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Comment by vaksel | Hacker News Reader

this post is the reason programmers shouldn't be business guys. There is no dilemma here, the guy is offering to rape you over a barrel and you are actually thinking about pulling down your pants and bending over. Anyone who takes advantage like that is no friend to you.

Want some real numbers? At this point there are two choices: a) Full Salary + 1-2% equity. or b) 8-10% equity vested over 4 years and minimum wage salary.

Paying full salary AND 10% equity, when the startup is already beyond ramen profitable stage is insane, it only makes sense if the guy is a real genius. I mean Larry Page/Sergey Brin level, and on top of that his knowledge, is something that you MUST have. Noone else in the world has that knowledge, and you NEED it to get your product to the next level. Then, and only then can you even consider that sort of deal

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You are right, but you're not explaining where you're getting your numbers from, nor are you suggesting how they can find an agreed way to proceed. Maybe his friend really just doesn't have a clue and simply needs to be educated.

I think your rhetoric is unhelpful, even if the arrangements you suggest are right. Try explaining why, otherwise it seems like more unjustified advice from someone random.

You are right, I am not very business savvy, but I am learning along the way.

>Want some real numbers? At this point there are two choices: >a) Full Salary + 1-2% equity. or b) 8-10% equity vested over >4 years and minimum wage salary.

I have actually offered something roughly similar to option a) to several other promising candidates, but nobody was interested. I really need to hire another engineer, and I have already been searching for several months, and the search itself is a distraction, so I want to get it over with.

The other thing is that I have known and worked with this guy for several years, so I can be confident about his technical abilities to a greater degree than I can be about some random guy that I interview. Unless you have worked with somebody, you never really can tell how good they are, at least I can't. That's why I am willing to offer my friend a generous package with full salary and 5-10% equity. The way I figure, with him on board, the overall pie should increase by more than enough to compensate for the 5-10% equity that I would give him.

One thing worth considering is the relationship between you two, mixing friendship and business relationships can in many ways destroy you both and whatever you're building. Be sure of your roles. Be very clear with what your roles are.

I upvoted you, but i think you underestimate many programmers.

People who can't code but want to earn big bucks on development projects always do :)

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