Should You Fire Your Co-Founder?

advanced

A systematic framework to evaluate whether a co-founder separation is necessary and how to approach it.

When to use this:

  • Recurring conflicts over company direction
  • Performance or contribution gaps
  • Trust breakdown between founders
~20 min8 questions

Framework Details

Category

Partnerships

Difficulty

advanced

Estimated Time

~20 minutes

When to Use This

  • Recurring conflicts over company direction
  • Performance or contribution gaps
  • Trust breakdown between founders
  • Misaligned values or vision
  • One founder wants out but won't initiate

Warning Signs

  • You're avoiding the conversation because it's uncomfortable
  • The relationship is affecting your health or family life
  • You're making decisions to avoid conflict rather than what's best for company
  • Team members are "picking sides"
  • Investors are noticing and expressing concern
  • You fantasize about them quitting