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Why Business Partnerships Fail

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Business partnership have many advantages — they allow entrepreneurs to pool complementary skill sets, as well as to share startup costs and risk with one another. That makes them one of the most common ways of achieving success in business. Unfortunately, many of the advantages of partnerships can also be disadvantages, and statistics show that up to 70 percent of business partnerships ultimately fail. Take a closer look at some of the most common reasons why business partnerships break down, so you can make any partnership you enter a more successful relationship.

1

 Business Partnerships With Friends or Spouses Is Risky

Businessmen fighting with golf clubs
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Many spousal, family businesses, or partnerships between friends are successful, and the notion of starting a business with someone you know (or think you know) intimately and trust can be very attractive. However, as is often said, choosing a business partner is more difficult than choosing a spouse, and many such partnerships are doomed to failure.

Any successful business partnership should be based on the complementary strengths, talents, personalities, and experience of the prospective partners. A relative or friend needs to bring much more to a potential business partnership than just their personal relationship to you.

For a partnership between friends or family to be successful it is important for you to maintain a separation between business and personal relationships. That way, you’ll be able to have frank and open discussions with your partner(s) about difficult business decisions, goals, finances — discussions that a close personal relationship can make difficult. Most business partnerships between spouses are likely to dissolve in the case of a marital breakup (and vice-versa). Similarly, personal relationships between other family members or friends are often severely impaired when a business partnership between family or friends goes sour.

As with any business partnership, it is very important to have a comprehensive partnership agreement in place so that issues such as finances, division of work, etc. are clearly spelled out before starting the business. A simple handshake between family members or friends is not sufficient when your finances and reputation are on the line in a business venture.

Done properly, a business partnership with family or friends can be very rewarding but unsuccessful partnerships can break up families or destroy friendships on a permanent basis.

2

 Unequal Commitment Among Partners

Business partners in disagreement
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As any businessperson will tell you, starting a business takes a huge financial and personal commitment. As a sole proprietor, you and you alone are responsible for the success (or failure) of the business. In a partnership you are dependent on the contributions of other partners, and if they are unable or unwilling to make the same level of personal or financial sacrifices it will likely result in resentment and conflict eventually.

A partnership based on one partner making a larger financial contribution and the other partner(s) promising to make up the difference in “sweat equity” might sound reasonable in theory, but “sweat equity” is difficult to quantify and describe in a partnership agreement. If the promised “sweat equity” is not delivered, the partnership is headed for disaster.

Similarly, it may be difficult for a member of the partnership to be fully immersed in the business when he/she has other distractions. Someone who has other business interests or young children and a working spouse, for example, may be unable to fully commit to a business partnership.

Unequal contribution among partners may not present a problem if understood in advance (and fully articulated in the partnership agreement), but otherwise, it’s likely to lead to strife among partners.

3

 Lack of Success

Business slowdown
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Building a business takes patience and perseverance and for a business to be successful the owners must be prepared to make a long-term commitment. In addition, many businesses are in cyclical industries and business owners may need to get used to periods of slow growth and fluctuations in business revenue.

Lack of business and/or periods of declining revenue can take a psychological toll on business partners and eventually lead to conflict, particularly if the business is or becomes a heavy drain on the personal finances of the people involved. If one or more partners has previously been an employee with a steady paycheck (and benefits) they may be tempted to second guess their decision to become an entrepreneur if the business is not immediately successful or when business slowdowns occur.

There are no certainties of success in business and the advantages of a partnership cannot overcome a lack of preparation or a business idea that is not viable. Thorough business planning before and after startup, including research on the target market, realistic cash flow and revenue projections, and having sufficient debt or equity financing available when needed are all requirements for any business to prosper in the long term.

4

 Differing Values

Differing values
Adam Gault / Getty Images

Many partnerships do not succeed because the partners are not in alignment on the values and/or goals for the organization. As the business evolves the differences can become an increasing source of friction.

Before entering into a business relationship, prospective partners should meet and articulate:

  1. Why they want to become entrepreneurs
  2. What their vision is for the company
  3. Their long-term objectives

Wanting to start a business because you hate your job or you believe that you can become wealthy can be great motivating factors but blind you to the realities of owning and running a business. Potential partners, particularly those entering into their first business venture, need to be realistic about the business prospects and temper their expectations accordingly to avoid possible disappointment.

Potential partners may disagree on their visions for the company and have radically differing notions of the long-term goals of the organization. For example, one partner may see the business as merely an alternate way to earn a modest living and have no wish for future expansion, whereas another partner may have ambitious expansion plans for the business, including having a large staff, opening satellite offices, taking the company public, etc.

To avoid long-term conflict between partners, the company vision should be agreed upon and described in advance in a vision statement and sections of the business planshould be used to formalize the long-term goals of the organization.

5

 Personality Clashes

Black and White Poodles Facing Opposite Directions
Franco Vogt / Getty Images

Sharing risk and having complementary skill sets are some of the great advantages of business partnerships, but if the personalities of the partners do not sufficiently mesh, the business may be headed for trouble.

Disagreements among partners are to be expected, but heavily contrasting personalities can amplify differences of opinion and lead to resentment and conflict.

Interviewing and evaluating a potential partner is a must if you are not already well-acquainted. Treat it like a job interview ​— as well as discussing skills, talents, and experience, assess his/her personality with questions such as:

  • Are you a risk taker?
  • Are you highly motivated?
  • How would you handle difficult situations such as dealing with problem employees, customers, and vendors?
  • What are your expectations of me and of my business?
  • Do you have the patience and perseverance to handle starting and growing a business?

Keep in mind that differences in personality can also be a benefit rather than a hindrance, providing you respect your partners, value their opinions, and have a shared vision for the business.

6

 Failure of Trust

Trusting your business partner
Thomas Barwick / Getty Images

An honest and open relationship between partners is the foundation of any successful business partnership, so nothing breaks down a partnership faster than a lack of trust. Given the shared liability inherent in business partnerships, illegal or unethical business practices by one partner put all other members of the partnership at risk.

While you can never predict with certainty that your partner(s) will always conduct themselves in an ethical fashion you can mitigate the possibility by researching their history and reputation ahead of time, particularly someone unfamiliar to you:

  • Have they had other businesses in the past and if so, how were they regarded by business partners, suppliers, customers, employees, etc.?
  • What is their reputation in the community?
  • Have they had previous legal difficulties?
  • Have they had a chequered employment or marital history?
  • Have they ever been bankrupt, had a poor credit rating or been in difficulty with the tax authorities?
  • Are they willing to agree to a written partnership agreement that outlines all the critical aspects of the business?

Chances are if the person has a history of stability and ethical behavior, they will make a trustworthy business partner.

Do Your Homework Before Entering into a Partnership

Thoroughly scrutinizing your prospective partners in advance and developing a comprehensive written partnership agreement will improve your odds of having a successful, long-term business partnership. Some advance research and a properly written contract can make all the difference.

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