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Raising money

Questions to ask a startup lawyer before raising money

Dealing with raising money? Describe it in your own words, and Tellbrief turns your answers into a short brief with the questions worth asking and the records to have ready, so your first call with a lawyer starts further ahead.

For example: An investor’s offer in hand, ownership not written down, and equity already promised. A brief for this founder suggests the lists below.

Questions worth asking

  1. Which terms in the investor’s offer matter most for us?
  2. What should we clean up in our ownership records and earlier SAFEs or notes before we close?
  3. Given how we plan to raise money and exit, what kind of company should we be, and when?Qualified small business stock can shield $15 million or more of a founder’s gain from federal tax. Only C corporations can issue it, and for an LLC the 3–5 year holding period starts only when it converts.1,2

Records to have ready

  • Your cap table: who owns what share of the companyRaising money or selling starts from who owns what.
  • Any SAFEs, notes, options or equity promised to anyoneEarlier promises affect what you can offer now.
  • Your formation documents and founder stock agreementsThey show how the company was set up.
  • Any draft agreement, term sheet or letter from the other sideSomeone else is on the other side of this deal.

Your brief builds its own lists from your answers.

Build your own brief

About 30 questions, most of them one tap. No account and no card during early access. Tellbrief isn’t a law firm and doesn’t give legal advice.

Start your brief

Questions founders ask

What questions should I ask a lawyer about raising money?

For the founder in this example, the brief suggests: Which terms in the investor’s offer matter most for us? What should we clean up in our ownership records and earlier SAFEs or notes before we close? Given how we plan to raise money and exit, what kind of company should we be, and when? Your own brief builds its list from your answers.

What should I have ready before the first call?

For this example: Your cap table: who owns what share of the company; Any SAFEs, notes, options or equity promised to anyone; Your formation documents and founder stock agreements; Any draft agreement, term sheet or letter from the other side. Your own brief lists what fits your answers.

Is this legal advice?

No. Tellbrief organizes your information so the first conversation with your lawyer starts further ahead. It isn’t a law firm, and using it doesn’t make anyone your lawyer. Legal advice comes from a licensed lawyer, once they agree to take on your matter.

What does it cost?

Your brief is free during early access, with no card and no account. If you’d like Jordan to take on the work, he reads your answers first, then talks through the scope and his fee with you before any work starts. Tellbrief takes no share of it.

How long does it take?

About 30 questions once the names are cleared, and most take one tap. Plan on 10 to 15 minutes.

Other situations

  1. Orrick, starting as an LLC and QSBS (January 2026) (opens in a new tab).
  2. 26 U.S.C. § 1202 (opens in a new tab).