Cover the key legal groundwork before your pre-seed round gathers pace

That usually becomes clear when fundraising moves from informal conversations to actual terms, draft documents or investor diligence questions. Founders often reach this point when they are speaking with angels, raising from friends and family, planning early hires tied to funding, or trying to clean up founder equity before money comes in. If the issues are no longer just about launch readiness and now include share issuance, founder rights or investor paperwork, a pre-seed service is often the better fit because the work needs to be handled as a connected set of legal tasks.

Common issues include unclear founder ownership, verbal promises that were never properly documented, cap tables that do not match what the founders think was agreed, and investor documents that do not fit the company's actual structure. Another frequent problem is trying to move quickly with a borrowed template before basic internal points have been settled. Even a relatively small round can raise questions about voting, information rights, share classes and what happens if a founder leaves. Sorting those points early can make later investor discussions much easier to manage.

The service covers the main legal work listed on this page, which typically includes drafting or reviewing an investment or subscription agreement, preparing or checking a founders' agreement where needed, and giving basic guidance on cap table structure and share allocations. We can also comment on investor disclosure points and how the key documents interact in the context of an early raise. The work is aimed at pre-seed fundraising support rather than a single standalone document. Tax structuring and wider transaction management are outside the fixed-fee for this service.

Often, yes. Some founders are weighing up a straightforward share issue against a convertible route such as a SAFE-style instrument or note. The right legal approach depends on the structure you want to use, the stage of the company and what investors are asking for. We can discuss the document path that best matches the raise and whether it fits within this service or needs separate work. Where the decision turns heavily on tax treatment, valuation modelling or a more complex funding strategy, that would usually require additional specialist input.

It helps to have your current cap table, incorporation details, any existing founders' agreement or shareholder paperwork, and copies of any investor term sheets, emails or draft funding documents already in circulation. If there have been informal equity promises, advisor arrangements or early option discussions, those are worth flagging too. The clearer the starting materials, the easier it is to spot gaps between what has been discussed and what is actually documented. That lets the legal work focus on the real fundraising position rather than assumptions that may not hold up under investor review.

Working with us is simple. Start by submitting an enquiry through our website using the form at the top of this page or on our Get Started page. A legal project manager will review your enquiry within 1 business day and reach out to understand your needs.

They'll send you a fixed fee quote outlining costs, scope, and timing. If you're happy, you can accept and sign our engagement letter online. Once that's done, we'll connect you with an expert lawyer who will complete your project via email, phone, or video chat, with the timing confirmed in your quote.

If you're not looking for help with a specific matter, explore our platform, which offers free templates, tools to get your business set up, and even a free tier to get started. Whether you need legal support or just want to browse resources, we've got you covered.

At Sprintlaw, our pricing is transparent and designed for startups and small businesses. Many one-off legal services, including document drafting and reviews, are provided for a fixed fee with an upfront quote before you proceed.

Prices typically range from £100 to £1,500 depending on the complexity and scope of the work. For ongoing support, Sprintlaw Memberships include options such as legal templates, consultations, a legal helpline and credits for services.

If your project is larger or more complex, we will provide a tailored quote after understanding what you need.

Sprintlaw UK operates fully virtually, with the team working online across the UK to provide support to startups and small businesses nationwide. Many of our team are based in London and often meet at co-working offices, but our operations remain fully digital, ensuring flexibility and efficiency for both our clients and team.