How to Choose a Business Partner

Choosing a business partner is like choosing a life partner—you’re tying your future to someone else’s decisions, habits, and values. And just like in romance, mutual attraction isn’t enough.

We tend to look at credentials, charisma, complementary skills. But we often skip the deeper questions: What does this person believe about money? Conflict? Success? What are they like when they’re under pressure? Do they take responsibility when they screw up? Do they have a track record of healthy relationships in other areas of their life? What have they done in the past when they’ve failed? What do they do with power?

You will not always agree with your partner. You shouldn’t always agree. A good partner will challenge you and force growth. But there has to be psychological safety—someone who can sit in disagreement without blowing things up. Someone who’s aligned with your values, not just your goals. And ask yourself: Is there any unhelpful pattern or trauma that has appeared in my life which I am at risk of repeating in my business by selecting this person to be my co-founder? Are we each skilled and self-aware enough to be accountable and mitigate for any psychological baggage we are carrying into this venture?

Before you sign anything, talk. About fear. About failure. About ambition. About what happens when one of you wants to leave. This isn’t paranoia—it’s maturity. If you can talk about all of this now, you’ll know how to move forward when things get hard.

Want more help with this process? Need to re-set things with your business partner to make them healthier and more functional? For the first time in a long time, I’m taking on new clients: Let’s talk.