You're not starting a fund and you're not syndicating real estate. You're a founder raising money for your own company — from friends, contacts, and angel investors. That is still a securities offering, and raising on a handshake or a borrowed template is how founders create problems that surface later — at the next round, in diligence, or in a dispute. The Founder's Raise papers your raise correctly the first time: the right instrument, the right federal exemption, and the closing documents your investors actually sign.
What "flat fee" means
One scoped fee covers the legal work to take your round from plan to closed — the instrument, the exemption and its filings, your investor packet, and the guardrails so you don't step on the exemption while you raise. You know the number before we begin. No hourly meter, no surprise invoices.
What's included
The instrument
A post-money SAFE, a convertible note, or a light priced round (Series Seed) — drafted for your terms, not a generic template.
The exemption
Your Regulation D path — 506(b) for a private, network raise or 506(c) if you intend to advertise — plus the Form D filing and one state blue-sky notice.
Investor documents
Accredited-investor questionnaire, subscription and closing packet, and clear funding instructions.
The guardrails
A short, plain memo on what you can and can't say, who you can take money from, and the limits on advertising your raise.
Pitch-deck review
A securities-law read of your pitch deck or one-pager — the legal claims, not the design.
Founder housekeeping
A check on your entity (Delaware C-corp vs. LLC), founder vesting and the 83(b) deadline, and your option pool.
Two tracks
$7,500 — SAFE or note raise
The common first raise: SAFEs or convertible notes from accredited investors under Reg D 506(b). Assumes your company is already formed — entity formation available as an add-on.
$10,000 — Priced or advertised raise
A priced seed on Series Seed documents, or a 506(c) raise you intend to advertise (with accredited-verification setup) — plus multiple states, a side-letter template, and founder vesting and 83(b) documents.
What this isn't: to keep the fee flat, this engagement doesn't include a VC-led, negotiated Series A with a full term sheet and venture financing documents, ongoing securities or board work, tax opinions, or Regulation CF / Regulation A+ offerings. If your raise grows into one of those, we scope it separately — and tell you the number first. Pooling other people's money to invest on their behalf is a
fund, not a startup raise; see our
fund formation packages.
What happens after you get started
1
A kick-off call about your raise
We talk through your company, your investors, how much you're raising, and whether you want a private or a public-facing raise — so we set the right instrument and the right exemption from the start.
2
Your own secure client portal
A private home for your documents, drafts, and status — so you always know where things stand and share information securely in one place.
3
We draft and file
We draft your instrument and investor packet (you review in your portal), then make the filings — Form D and the applicable blue-sky notices — so your raise is compliant as the checks come in.
4
Direct access throughout
You work directly with the attorney doing the work — not handed off to staff. Questions along the way are part of the package, not an extra.
Booking a consult first? You're not committing to anything.
The consult is a free, no-obligation conversation to confirm the package fits your raise and answer your questions. If it's a fit and you decide to move forward, you sign the engagement and we go straight into the kick-off call above.
Common questions
Do I need a lawyer to raise money for my startup?
Raising money from investors means selling securities — even with a SAFE. Federal and state law require an exemption and honest disclosure. Counsel makes sure your raise qualifies, so it doesn't become a problem at your next round or in a dispute.
What's the difference between a SAFE and a convertible note?
A SAFE is an agreement for future equity, with no interest and no maturity date. A convertible note is debt that accrues interest and matures, then converts at a later priced round. Both delay setting a valuation; which fits depends on your investors and timeline.
Can I advertise my raise on LinkedIn or to my email list?
Only under Rule 506(c), and only if you verify every investor is accredited. Advertising a 506(b) raise can cost you the exemption — which is why we set the path at the very start.
Do you also form my company?
Formation isn't part of the base fee, but we review your entity and can form a Delaware C-corp or clean up your existing entity as an add-on.
Two ways to get started
1
Book a free consult
Prefer to talk it through first? Book a complimentary call. We'll confirm the package fits your raise and answer your questions — no obligation.
Book a free consult
2
Start a conversation
Ready to move, or have a specific question about your raise? Send us the details and we'll come back with the path and the flat fee.
Start a conversation
Flat fee covers the legal services described above. Third-party costs (e.g., state and federal filing fees, accredited-investor verification services, and any entity-formation filing fees) are separate. This page is attorney advertising and general information only — not legal, tax, or investment advice — and does not create an attorney–client relationship, which arises only upon a signed engagement and conflicts clearance. Final scope and fee are confirmed in your engagement agreement.