Corply research · October 2026
100 founder questions from public discussions
We collected public discussions about starting and running a company, grouped recurring questions, and wrote practical guides for the ten leading topics in the sample. You can inspect the counts and follow the original threads below.
By Corply · Updated
What these numbers measure
We retrieved 31,882 unique records through keyword searches of Hacker News, Stack Exchange Money and Law, and Reddit search results. After relevance filtering and clustering, 1,615 threads matched at least one of 130 defined question topics. The table shows the 100 topics with the most matching threads.
These are observed topic counts in a selected sample, not the 100 most-asked questions across the entire internet or estimates of search volume. The sample includes questions from founders, business owners, employees, and other participants; we did not verify each author's role. Historical discussions identify demand, but their answers may be outdated.
Each thread counts once per matching topic, regardless of votes or replies. A thread can address several topics, so adding the rows does not give a unique-person count. We matched titles conservatively, reviewed every matched title in the ten leading clusters, and reviewed samples in the remaining clusters. The review was performed by our research assistant, not an independent validation panel. Some relevant questions are missed and some classifications may still be imperfect.
Read the ten guides
- Exercising startup stock options: the numbers to check first
- Sales tax and VAT for a small SaaS: what to check before collecting
- Choosing a payment processor for your startup
- Choosing your startup's first business bank account
- How to choose a startup lawyer without buying an open-ended project
- How to split cofounder equity before resentment sets in
- When should you incorporate your startup?
- What to put in a cofounder agreement before you start building
- How to choose an incorporation service for your startup
- Startup expense deductions: keep the evidence before chasing the write-off
The ranked questions
Sorted by all-time matching thread count. Ties use the count dated October 16, 2024 or later, then a stable topic identifier. HN means Hacker News; SE combines Stack Exchange Money and Law. Reddit counts cover search discoveries only.
| Rank | Question topic | Threads | Recent | HN | SE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | How does exercising startup stock options work?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 61 | 2 | 23 | 38 | 0 |
| 2 | How do sales tax and VAT work for my business?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 53 | 4 | 24 | 29 | 0 |
| 3 | Which payment processor should my startup use?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 52 | 8 | 46 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | Which bank account should I use for my startup?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 52 | 7 | 44 | 3 | 5 |
| 5 | How do I find and choose a startup lawyer?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 50 | 1 | 49 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | How should cofounders split equity?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 47 | 2 | 43 | 3 | 1 |
| 7 | When should I incorporate my startup?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 41 | 2 | 32 | 3 | 6 |
| 8 | What should be in a cofounder or shareholder agreement?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 41 | 0 | 38 | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | Which incorporation service should I use?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 39 | 2 | 38 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Which business and startup expenses can I deduct?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 38 | 3 | 1 | 37 | 0 |
| 11 | How should founders pay themselves?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 38 | 3 | 22 | 16 | 0 |
| 12 | Should my business elect S-Corp taxation?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 37 | 1 | 6 | 30 | 1 |
| 13 | What is an 83(b) election, and when should I file it?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 35 | 2 | 9 | 19 | 7 |
| 14 | Where should I incorporate, and should I choose Delaware?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 33 | 1 | 24 | 9 | 0 |
| 15 | How do I close or dissolve a company that did not work out?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 32 | 0 | 10 | 22 | 0 |
| 16 | What is the best way to create and manage customer invoices?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 31 | 2 | 27 | 4 | 0 |
| 17 | Which bookkeeping or accounting software should a startup use?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 31 | 1 | 30 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | Do I need a separate business bank account?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 0 |
| 19 | What visa and immigration issues do startup founders face?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 30 | 1 | 27 | 3 | 0 |
| 20 | Which tax returns does my company need to file?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 0 |
| 21 | What business insurance does a founder need?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 30 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | How do I collect an overdue invoice from a customer?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 29 | 2 | 17 | 12 | 0 |
| 23 | Should I use Stripe, PayPal, or another payment provider?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 27 | 4 | 22 | 1 | 4 |
| 24 | How much equity should the first employees receive?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 27 | 1 | 26 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | How should I manage my startup's cap table?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 25 | 5 | 17 | 2 | 6 |
| 26 | Do I need an LLC or can I operate as a sole proprietor?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 25 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 0 |
| 27 | How do ISOs and NSOs affect equity compensation and taxes?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 0 |
| 28 | How do SAFEs and convertible notes work for startup funding?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 24 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | How do I find and work with a startup accountant?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 23 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | Can a foreign founder open a business bank account remotely?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 6 |
| 31 | When does my business need W-9s and 1099 forms?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 0 |
| 32 | How do I get an EIN for my company?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 0 |
| 33 | How can I accept payments when Stripe does not support my country?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 19 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 1 |
| 34 | What liability protection does incorporation actually provide?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 0 |
| 35 | Should I form an LLC or a C-Corp?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 19 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| 36 | How should I set up recurring subscription billing?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 18 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 2 |
| 37 | How should founder vesting and the cliff work?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 16 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | Do I need a registered agent, and which one should I use?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 0 |
