Partnership or No Partnership? What are your experiences?

I have ran this business now for 3 years. We have grown at an expected rate, but I feel that I might need more help. I currently work with mostly local companies doing website design and hosting. I also do IT support for a few local companies.
I have been thinking about a partnership for sales, support, server maintenance, and split a work load if a website developer but it's actually quite a hard decision.
I have built this company up so far and I don't know who to trust. Starting a long distance partnership could be rough. Plus considering payment, etc. I see people asking for partnerships all the time. It looks risky to me.
What are your experiences with partnerships?





__________________Atech St. Louis Web HostingGraphics, Affordable Web Design, EcommercePowerful Linux Web Hosting * Cpanel * Fantastico * No Overselling!

It depends who the partner is really. Honestly, ALMOST EVERYONE you will find on here is just looking for quick money and I doubt you will find anyone with any real experience. If people that claim they can be successful in business, really can, they wouldn't be looking to partner with some random guy/girl on a forum. If you truly are experienced in business, you usually have people who you can go to in order to start up something.
Addon: If you do go with a partnership, make sure they are as hard a worker as you are; otherwise expect for them to flop your company on its butt.





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Last edited by PromptSpace : 11-07-2008 at 03:18 PM.

Quote:



Originally Posted by PromptSpace


If you truly are experienced in business, you usually have people who you can go to in order to start up something.


I know may people. I so far work face to face with over 45 companies. Finding the correct qualified person is more of the issue, I guess you could say.
Quote:


If people that claim they can be successful in business, really can, they wouldn't be looking to partner with some random guy/girl on a forum.


I see people asking for partners all the time in WHT. You are probably correct. I am curious how those partnerships turned out in the long run.





__________________Atech St. Louis Web HostingGraphics, Affordable Web Design, EcommercePowerful Linux Web Hosting * Cpanel * Fantastico * No Overselling!

I would not go into a partnership 3 years into your company. You have done all the work why should the partner be rewarded for that? That is just one reason also

Quote:



Originally Posted by DerekRDenholm


I would not go into a partnership 3 years into your company. You have done all the work why should the partner be rewarded for that? That is just one reason also


I don't imagine that I will join into half and half partnership. It may be possible one day to work into partnership with a web development company or something where I provide a service that benefits them and vise versa. Everything is a possibility. I always do my homework.
I am curious about other hosting companies experiences with partnerships, whether they split it 50 50 or if it is split up in services.





__________________Atech St. Louis Web HostingGraphics, Affordable Web Design, EcommercePowerful Linux Web Hosting * Cpanel * Fantastico * No Overselling!

Quote:



Originally Posted by atechstl


I know may people. I so far work face to face with over 45 companies. Finding the correct qualified person is more of the issue, I guess you could say.
I see people asking for partners all the time in WHT. You are probably correct. I am curious how those partnerships turned out in the long run.




I was more so talking about the other person that you would partner with. I didn't mean to direct those towards you.
So far, out of everyone I have talked to about partnership, I have only found one person that works as hard as I do. He is also the only person I am willing to partner with at this point in time because I know he will help us get results from our investment.





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Can I make one recommendation?
Make sure you meet them, and it's not all agreed over the net.





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My business partner and I have quite a difference between us but knew each other for many years before deciding to start up our company 3 years ago. It's better to do it together when you first start, then to bring in someone new when you are already a few years in. Maybe looking into some staff to help you?
Otherwise, I think you would be fine, increase your workforce based on your needs and demand.





__________________AllureHost cPanel Web Hosting, Reseller Hosting,

I don't believe I will start a partnership, but it is interesting hearing the advice. A very helpful read.





__________________Atech St. Louis Web HostingGraphics, Affordable Web Design, EcommercePowerful Linux Web Hosting * Cpanel * Fantastico * No Overselling!

99% of the time I would say absolutely not but right now I'm locked into a 50% partnership with my father and it's amazing. We wouldn't have anything close to this level of success if we weren't a team.
If it's something you want to consider then by all means do so. Just make sure that your partner can provide the experience needed to expand the company beyond what you could do alone.





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One thing i would consider, is if you know someone running a similar company that is also successful, you could possibly merge. That would be the only way I would consider a partnership. Otherwise, you have no idea if you're actually going to make money or not.





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