It is rare that a person constantly conducts business alone. Sooner or later, you will need a reliable partner or even several. But it is not always possible to find it in close surroundings. Yes, and on the street to approach a stranger with the question “Would you like to become my partner?” pretty stupid. But where to find a business partner? We will now try to give you the answer to this question.
Every partnership starts with yourself.
There is a very smart idea. It says: "To find a great business partner, you must first become one yourself." And it doesn't make sense at all. Thinking about finding a reliable person, think about what you yourself can give him in return. Look at yourself from the outside and honestly answer if you yourself would like to become a partner of such a person. If something doesn't suit you, fix it. Partnership implies mutual benefit, so you must clearly understand whether you are ready for an equal return. Only parents and perhaps friends are willing to love you unselfishly.
Is there a formula for a successful partnership? You can take the opinion of the famous American investor and businessman Robert Kiyosaki into service. Describing an example of his profitable partnership, he deduced three main factors that make this cooperation so successful:
- First, the partners have a common investment philosophy. This is an important point. Your opinions on how and where to invest money should clearly match. Otherwise, frequent disagreements and conflicts await you.
- Secondly, it is ideal if your experience and knowledge complement each other. The fewer gaps in information in your chosen field, the higher your efficiency.
- Thirdly, partners should adhere to a common strategy. It needs to be developed at the very beginning in order to understand where the team should move. This will allow you to work in a single direction, without exchanging for unnecessary movements.
Partnership can be compared to marriage. To find that one companion, you will have to "start relationships" with different people.
Another important point - you always need to think over a retreat strategy. In the West, and in rare cases in our latitudes, it is customary to conclude a marriage contract before a wedding. Especially if one of the spouses is much richer. So before you enter into a partnership, you should think about it. Reinsurance in case the ideal companion suddenly turns into a frog at first.
Where strategically important acquaintances are made
Today, many are interested in the question of how to find a business partner on the Internet. In the age of the dominance of computer technologies and their deep implementation in life, this is not difficult. In the network of partners, you should look for it on specialized sites (for example, the Russian site http://start2up.ru/), on forums and even on social networks. As for the latter, it is best to go to work, not entertainment. For example, on LinkedIn - social network for business communication. Although the project is Western, there are enough Russian-speaking users registered here. However, in social networks like Vkontakte or Facebook there are chances to find the right person. If it's good to search and create your own page with thematic content. Oddly enough, you can find a partner on a free bulletin board. Yes, yes, they not only sell new and used things there, but also make contacts. Another option is online diaries. With their help, you can also get on the trail of a potential companion. In the end, you can just contact the person directly if you are interested in him.
And how are things in real life? How to choose a business partner, and where to look for him? Offline too big choice opportunities for a variety of purposes. So, let's begin.
- Clubs. Not at night, of course. Rather, interest clubs, in particular, on the topic of business. In recent years, this movement has become quite popular in the post-Soviet space. They meet there in order to exchange experience, to find money for the implementation interesting idea and vice versa, find a good companion. True, it is usually difficult to get into real ideological business clubs. There are certain stages of verification and filters, so there are no "left" people there. And they have the ability to pay membership fee is not a fundamental selection criterion. In those where only money is needed to join, and the rules are simpler, and the audience.
- Schools. Here, too, we will not talk about secondary education. This item includes all kinds of trainings, seminars, master classes, meetings with business gurus. There you can chat with interesting people and make very useful acquaintances. Yes, and learn something new at the same time. Of course, such training meetings cost money, but in most cases it all pays off in the future when you find the right partners or clients.
- It is impossible not to remember thematic events . Same conferences different levels, business summits, forums. In such places, many specialists of the same segment gather at the same time. You can meet in person, establish contacts, exchange preliminary agreements and even, in some cases, immediately conclude a contract. This is a great opportunity, because in everyday life with each of them you need to look for an opportunity to meet separately. And so, in one or several days, you will immediately meet dozens of potential companions.
- "Savor and hobby. Sometimes it's much easier to make connections in an informal setting. These can be receptions, balls and even meetings related to hobbies. Of course, you are unlikely to find a business partner in an embroidery mug, but in a golf or yacht club this is quite real. Who knows, maybe that youthful man over there aiming a club at the ball is the director big company in the industry you are interested in.
