Common question: Should I look for a business to buy myself or with a partner?

We'll cover:

  • Pros / Cons
  • What to look for
  • Where to find partners

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Pros of having a business partner for search:

• Partnered searchers have historically performed better • Increased odds of finding a business to buy • Share highs & lows - search can be lonely • More work done - manage more people, talk with more owners, etc. • Partner is also heavily incentivized to perform - more than any employee • Accountability

Cons of having a business partner for search:

• Finding a great partner can be just as hard as finding a great business • The wrong partner is way worse than none at all • Need to look for a bigger business (more competitive) & raise more money • Give up half your equity

Common places to find good business partners:

• MBA classmates • Childhood friends • Work colleagues • Husband / wife

What to look for in a business partner:

• Alignment on goals and values • Length of relationship • Complimentary skills

Check out my course at http://indiepe.com and podcast at http://vernehq.com/blog for more