The Indie Hacker's Guide to Finding the Perfect Co-Founder

A 5-Step Playbook

Finding the right co-founder is crucial for indie hackers. It's like a business marriage - get it wrong, and you're in for a world of pain. Get it right, and you've got a powerful ally in your entrepreneurial journey.

This is a no-fluff, bullet-point process for you to follow. The tasks are simple to write, but the journey takes time to find the right person.

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First pro-tip: According to MicroConf’s State of SaaS, your best bet is to have 3 co-founders total. Not just 2 of you. If you can’t do that, stay solo. You’ll move faster and have less heartache too.

The Process: A 5-Step Playbook

1. Source Potential Co-Founders

• Leverage your network: Tell friends, colleagues, and mentors you're looking.

• Join entrepreneurial communities: Both online and offline.

• Attend startup events and hackathons.

• Use platforms like CoFounder Dating for Indie Hackers.

2. Initial Screening

Have 2-3 coffee chats or calls to discuss:

• Areas of interest and expertise

• Broad role expectations

• Working styles and time commitment

• Basic alignment on business vision (bootstrapped vs. VC-funded, etc.)

3. Prototype Together

Spend 2 weeks working on a mini-project:

• For consumer ideas: Build a quick MVP (landing page, basic app)

• For B2B: Conduct customer discovery interviews

• Evaluate:

  • How well you work together

  • Complementary skills

  • Problem-solving approaches

  • Communication styles

4. Deep Dive with the Co-Founder Questionnaire

Use a comprehensive questionnaire (below) to probe deeper. Key areas to cover:

• Personal motivation and values

• Work style and conflict resolution

• Role expectations and skills assessment

• Views on equity, funding, and exit strategies

• Personal financial situation and commitment level

Process:

• Fill out questionnaires independently

• Schedule 3-5 sessions to discuss answers in-depth

• Look for alignment on core values and complementary skills

5. Make the Commitment

• Set a clear timeline for your decision

• Trust your gut, but back it with data from your interactions

• Formalize your partnership with clear agreements on equity, roles, ways to exit the company (individually), and expectations

The Co-Founder Questionnaire: 20 Essential Questions

1. What's your primary motivation for starting a company?

2. How do you handle stress and conflict?

3. What are your top 3 strengths and weaknesses?

4. How many hours per week are you willing to commit, and for how long?

5. What's your financial runway? What's the minimum salary you need?

6. How do you see your role evolving as the company grows?

7. What's your stance on fundraising vs. bootstrapping?

8. How do you think about equity splits among founders?

9. What's your ideal exit scenario?

10. How do you approach decision-making and problem-solving?

11. What are your non-negotiables in terms of company culture and values?

12. How do you plan to balance work with personal life?

13. What's your approach to hiring and team building?

14. How would you handle a situation where we're not growing as expected?

15. What's your philosophy on product development and customer acquisition?

16. How do you stay productive and manage your time?

17. What are your thoughts on remote work and company location?

18. How would you approach bringing on additional co-founders if needed?

19. What are your expectations for founder salaries in the early stages?

20. How do you propose we maintain and strengthen our working relationship over time?

Red Flags to Watch For

• Unwillingness to discuss difficult topics openly

• Misalignment on core values or business vision

• Lack of commitment or skin in the game

• Poor communication or conflict resolution skills

• Incompatible working styles or expectations

• Inability to take feedback or admit mistakes

Green Flags to Look For

• Complementary skills and experiences

• Shared values and vision for the company

• Strong work ethic and commitment

• Openness to feedback and continuous learning

• Ability to disagree constructively

• Excitement about the problem you're solving

Remember, there's no perfect co-founder because there’s no perfect person. The goal is to find someone whose strengths complement your weaknesses, shares your core values, and who you genuinely enjoy working with. Trust your instincts, but back them up with a rigorous vetting process.

Good luck on your co-founder search! (And again, if you need some help, join for free at https://indie.cofounderdat.ing

And hey, if you want to dive deeper into strategies like this for growing your agency with recurring revenue, or getting your SaaS business unstuck, grab some time and let’s chat.