How much more should a partner at a consulting firm make?

[Niheel]

I'd like to start a consulting firm and have two tiers. One being the founding partners and then the second being the associates. How would you structure the compensation for this type of organization?

[Paul McCormack]

Founding partners presumably would have a share of the profits so presuming you want to invest as much profit back as possible in the first couple of years I would actually not compensate the founding partners appreciably more than the associates regarding salary during those startup years. If further compensation is profit based it gives the partners more incentive to make sure the business succeeds.

[MMcCarthy]

I would also compensate associates based on level of experience. Junior associates being on a very basic salary. A desire to move up that salary scale would make them work all the harder.

[MMcCarthy]

I would however, clearly define a ladder for junior associates to move up the scale. Give clear compensation for preformance and gained experience.