Partnership Discussion - Solo Search vs. Operator/Finance Duo (NYC)

I’m about 6 months into a self-funded search in the NYC area and have been thinking seriously about whether the right path is to stay solo or bring in a complementary partner. I come at this as an operator, so the setup I keep coming back to is one where I lead operations hands-on post-close, alongside someone stronger on the finance and deal execution side. A few things keep pulling me in that direction. I like the idea of having someone to spar with and share the load during the deal process. The right partner could also help unlock larger transactions through stronger capital and lender relationships. And longer term, it could be a better setup for pursuing add-ons without pulling too much attention away from running the business. That said, I’m still trying to separate what sounds good in theory from what actually works in practice. For those who have explored this: - What tends to create friction later on? - How do you really evaluate fit before doing a deal together? - What have you seen work well in an operator/finance partnership?