The distinction between a founder and an employee is that founders take on substantially more risk. If you convince your friend to join your company when you'v

The distinction between a founder and an employee is that founders take on substantially more risk. If you convince your friend to join your company when you've just started it (or when it's a week or a month old), he or she is taking on just as much risk as you are and is a founder. It doesn't matter if it was "your idea" - they're taking a large risk, and they'll have a huge impact on how the company develops.