- Charity and other good deeds. Today it's enough popular view activities among serious people. As, however, and a couple of centuries ago. Who knows who will be next to you at the planting of sakura in the botanical garden or painting the walls in a boarding school for disabled children.
- Specialized business party, presentations and parties. People initially come to them with a specific purpose, so get to know each other and find interesting people it will be quite easy.
- Shouldn't be discarded everyday life. It also happens that the most suitable partner is in a close environment, it’s just that there hasn’t been a chance to prove himself yet.
- Another very original way - " quick business acquaintances". Everyone knows about speed-dating, when a couple has a few minutes to tell the most interesting things about themselves. But such acquaintances are also held for business people. Although, of course, you should not wait for large businessmen and owners of corporations here. But aspiring entrepreneurs and startups often take the opportunity to make new connections that can be useful in the future.
A few rules for successful dating
We have learned where to look for a potential partner, what we ourselves should be like. But there are a few more rules and tricks that will help smooth out sharp corners and avoid unpleasant situations.
- Determine for yourself which audience is your target. And in this regard, select places and specific events. Determine with whom you can potentially conclude a contract, and who can become an "intermediary" to enter the level of interest.
- Be sure to prepare your presentation in advance. It should take a couple of minutes. The so-called elevator pitch principle, that is, "presentation in an elevator." Often people get lost and cannot clearly and clearly state what they are doing. In this case, the interlocutor may quickly lose interest.
- You should not immediately sell your services in the first minutes of acquaintance. And yes, the first meeting. The first thing to do is to connect with the person. And obsession can only push away a possible partner.
- Help make friends with others. This way you will gain favor and support, and next time someone will set you up with the right person.
- If you're targeting a specific person, try to find out as much as you can about them beforehand. About her interests, manner of communication, style of work. This will help you find the right tone at the time of dating.
And do not expect that the first contact will promise a deal. It is better not to initially set yourself up for this, otherwise you can either be disappointed or behave too persistently. And this, as we have already said, will only repel the interlocutor.
What should you pay attention to when choosing an event?
There are a few points that will save you from wasting time. Depending on the characteristics, this or that event attracts different people. From this and build on when you decide where to find a partner for business.
- For example, the more expensive the event, the fewer guests it has. But the audience itself will be of a higher level.
- Evenings and weekends are less frequent for business owners and top managers. They prefer short lunch or morning meetings.
- The theme of the event will determine who will come from a particular company. It is the one who deals with the solution of relevant issues. The CEO won't drop by for a supply meeting, for example.
- The audience depends on the location. The more status it has, the higher the contingent.
- It is worth paying attention to the organizers. There are always those whose events are consistently interesting, with excellent speakers.
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The search for partners is a difficult topic for Russia, where they are used to negotiating "in a friendly way", and not using legal terms. Russian businessmen are just learning how to draw up multi-page contracts, meticulously write down obligations and penalties for their non-fulfillment. Sometimes an agreement is concluded informally, based on the fact that in Russia it is still impossible to foresee all the nuances.
Before choosing the type of cooperation with a business partner, you first have to find it. To this end:
- search among relatives, acquaintances, work colleagues;
- attend events where you can meet potential investors and people ready for cooperation;
- resort to searching for offers on the Internet;
- look at the employees of others commercial structures- someone is invited to the business as a full co-owner.
Business partnership: the most important nuances
Both formal and informal joint commerce agreements will fail if certain rules are not followed. First of all, determine for yourself the main motives for cooperation with another person. It is important to answer 3 questions:
- what exactly is meant by partnership (investment, free premises, land plot, fresh ideas, working hands);
- what I will offer to another person as a partner;
- how to document a future agreement, protect yourself from risk and dishonorable behavior on the part of a partner.
Partnership means different types cooperation. Partners in Russia are called investors, suppliers, marketers, sales representatives. Therefore, before you advertise on a site with offers of cooperation, decide who exactly is needed and for what. What kind of "baggage" should a potential co-owner have: money, knowledge, experience, information, ability to sell. Is the territory important or will cooperation be remote. Think about what you offer in return. This side of the deal is often forgotten, but a partnership "works" if it benefits both parties. Otherwise, serious people are unlikely to be interested in the announcement.
