Get All Access for $5/mo

An 8-Point Checklist to Help You Find the Startup Partner of Your Dreams It pays to find someone that you trust and enjoy being with for hours at a time, even through hard times. Look for these additional traits to make a business partnership work.

By Martin Zwilling

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Shutterstock

As an advisor to startups, I often get asked what to look for in an ideal co-founder or business partner. My first response is that it's much like finding that ideal spouse, where chemistry, common interests and complementary communication skills are key. After some reflection, I now realize these attributes are necessary but not sufficient to be an ideal business partner.

Other attributes of a great business partner, such as real experience and near opposite ends of the age spectrum, may actually be counter to ones you look for in a spouse. A great example was when Eric Schmidt, with years of experience at Sun Microsystems and Novell, joined forces with Sergey Brin and Larry Page at Google. This was a win-win in business, but not a marriage.

Related: How to Recruit a Technical Co-Founder

In either case, it pays to find someone that you trust and enjoy being with for hours at a time, even through hard times. Otherwise, the relationship will be doomed to conflict, stress and unhappiness. Believe me, life is too short to have that happen in business, or in a marriage. I recommend that you look for these additional traits to make a business partnership work:

1. Recognizes the need for relationships

Building a business is not for loners or autocrats, no matter how smart that person may be. Many of the entrepreneurs I meet prefer to focus on the technology, so they desperately need a people-oriented partner for balance. Together they can attract investors, employees and even customers.

2. Able to help, rather than be a helper

This means every entrepreneur needs partners who are smarter than they are in complementary domains. For example, a technologist needs a strong finance person or a strong sales person who is willing and able to make decisions. You need to believe that you can learn from them, not manage them.

3. Shared vision, values and culture

If your vision is to change the world, don't sign on with a partner whose primary drive is to get rich. This also applies to how you both see quality, service, work ethic and employee relationships. Too many entrepreneurs later see their partners as working against them.

4. Credibility, visibility and connections you need

Most startups need investors, vendors, distributors and industry support at different stages to achieve aggressive customer growth and penetration objectives. These are partner values that can far exceed any budget you might allocate, or all the hard work you might contribute.

Related: For Your Partnership to Succeed, It Needs to Be Balanced

5. Similar dedication and work habits

More than one startup team has been broken due to differences in work style -- for example, if one person works on the business 20 hours a day, while the other has a nine-to-five mentality. It's very difficult to maintain a productive relationship when one person prefers texting, and the other only communicates face to face.

6. High integrity and commitment

Most business people form a quick impression of the level of integrity of people close to them, and become very uncomfortable trusting their future with those who are perceived to be on a different plane. In the same fashion, they expect a level of commitment that's at least equal to their own.

7. Business ethics and moral values

In the last few years, the ethics and moral compass of a business have become more and more important to success or failure. In a world of instant communication, everyone knows if employees are not treated with respect, or if business practices are negatively affecting the ecology or economy.

8. No perceived negatives or red flags to overcome

As a startup, your key team members' image is your brand. Thus partnership decisions are much more critical then employee hiring decisions. Even if all initial interactions look positive, don't forget the due diligence process, especially follow-up discussions with previous partners.

If you can find and attract a business partner or two that satisfy all these criteria, your company may likely be the next Google, no matter what the business idea is behind it. That's how important the right people are to a new startup.

Related: 7 Strategies to Help You Pick, Then Develop, the Perfect Partner

Martin Zwilling

Veteran startup mentor, executive, blogger, author, tech professional, and Angel investor.

Martin Zwilling is the founder and CEO of Startup Professionals, a company that provides products and services to startup founders and small business owners. The author of Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur? and Attracting an Angel, he writes a daily blog for entrepreneurs and dispenses advice on the subject of startups.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

These Companies Offer the Best Work-Life Balance, According to Employees

The ranking is based on Glassdoor ratings and reviews.

Science & Technology

Use This Framework to Successfully Integrate AI Into Your Business Operations

Here's how to ensure both innovation and compliance when using AI in your organization.

Growing a Business

Why Business Owners Should Streamline Their Operations Now for Success in 2025

As the holiday season and year-end approach, business owners face heightened operational demands, from inventory management to spend control. By streamlining these processes and partnering with flexible suppliers, businesses can maintain efficiency, meet customer needs and focus on growth while navigating this busy period.

Leadership

Why Your AI Strategy Will Fail Without the Right Talent in Place

Using fractional AI experts through specialized platforms allows companies to access top talent cost-effectively, drive innovation and scale agile strategies for growth.