IPO, acquisition, or long-term independence, the prenup can address how proceeds from a future exit are handled, including earnouts and escrow holdbacks.
- Secondary sales and tender offers create partial liquidity moments. Your attorney can review how to address shares sold before versus after a full exit.
- If you have taken secondary off the table, that cash is distinct from shares you still hold. A prenup can treat realized and unrealized value differently.
Designed for complex equity
Neptune's intake asks the right questions about your cap table
The guided intake covers share classes, vesting schedules, option grants, SAFE notes, and secondary sales. You enter the details once, and both attorneys receive a clear summary.
Each partner gets connected with a separate, licensed attorney for a free consultation. Independent counsel on each side supports a fair agreement, especially when one partner has significantly more equity exposure.
Transparent pricing
One flat fee. Two independent attorneys.
$5,000
per couple, total
Rush pricing applies when the wedding is within 45 days. No payment required to get started.
Start your prenupGuides for founders
Read more before you begin
Estate planning for pre-liquidity tech founders
How founders can plan around illiquid equity, future exits, and family protection before a liquidity event.
Read the guideOption vesting in prenups
A deep dive into how stock options and vesting schedules are typically addressed in prenuptial agreements.
Read the guideRSUs and options in a prenup
How different types of equity compensation are handled and what couples should discuss with their attorneys.
Read the guideCommon questions from founders
What about equity I hold through an LLC or holding company?
Many founders use an LLC or holding structure for their shares. A prenup can account for complex ownership structures, including entities that hold your company stock, advisory stakes in other startups, or angel investments made through a vehicle.
My co-founder is also getting married. Do we need to coordinate?
Each founder can get their own prenup independently. A prenup is a private agreement between you and your partner. It does not typically need to be disclosed to co-founders, investors, or your board.
What if my company has not been formally valued?
Many founders enter a prenup before their company has a clear market valuation. Your attorney can help you think through approaches like using the most recent 409A valuation, a cap table snapshot, or simply describing the asset and agreeing on a framework for future valuation if needed.
What about equity that vests during the marriage?
Equity that vests during a marriage may be treated differently than equity that vested before. Rules differ by state, and your attorney can review what applies where you live. A prenup can set clear expectations for how vesting equity is handled.
How long does the process take?
When both partners use Neptune attorneys, turnaround is typically around 3 to 4 weeks. Complex cap tables or multiple entities may require additional time for your attorney to review.