It's important to know! Partnership involves joint participation in company affairs, capital investment and joint decision-making. It imposes restrictions and obligations. Sometimes it is easier to hire a person as an employee or to borrow money from him at interest. Relations are formalized if equal injections into the business are expected from both sides (both in money and some amount of joint work).
How and where to find a business partner in Russia
Before you advertise on the Internet site, it is useful to look around. As a rule, future partners work in related industries, revolve in the same areas, are interested in similar topics and find each other “in step-by-step proximity” - within the sphere of their interests: at the institute, at courses, at work, in the sports section. Business partnership on the Internet is also possible, but practice shows that it is better to keep the company under control directly. It's also easier to check on a person who lives in the same geographic location if you've already met and have mutual acquaintances.
Great respect deserves entrepreneurs who for decades maintain partnerships with those with whom they started their business. This means that we have gone through many crises together. I started my business in 2013, during this time I have worked with different partners. Here are a few types of crises I have experienced:
Crisis "who's in charge?" or “how do we make key decisions?”. Here it is important, having worked together on an equal footing, to quickly determine the degree of responsibility of each of the participants and divide the shares in the company accordingly. It is at this moment that the CEO appears in the company. The chosen chief must formulate his obligations to the others. If they cannot choose the main one, the question arises, can such a business exist and develop? Schemes with equal shares are statistically more likely to lead to conflicts and crises, as a stalemate can occur.
Crisis of competencies. Everyone has their own ceiling. How long is a person willing to constantly learn and jump over himself? Are partners willing to educate each other and put up with each other's imperfections? Does the rate of development of a person correspond to the rate of development of the company?
Crisis of confidence. With the increase in the volume of information and the number of tasks, not all aspects of the business will be transparent to all partners. There always comes a point when the basic trust that started it all runs out of steam. It is necessary to anticipate this moment and make the business as transparent as possible. CRM, system management accounting will help with this.
Where to look for business partners?
Aspiring entrepreneurs tend to voice their ideas and assemble a team in their immediate environment. These can be both quite random people who, according to the founder, have qualities important for the project, and people with whom a pound of salt has already been eaten. For example, the largest Russian business empire Mikhail Fridman built it together with classmates from the institute.
Can a "stranger" become a good partner?
I believe that the most clear and understandable agreements are reached between people who initially have no reason to trust each other 100%. In this case, it is much easier and more logical to imagine the situation of termination of the agreements and initially determine the most painless exit scenarios.
A partner can also be found among strangers. It is quite normal to post a vacancy and offer as compensation, including a share in the company. A friend of mine, a well-known IT entrepreneur, thus found a co-founder - CTO.
Photo: Unsplash
Will the business with relatives be successful?
The important point here is the absence of a conflict of interest. There is an opinion that business conflicts occur less often among relatives. If your partner is a relative, then with a high probability you can build a long-term company, but the question is whether it will grow. Because often growth requires speed of decisions, subordination and priority of work, not family.
However, there are quite successful examples businesses where the founders are close relatives are most commonly heard of companies with the prefix Bros., such as Warner Bros. There are also negative examples, the most famous of them is the conflict between the Dassler brothers, as a result of which the business collapsed and two companies and brands were formed: Adidas and Puma.
Are friends reliable partners?
With friends it is very difficult to imagine a situation of conflict. It seems that friendly or family ties are a guarantee of a conflict-free adoption of all decisions. As a result, people do not mark their boundaries, responsibility is blurred, schemes for exiting the business are not specified.
In one of my Quadrim projects, the right model of cooperation was not initially laid down. At the start, there were 4 partners, three of which had parity shares, and two formed a parallel joint business in the process, and the areas of responsibility and the mechanics of making key decisions were also not clearly specified.
Due to a conflict of interest, I operationally left Kvadrim and launched a startup, Tim & Team repair service, based on my other interior design project, Studio 3.14.
Photo: Unsplash
It is good to start something new with an already formed team with established dynamics, with complementary psychotypes and a high level of trust.
