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Should I take this offer or just walk away? i will not promote
Hey everyone, I could really use some outside perspective on a startup offer I’ve been negotiating. I’m a designer with experience in plush toys, branding, and product development. A small startup reached out to me to design their brand’s characters, logo, and plush product specifications. They initially offered me 20% equity and profit sharing after breaking even, but I made it clear that I wanted some upfront compensation since this is a lot of work, and I can’t afford to take on unpaid projects. After some back and forth, they countered with: • $1,800 total for character design, logo, and plush design •10% profit share, with 5% vesting immediately and 5% after a year •A long-term plan where after two years, my compensation would come from the company’s revenue (after expenses) based on my profit share percentage From their perspective, they want me to take on some risk, like they are, and not just take upfront payment without any long-term buy-in. I completely understand their position, but at the same time, I feel like I’m still taking a risk by investing my time and expertise, and I don’t know if this is a fair tradeoff. My concerns: 1. The upfront payment feels low for the scope of work they’re asking for. (For context, I usually charge around $70/hr for freelance, and this is way below that.) 2. Profit shares are not guaranteed income. If the startup fails, I’ve essentially worked for far less than I should have. 3. The vesting model makes sense, but I feel like I’m compromising a lot already. 4. I rejected an offer to just be a freelancer because I do want some stake in the company if these are going to be my designs. But now I feel like I’m in a weird middle ground where I’m taking on risk without much immediate return. I really do like the project and think it has potential, so I want to make this work. But I’m also wary of undervaluing myself. Should I renegotiate? Should I walk away? Has anyone been in a similar situation before? Any help would be appreciated!3
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