Whether you’ve decided to start a new business with a partner or want to bring in a business partner who can help and support you as you run your current business, getting the right person is absolutely essential. Your business partner is going to be your equal when it comes to running your company so you will want to find somebody who shares your values and your goals for the business. Finding the right business partner is definitely not something that should be taken lightly, and there are several things to consider before you take the leap and decide to sign somebody on with you. Here are some of the main things to look for when choosing your new partner, whether you’re starting a new business or bringing them on to an existing one.

Honesty

Ideally, you’ll want to work with somebody who is honest and upfront with you. A business partner who tells you things as they are might not always be easy to listen to, but this will be the most beneficial for your business. Business partners might not have to know every detail about one another but there should be complete transparency when it comes to anything that might affect the business. Use Nuwber to find out if your potential business partner has been honest about who they are or if they are hiding anything critical about their past such as a criminal record.

Knowledge

It can be tempting to bring in a friend or family member as your business partner, but it’s important to make sure that they have the business knowledge that your company needs to succeed. This is especially true if you are not very experienced in business yourself. if this is the first business you have started, it’s always better to choose a partner who can bring the knowledge that you do not yet have to the table. An experienced business partner will be the best option for you if you are hoping to bring on somebody that you can learn from as you run the company together.

Skills

When choosing a business partner it’s important to think about the skills that they bring to the table. Firstly, consider the business skills that you possess and how your business partner can help balance the running of the business if their strong points are not yours. A business partner who complements your skills and is good at the things that you sometimes struggle with is a good way to find more balance. They’ll also need to possess a range of important soft skills like communication, teamwork, leadership, and organisational skills.

Personal Relationship

Consider how your personal relationship is with the person that you are considering working with as your business partner. Bear in mind that while running the business, this person will have to be your best friend. There are probably going to be times where you’ll need to be able to speak openly about difficult topics and communicate well with each other to make good joint decisions about the company. This is going to be harder if you choose a business partner based solely on their past experience even though you clash with them personally. Opting for a business partner who will also become a good friend is definitely the ideal choice.

No matter what stage of running a business you are at, these are just some of the key factors to consider when choosing the right business partner.