Am I willing to go 12 consecutive months without salary?

Buddy, you've hit on a crucial point, and it's a huge pitfall many encounter when trying to take a shortcut. I've seen people achieve financial freedom this way, but far more who ended up losing everything and wasting a year of their lives. Let's cut to the chase and talk about the ins and outs of it.

First, you need to clarify a core question: Is this your own venture, or are you working for free to build someone else's dream?

• If you're starting a business from scratch with a few partners: Then not getting a salary is completely normal. Because you're not an "employee"; you're one of the "owners." The company is yours, you're investing in yourself, betting that the company will be worth a fortune in the future, and your shares will be priceless. At this point, the focus isn't on salary, but on how equity is distributed and whether everyone's roles and responsibilities are clear.
• If you're joining someone else's startup as an early employee: You need to be extremely cautious. You are essentially still an employee; it's just that this company is using "future promises" to replace "current sustenance." You're betting a year of your youth, income, and opportunity cost on someone else's venture succeeding.

Once you've clarified that point, let's look at the practical issues: whether you can afford to "gamble."

1. Calculate your financial runway: Can you afford it? You need to have at least 18 months of living expenses saved, not just 12 months. Why 18 months? Because project delays and failed funding rounds are common in startups. Even if they promise 12 months of salary, it might not materialize for 15 or even 18 months. This money must fully cover your rent/mortgage, food, transportation, household expenses, and you still need an emergency fund. If using this money would put you and your family in a difficult situation, or make you worry about next month's bills every day, then don't do it. Immense financial pressure will distort your judgment and prevent you from working effectively.

2. What are you getting in return? This is the absolute key. No salary means you must receive sufficiently attractive equity (or stock options). This is your only compensation.

• How much are they offering? If they're only offering a dismissive percentage like 0.0x%, absolutely do not go. For a technical professional willing to join with zero salary at the very early stage, receiving a few percentage points (x%) of equity is considered a serious offer. You need to do the math: The one year's salary you're foregoing (e.g., 300,000) is equivalent to you investing 300,000 in real money into this company. How much equity do you think that 300,000 should represent?
• Is this equity reliable? All promises must be in writing in an agreement. You need to clearly understand the "vesting conditions" and "vesting schedule." Standard terms are usually "first tranche after one year, fully vested in four years." This is extremely disadvantageous for you. If the company fires you in the 11th month, you'll have worked for a year for nothing, getting no money and no shares. In your situation, you must demand better terms, such as monthly vesting, or waiving the first-year cliff.
• What is the company's valuation? Founders might boast that the company is already worth tens of millions, so 0.5% would be quite valuable. Don't believe it. Until the company is profitable or secures its next funding round, valuation is just a phantom number. You should focus on your "percentage," not that illusory "value."

3. Assess the reliability of others at the "gambling table."

• Who is the founder? Do they have a track record of success? Is their understanding of the industry truly profound? What's their character like? A founder who only paints grand visions is more dangerous than one with mediocre abilities.
• Does the company have money? Even if they don't pay you a salary, do the company's servers, utilities, office, and basic operations cost money? If a company lacks even the most basic operating funds and is completely "running on fumes," its chance of failure is 99.9%.

Here are a few practical pieces of advice:

1. Shift your mindset from "job seeking" to "investing." You are an angel investor, except you're investing your precious year of time, not money. Evaluate this project and team with an investor's eye.
2. Do not accept verbal promises. All promises regarding equity, responsibilities, and future salary reinstatement conditions must be documented in a legally binding written agreement. It's best to spend some money and have a lawyer review it for you.
3. Try to propose a compromise. For example, you could request a "floor salary" (e.g., just a few thousand per month to cover basic living expenses), paired with equity that is lower than what you'd get with no salary. This way, you can gauge the company's sincerity and financial situation, and also reduce your own risk. Alternatively, propose a "salary IOU" model, where your salary is calculated but temporarily deferred, to be paid in a lump sum once funding is secured, with equity as an additional bonus.

In summary, working for 12 consecutive months without a salary is a huge gamble. In most cases, it's not a wise choice. Unless you have 120% confidence in the project and team, the compensation offered is sufficiently attractive, and your financial situation can fully withstand the worst-case scenario – the company failing and you having worked for a year for nothing.