AIWorkDex
People Practice

Trial an adviser before seeking agreement terms

Test a defined contribution and working relationship before any reviewed long-term commitment.

Preparation
A bounded trial plus reference and legal review
Difficulty
Advanced
Task
Test adviser fit
Back to the Task: Test adviser fit

Before you start

Get what you need before you start

  • Define the expertise or contribution Strategy has approved as necessary.
  • Name an authorised founder decision owner and a qualified lawyer for any later agreement discussion.

Steps

Work through the method

Use the listed inputs and tools. Check the evidence when you need to verify a step.

  1. Define the bounded trial

    Record the needed contribution, trial work, duration, evidence, confidentiality boundary, expenses, references, conflicts, and stop conditions.

    Why it matters: A concrete trial tests the relationship before prestige, introductions, or ownership claims shape the decision.

    Input
    The approved adviser need and candidate proposal.
    Output
    A bounded trial brief with no promised equity or long-term role.
    Tools in this stepFounder Institute FAST

    Evidence for this step

  2. Work together and check references

    Complete the trial, record delivered work and working conditions, check relevant references with consent, and surface conflicts or concerns.

    Why it matters: The founder needs direct evidence of contribution and fit before considering a commitment.

    Input
    The trial brief, delivered work, and consented reference route.
    Output
    A checked evidence record with the adviser’s response and corrections.
    Tools in this stepFounder Institute FAST

    Evidence for this step

  3. Decide before discussing terms

    Choose to stop, run another bounded test, or ask qualified counsel to draft and review terms for the relevant company and jurisdiction.

    Why it matters: A template or percentage cannot determine lawful or suitable adviser terms.

    Input
    The trial evidence, conflicts, references, and authorised founder decision.
    Output
    A stop, continue-testing, or legal-review decision with reasons.
    Tools in this stepFounder Institute FAST

    Evidence for this step

Success checks

Check the result before you finish

  • The decision cites trial evidence, references, conflicts, and the authorised founder owner.
  • Any agreement or ownership discussion begins only through qualified legal review.

Failure modes

Watch for these problems

  • Stop if the adviser pressures the founder to commit before a safe trial or withholds material conflicts.
  • Do not use a Tool to recommend equity, securities, tax, confidentiality, or intellectual-property terms.

Tools

Choose the tools you need

Sources

Read the sources behind this practice

Check what each source supports and where the advice has limits.