The entity created when two businesses, individuals, corporations or other legal participant join forces for strategic reasons is called a joint venture, or JV. Joint ventures can be very beneficial for small businesses looking to grow their customer pool, or larger businesses seeking innovation or new ideas. To create a successful JV, both parties must approach the situation with a certain degree of gravity.
A JV that is entered into quickly and without much thought can be at best a waste of time and, possibly, money. At worst, it could be disastrous. To avoid unsuccessful JVs, there are several critical factors to keep in mind, such as choice of partner, a common vision, and good organization.
The choice of partner is the most vital part of starting a JV. You should know the person well enough to have confidence in them and to know whether they are trustworthy. There are plenty of fast talkers out there who are eager to separate a fool from his money. As with everything else in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Take the time to research your potential partner. Look into their past business practices, ask for references and proof of past successes. Make sure they can deliver what they're offering.
On the other hand, while it is good to know your partner well, it could be disadvantageous to know them too well. Entering into business ventures of any kind with friends or relatives can be a risky proposition. If things take a turn, you could lose both your business and a valued personal friendship. It can also be tempting to skip vital parts of the process when you partner with friends. You might overlook a formal agreement, and later discover you had completely different goals and visions of the JV.
Just like in a marriage, it's good to look for a partner that balances your prominent traits. Maybe you're good at keeping financial records, but you have trouble thinking of creative marketing campaigns. Look for a partner who can add some pizzazz to your joint venture. In turn, she might not be the best bookkeeper, so your skill set will compliment hers as well.
Defining your goals and vision is also vital to creating a successful JV. To aspire to a goal with another person, you must both understand what that goal is and how you can attain it. If your partner thinks your goal is to make a million dollars your first year, but you think the goal is to donate $500,000 to charity it's unlikely you will work very well together for long. It's impossible to reach two conflicting goals simultaneously.
Maintaining proper books and adhering to the business plan can make or break your JV. To start, write out a clear business plan that lines out your expected achievements and benchmarks for getting there. The plan will also define each partner's responsibilities.
Along with a clear business plan, it's important to draw up a binding contract that outlines the legal details of your JV. This agreement will articulate the legal responsibilities of each party.
In order to establish a successful joint venture, it's necessary to exercise self-control and time-management. Don't try to do too much all at once. Starting a new venture takes time and effort. At first, you most likely will not be able to focus on two projects at once. Before starting a new business venture, make sure you have the time and space in your life to properly focus on your new efforts.
With a good partnership with defined goals and values, strong organizational skills and a little time and effort, starting a joint venture can be very rewarding. In fact, it could be one of the most effective ways to increase your revenues. Just remember to research and do your homework to figure out how to make your joint venture work for you.
Author:Justin Bryce
Added: Sun, 08 Apr 2007 01:44:04 -0400
This Article Has Been Read 457 times
About the Author: Justin Bryce has been a contributing author for this website and is an acknowledged expert in the field of Marketing Emails.
He can be found on the Internet at this website:
http://www.emailsthatsell.com
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Website: http://www.emailsthatsell.com
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