In my last article, I talked about whether you have the traits of a co-founder or business partner. Specifically, the personality traits that affect your ability to collaborate. I didn’t cover everything, but hopefully that piece got you thinking outside the box.
Now if you believe you can work with others, what should you look for in a business partner? Just as important, what traits should you avoid?
Start with the Red Flags
It’s be wise to stay away from people with these traits:
- Unable to make a deadline
- Doesn’t work consistently
- Poor communication skills
- Untrustworthy
- Struggle to build strong relationships
No one is perfect so don’t try to hold people to impossible standards.
The “No Deadline” Trap
If you know someone who doesn’t make their deadlines, your business will suffer. You’ll spend time and energy trying to get that person to change. If you don’t know if a person can consistently hit their deadlines, you should find out.
Some people try to avoid conflict by leaving deadlines open. Billy says, “No rush, just when you can,” and George says, “You got it!” but nothing gets done. The pattern is predictable. People who skip deadlines often lack discipline. They avoid confrontation, and build a reputation they can’t sustain.
Because George makes promises he’s unable to keep (by choice), Billy can’t trust what he says. Don’t try to change them. Move on and find someone else.
When Personal Life Bleeds into Business
A business partnership is like a marriage. It’s demanding, time-consuming. It can be emotionally draining at times. You’re both raising something together: the business. It will affect your friendships, your free time, and sometimes even your sleep schedule.
That’s why it’s important that your potential partner’s spouse or significant other supports the venture.
You might think their marriage is none of your business, but that isn’t true. An unsupportive spouse will find ways to inject their feelings/needs/desires/goals into the partnership.
It’s reasonable to meet a partner’s spouse to confirm that everyone understands the commitment ahead. Starting a business requires late nights, missed vacations, financial uncertainty. If a spouse resents that, the partner will have no choice but to choose between the marriage and the business. It’s a situation where no one wins.
When the Spouse Doesn’t Like You
This is more common than people think. Let’s say for example, Danny’s wife doesn’t like his business partner, Billy. Suddenly, every request Billy makes is “too much,” and Danny is caught in the middle. Maybe the wife feels jealous, threatened, or doesn’t trust Billy. Whatever the reason, tension builds over time.
You have three options:
- Danny sets some boundaries to separate his personal and professional lives
- If setting boundaries fail, Danny breaks up with his wife
- You find another partner
It sounds harsh, but ignoring the issue only leads to bigger problems later on.
A Cautionary Tale
Let’s put this in perspective.
Ken and Dale go into business together developing software. Ken writes code, while Dale handles marketing and management. They agree on a deadline, August 18.
Two days before, Ken promises he’s on track. The 18th arrives, but nothing is ready. Ken asks for an extension to August 26.
Then Ken forgets that he’s leaving town for his wife’s birthday on August 22. Ken assumes he’ll still make time to code, but he gets distracted and starts to surf the web.
Dale is starting to get upset. Their marketing plans depend on the final product being done on time and the first iteration isn’t done yet. Out of frustration, Dale looks through the code and realizes they’re further behind than Ken admitted.
Eventually, Dale calls, only to hear from Ken’s wife. She’s upset that Ken’s been working all day but not making any money. Dale says nothing. He knows that Ken lied and they aren’t making money because Ken missed the deadlines.
Do you think Ken and Dale make good partners?
Probably not. Situations like this happen more often than people like to admit. I deal with them regularly, and the outcome is usually the same. One partner has to go. That person needs to make some serious changes in their life. For change to be successful it takes time, patience, serious dedication and the support of all of those involved.
Remember that personal problems rarely stay personal.
How to Avoid These Issues
Skill isn’t the only factor to having a strong business team. Character is important too. You can train skills. You can’t train integrity, discipline, or self-awareness.
Take the time to get to know your business partners, because you can’t fire like employees if it is the wrong fit. Look at their track record, not just what they say.
Use social media to get a feel of who your partner is. People reveal more about themselves than they realize.
Meet them in person. Real life conversations are more revealing than private messages. Ask about their priorities, like they balance family and work.
A partnership can make or break your business. Before you sign paperwork or share equity, look beyond skills and credentials. Ask the harder questions. Does this person follow through? Communicate openly? Have a stable home life?
A strong team isn’t built on talent alone. It’s built on trust, character, and being on the same page. Choose wisely, and you’ll save yourself years of frustration.
📌 Changelog
- December 24, 2025: Changed the formatting and re-wrote some sections to improve the flow.
- June 1, 2014: Date article was originally published.
