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iQuestions Faculty, Jack Herschend 
 
 
Question: 
 
I’m in the start-up phase of a company. How often should my board 
meet? 
 
Answer:  
 
In a start-up phase, it’s very, very tempting to get your board of 
directors together frequently. My suggestion would be that you meet 
the ideal number of times, three times a year. It prevents the board 
from getting into issues that are tactical in nature, where they then 
expect feedback, and a great deal of time can be consumed.  
 
Remember that the right board members are available to you on an 
individual basis, between board meetings. So, in the start-up phase, 
there’s lots and lots of questions that need to be asked. But the board 
meeting itself is not really a good place to get answers to questions. 
The board meeting itself should be appropriately aimed at decision-
making. 
 
So, the answer that I’ve planned to be most helpful is to continue to 
meet three times a year, whether at start-up phase or in your mature 
phase. But at start-up, the frequency of your calls to individual board 
members for advice should be frequent. 
 
 
  
 
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