We created the first business - an interior design studio with my brother and a friend, with whom we previously worked together on projects in a public youth organization. There, together we managed shifts in children's camps, organized events, and we had a real experience of working together.
Through trial and error, we figured out who could be responsible for what. The five of us started in my kitchen. After the first month, there were three of us left, a team formed, a division of labor emerged. After 3 years, the history of this partnership ended successfully when, together with a new partner, Oleg Anisimov, we bought shares in Studio 3.14 from two of my partners, thereby integrating the Tim & Team development company based on a design studio.
When a whole business is in place of a partner
It happens that partners come to the project with their own infrastructure, sometimes even a whole business, and this has a positive effect, for example, as in the case of Oscar Hartmann's Carprice. The project of an entrepreneur on partnership terms included two more businessmen with entire companies-subdivisions for development and marketing, which gave a synergistic effect.
But you should also beware of the opposite situation, when the general infrastructure of the project is used for third-party projects of one of the partners. Attracting a partner with infrastructure ( ready-made business) at first glance looks attractive due to possible synergies, but it is fraught with many risks. In my opinion, this is only possible if the infrastructure is transparent enough to verify its value. Should be studied in detail possible risks and conflicts of interest.
Before attracting someone as a partner and embedding in your business, it is better to work with him as a contractor or partner on a project, as was the case with the developers in the same Carprice. It would be a mistake to “marry” right away. There must be stages. We definitely need to overcome the crisis together.
Photo: Unsplash
It's good to weigh everything
Partnership is one of the most important levers for the development of the company, but it also carries many risks. A successful partnership can significantly accelerate the development of an entrepreneur, as happened with and. But we must understand that 65% of companies break up due to the conflict of co-founders.
Of the unconditional advantages - the mutual complement of competencies, "collective intelligence", acceleration of development, risk sharing, savings on hiring top managers at an early stage of business and the presence of long-term motivation in the core of the team.
The cons are that the need for collegial decisions slows down their adoption, and in startups, speed and flexibility are extremely important; partners share not only risks but also profits, and if there are more than two partners with large shares, the likelihood of dilution of shares increases if later stage investors appear and the founders of the company lose control.
The 50/50 parity partnership conceals the most risks, however, there are also successful examples when large-scale companies were created under it (Igor Rybakov and Sergey Kolesnikov - TechnoNIKOL).
life hacks
If you don't have 100% confidence in your partner, bury the 50/50 principle. When there are two of you and at the same time both of you are maximally involved and close in terms of competencies, the ideal ratio is 60/40, which provides a high level of motivation for the owner of a smaller share, while maintaining the right of the leader to have the last word.
If you do not have an exit plan, consider that you yourself are creating a conflict situation for yourself in the future. It is imperative to take into account the factor of a possible change in the life goals and circumstances of the partner, which in practice appear no later than three years from the beginning of the partnership. It is important to write in the memorandum what will happen if they change.
There should be a decision-making mechanism and a clear formula for calculating cash-out at different stages of the business. Before a partnership, there must be preparation (first of all, do financial model for 12-36 months). Formalize the down-side: how exactly you will understand that the project is unsuccessful, how much you are ready to “fall”.
If you have a person whom you would like to make a co-founder, it is not necessary to immediately give him a share. AT Russian law Since 2015, it has been possible to structure the relationship between co-founders using an option, which may involve automatic transfer of shares if the co-founder achieves certain KPIs.
On this page of the free bulletin board site, you can consider proposals for cooperation, study announcements from organizations and entrepreneurs offering business partnerships.
Here you can see offers from dealers and suppliers of goods. Our site is used by many companies from various business areas.
Web design, cargo delivery, staff training, waste disposal - you can find offers for any business area!
Commercial partnership
Anyone commercial enterprise reliable mutually beneficial business connections. Effective economic interaction is one of the main conditions for successful functioning within the framework of an integral economic process.
Today it is becoming very important to focus on getting new partners and permanent search for the most effective partnerships. They allow for the reorientation of activities based on market changes, as well as strengthening competitive advantages firms.
Therefore, partnership in business should be considered a type of economic relationship based on the collective actions of the parties aimed at achieving a common goal and obtaining a common benefit. In other words, commercial cooperation is a set of ways and methods of organizing relationships between business partners.!