| 39 | How much will a financing round dilute the founders?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| 40 | How should my business send and receive international payments?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 16 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| 41 | How can I reduce card-processing fees?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| 42 | How do restricted stock, RSUs, and options work?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 0 |
| 43 | Who should be on the board of an early startup?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| 44 | Can I run multiple products or businesses under one company?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| 45 | Can my employer claim the side project I am building?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 0 |
| 46 | How do I value a startup equity or stock-option grant?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 47 | How do founders handle 50/50 deadlocks and company control?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| 48 | How should equity work for a cofounder joining later?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 13 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| 49 | Can a non-US resident form a US company?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| 50 | Does a company with no revenue still have to file taxes?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
| 51 | Do I need a DBA or trade name for my product?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
| 52 | When must my company register in another state?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 0 |
| 53 | How much does it cost to incorporate a startup?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| 54 | Do I need to trademark my startup or product name?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
| 55 | What happens to equity when a cofounder leaves?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 56 | What address can I use for my company?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| 57 | How do founders assign intellectual property to the company?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| 58 | How should the company reimburse founder expenses?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 59 | How should I prepare and manage company legal documents?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| 60 | Who owns code or work produced by a contractor?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| 61 | What information must I include on a business invoice?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| 62 | How do startup 409A valuations work?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 63 | How can a US startup hire and pay people abroad?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| 64 | What should founders consider when selling a startup?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 65 | Which business licenses or permits does my startup need?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 66 | How do I invoice an overseas client correctly?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| 67 | Can my startup qualify for a business loan or credit line?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| 68 | How should a small business prevent and dispute chargebacks?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 69 | What should I do if my business bank account is frozen or closed?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| 70 | Which payroll service should my startup use?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 71 | What can I do if Stripe or PayPal holds funds or closes my account?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 72 | How should I document loans between a founder and the company?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| 73 | What should I know about operating a Wyoming LLC?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 74 | What terms of service and privacy policy does my startup need?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 75 | How should company board meetings and approvals work?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 76 | How do I choose and register a company name?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 77 | How should a startup evaluate bank and deposit safety?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 78 | What happens to founder or employee equity during an acquisition?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 79 | What legal documents do we need to raise investment?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 80 | How do I collect marketplace payments and pay sellers?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 81 | Should I use a merchant of record instead of a payment processor?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 82 | How much equity should I give an advisor?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 83 | How much does it cost to dissolve a company?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 84 | Should I hire someone as an employee or an independent contractor?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 85 | What documents do banks require, and why was my application rejected?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 86 | Can my startup use open-source code commercially?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 87 | How do ACH and bank-transfer payments work?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 88 | How can I keep my home address off public company records?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 89 | Can I get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 90 | How do I convert between an LLC and a C-Corp?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 91 | How do employee option pools work?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 92 | How should I handle SaaS refunds and cancellation policies?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 93 | Who qualifies as an accredited investor?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 94 | What are the ongoing costs of keeping a company open?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 95 | Which business credit or debit card should a startup use?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 96 | How do we value and buy out a departing cofounder's shares?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 97 | How do SAFE valuation caps and discounts work?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 98 | Should my business accept cryptocurrency payments?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 99 | How do founders actually receive and pay for their shares?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 100 | How should I invoice customers in different currencies?Thread 1Thread 2Thread 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Coverage and reproducibility
Hacker News retrieval used 74 keyword queries through its Algolia search API, with date slices from January 2006 to October 16, 2026. Stack Exchange used 40 site/query combinations, capped at 300 results per query; 12 combinations still had more results available. Reddit coverage came from indexed search results and is especially incomplete. We did not collect private communities, deleted posts, or a census of any platform.
The question wording is our canonical summary of a topic, not a quotation from every matching post. Broad topics and narrower subtopics can overlap. Source mix, query wording, age, and topic breadth affect the order. Use the recent and source-specific counts alongside the overall rank when deciding what to write next.
Download the ranking and methodology data · Download source IDs and topic assignments
Source titles are shortened to identify the original discussions. Stack Exchange entries retain author attribution, source links, and their reported CC BY-SA license. Original posts remain with their authors and platforms. Full post bodies are not republished here.