Swap confusion for clarity with a formal advisor agreement
Advisor agreements help to protect startups and their advisors by setting clear expectations from start of the relationship. It ensures everyone is on the same page about responsibilities, time commitments, and compensation.
Carta has collaborated with global law firm Wilson Sonsini to create a market-standard advisor agreement template, so you don't have to start from scratch.
Get the startup advisor agreement template
Download and customize our sample document, which includes:
A defined scope of services and engagement terms
Compensation and equity conditions, including vesting schedules
Intellectual property and confidentiality protection
Note that you should ask your legal counsel to review any agreement before signing to ensure it fits your specific needs.
DISCLAIMER: The following terms apply to your use of this document and your agreement to these terms is required before you are permitted to use this document. This document is provided for your reference only and is not intended to serve as legal, tax, or financial advice. You acknowledge and agree that the making available of this document to you by eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. (“Carta”) shall not constitute the provision of legal service or other professional service by Carta. You should seek advice from an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction(s), tax professionals, accounting professionals, and financial professionals before relying on this document. You further agree and acknowledge that this document has not been prepared with your specific circumstances in mind, may not be suitable for use in your business, and does not constitute tax advice. Relying on this document, you assume all risk and liability that may result.
USE OF THIS DOCUMENT IS ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK. This document is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, either express, implied, or statutory, including without limitation, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, satisfactory purpose, title or noninfringement. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so these exclusions may not apply to you.
© 2026 eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction prohibited.