Your business partner is someone who should be as invested in your company as you are. You should both complement each other, each having skills that the other may not.
When business partners are in agreement on a project or how a business should be run, the ability to work together can be excellent. If there are issues, though, the business may suffer as a result.
How can you choose a business partner who is right for you?
- Consider more than a single candidate
First, consider more than one candidate. You may have someone in mind already, but it’s worth talking to multiple people who would be interested in working with you. Sometimes, you’ll find that the candidate you had previously considered isn’t the right person for the job after all. Other times, you’ll be more secure in your decision.
- Get to know your working styles
You and the person you’d like to have partner with you should have similar working styles. If not, then you should be able to adapt to each other’s differences. Be reasonable, but know that if two working styles clash, you could have trouble in the future.
- Choose someone who insists on a solid contract
Finally, it’s a good idea to select someone who is on board with building a solid contract. Both of you should be willing to work on a legally binding contract that makes the experience positive for each of you. You don’t want to have someone who insists a contract isn’t necessary as a business partner, because the reality is that contract is absolutely essential to protecting yourself and your business.
Finding the right business partner can be a challenge. Once you find someone you’re interested in working with, you should talk to them about their background, goals and how they see themselves working with you in the future. That will help you get a better idea about if your goals align and if you’d like to move forward in signing a contract to work together. If you decide to move forward, then make sure you get the right partnership agreements in place to protect both of your interests.