Between a joint venture and a single proprietorship, a joint venture wins hands down when it comes to popularity points. Many people start their business in a joint venture especially the young ones who are just testing the market. Just what is it with joint ventures that people prefer them more to single proprietorship?
For one thing, a joint venture means that you have partners on your side who will care about the business as much as you will. This reason is enough for some people especially those who just want somebody by their side to help cushion the blow in case it does not become a success. There is after all easier to accept that you and a partner failed in a business than you failing alone.
Another benefit that joint ventures have that is very attractive to young people who are starting their business for the first time is the fact that there is less risk involved. When you have partners, you will need to invest less money and also less time. You will also not be responsible for the whole company. If you are fresh out of college and you do not have the money to invest, having a partner who will raise the other half of the capital is important.
Some people also go for joint ventures in exchange for something that they are lacking. For instance, people who have the idea but not the expertise can partner with someone who is knowledgeable in the industry to make the idea come to life. Someone who has the money but do not want to do all the dirty work can partner with someone who do not have the capability to finance it but have the knowledge on how to make it work. These people are called the financiers and the industry partner respectively.
Some people partner with others in exchange for a service. One will become the brains while the other is the operation. Others seek partners by virtue of their contacts and connections with agencies. With that person on board, selling the products will be easier. The same goes with those who seek partners purely for their citizenship as with foreigners who want to start a business in a foreign land.
Joint venture can be a success provided that clear parameters were set at the start of the business and that the two partners have the same work ethic, work personality and vision for the company. Ideally, they should also be able to complement each other work wise. For instance, one can be good with numbers while the other is good with the design. One will take care of the administrative while the other works on the creative. This way, each will have a contribution to the team and therefore preventing discord between the two or among the partners.
Another important criterion is of course trust. The two partners must be able to have faith in the other. They should also be able to reach an agreement and both must know how to compromise if they want the partnership to work.
Joint ventures are great ideas for business but it is not without its disadvantages. Some fail while others crumble against the weight of the discord. So before you opt to go into a joint venture, here are some things that you have to consider in order to make sure that you will have a successful one.
1. Your partner
Your partner must be somebody or a company who you trust and believe in. If you are thinking of partnering with a company, research also on the owner as well as the man who is running the business. You will need to deal with these guys if you ever push through with the joint venture. The potential partner should also be able to go with the vision that you have for your company.
2. Their contribution
Another important aspect that you need to look into when starting a joint venture is the contribution that each partner will have for the project. The contributions should be made clear at the start of the project and should be written on paper if need be and signed by each of the partners. That way, everybody is made aware of their roles, thus minimizing the potential to slack off from their duties. It is also good to include in the document that if you ever slack off, any of the partners can be kicked out of the partnership or their shares can be lessened.
3. Exit strategy
There should also be something in writing until when the partnership will run. Remember that joint ventures are temporary but they can be in long term. It is good to have a specific date or period of run and then an option to extend for all parties. This will be a good way to ensure that everybody who is staying in the joint venture is still happy and is not just staying because the clause said so.
4. What the companies offer
Before you go around making an offer for a joint venture, make sure that you have thoroughly researched the company or the person that you want to be partners with. Check what they have to offer and make sure that they are the best in the field or that they can offer the product, technology or service that you need. Remember that you are only seeking the partnership because of that missing element and it is vital that you make sure that the missing element is really there.
5. Properties
When two companies go into a joint venture, they will be combining some of their assets. Make sure that the properties that each of you will be bringing to the table is equitable. It is not only in the number of properties but also the value attached to each one. If the contributions are not the equal among the partners, make sure that you talk about it and put them into writing. The sharing of profits may depend on the contributions of properties. The bigger the contribution, the larger the percentage of your profits.