Starting a business with a partner can be invigorating and exciting. That partner can give you the inspiration to work harder and you may be more likely to take steps that you never would’ve taken on your own.
At the same time, the success of your new business is going to depend on the fact that you found the right partner. So what should you look for?
Someone who shares your vision
Start by looking for someone who has the same vision for the company that you do. It can be problematic when two business owners are working toward a different goal, such as when one wants to maximize profits and the other does not.
Someone who works hard
Additionally, you need someone who is going to split the responsibilities evenly and put in the same amount of effort as you. For some businesses, this means 80 hours a week. For others, it just means a few hours on the side. The exact amount of work that you do doesn’t matter so much as the fact that it is even.
Someone with other skills
It’s also a good idea to look for someone who has skills that you don’t already possess yourself. You may be great at customer service and struggle to balance the books. You may have excellent product and design ideas but not know how to get them into stores. The examples are endless, but finding someone with the skills you lack makes the business stronger.
As you and your partner set this new company up, make sure you know what legal steps you’ll have to take to establish the business.