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This is the framework for the co-founder vs senior hire vs contractor decision, written from real numbers instead of theory. Pu shows that a sales contractor at 1,500 dollars a month beat the 10 percent equity sales co-founder he had given away, and a marketing contractor at 800 dollars a month beat a 10 percent equity hire. It scores five real variables (technical complexity, timing urgency, capital needs, your domain depth, personal runway) and tells you when a gap actually justifies a partner versus when a specialist on contract closes it cheaper and reversibly. It is the concrete answer to 'do I need a person, or do I need this problem solved.'
Solo Founder vs Co-Founder: The Complete Decision Framework
From Founder Reality by George Pu ~20 min read
- Score the actual gap on five variables before adding anyone; most gaps score into 'contractor' or 'advisor', not 'co-founder'
- Prove the role with a paid contractor first: his contractors outperformed the equity co-founders he had already given 10 percent to
- Loneliness is not on the scorecard; add a partner only when a specific capability is capping the business
