Finding the right business partner can be the key to making your business an outright success. Business coach Heather Wilkinson gives some pointers
A lot of ideas never take off because people can't find the right team members, whilst people who have great skills and fancy being self-employed never set up a business because they can't find the great idea! So how can you marry the two together?
It's important before you embark on this journey, to think about what you'd be looking for in a business partner... it can't be just about combating loneliness! It's got to be about complementary skills sets and values to make it work, so have a clear idea in your mind! So how do you find one? There a few approaches you can take:
Face to Face Networking
This is one of the best ways of finding a business partner – it's like dating, if you meet someone face to face you'll know if you hit it off straight away. You explore ideas, get into your interests and talk business all night. It will lead on to explore ways to work together and then you'll decide to merge skills or ideas... and it's love! Well, at least until you've had an argument and the honeymoon period is over. Like a marriage, you have to work at business relationships too!
Head Hunting
If you need specific expertise for a business, it could be of value head hunting someone who has the right skills for your business. Searching the team profile section of companies will be your target or asking around. It's what recruitment agencies do all the time. Owning shares in a company might be right up their street, and could give them the challenge they've been looking for. Remember if you don't ask you never know.
Business Partner Brokerage
Try sites such as www.businesspartners.com, www.findyouridealbusinesspartner.com/ or www.companypartners.com who run a type of dating service for entrepreneurs, allowing you to search for potential business partners.
Approach Network Leaders or Business Coaches
Both of these roles will know many start-up business owners and they are likely to know their clients and what their needs are. Talking from my own experience, I am always marrying people together to share skills and team up on aspects of the business, and we've seen successful business partnerships flourish as a result.
Based on all those ideas for finding a business partner you've got a good chance. However it won't necessarily be easy and you might have a few false starts! It is like dating and marriage but in business you've got to find someone with the same values as you, and who will stick with the project in the long term, to ride the highs and the lows. Remember don't be afraid to ask or else you'll never know.
Heather Wilkinson is founder of www.stridingout.co.uk which offers business support, coaching and advice.
