Being in different places is not a problem by itself. What breaks remote teams is silence: you don't see the work, you start guessing, and guesses tend to be negative. The fix is a simple, regular rhythm.
Set a rhythm
- 1Weekly check-inA short written update from each of you: done, next, blocked. Same day, every week.
- 2Weekly call30–60 minutes on video for decisions and harder topics. Don't use it for status updates, those are written.
- 3Shared task listOne place where everyone sees who owns what, and by when.
- 4Meet in personAt least every quarter if you can. Plan, argue and celebrate face to face.
Agree on the practical stuff
- Which hours overlap, and when do we expect replies?
- Which tools do we use for chat, tasks and documents?
- Where will the company be registered, and who will be the director there?
- How do we pay costs and reimburse each other?
- Does anyone need to move later, and is that realistic?
Legal and tax points
- A co-founder in another country can usually own shares, but may need certified, apostilled documents to sign at registration.
- A power of attorney lets someone represent them at the notary or registry.
- Ask an accountant how salaries and dividends are taxed for someone who lives abroad.
Write more than you think you need. In a remote team, a two-line written summary after every call prevents most misunderstandings.