Before You Partner, Borrow, or Build… Read This First
Because vague expectations make expensive mistakes.
Most partnerships don’t fail from bad intentions.
They fail from misaligned assumptions, no plan for pressure, and weak documents that collapse when tested.
And 99% of people don’t realize that until it’s too late.
The Conversations You Must Have Before You Partner
Most partnerships don’t fall apart because of bad intentions.
They collapse under something far more common: unspoken assumptions.
People say yes to an idea before they’ve truly clarified what it is they’re building, who’s responsible for what, and how they’ll navigate inevitable challenges down the road.
In my own experience — both personally and through the founders and investors I’ve worked with — I’ve seen how expensive these missing conversations can become.
That’s why before you sign anything, wire funds, or assign equity, you need to slow down and pass through three critical checkpoints.
Define the Business — Before You Commit to Each Other
This is where people often get swept up. You meet someone you like. The opportunity sounds exciting. The vision feels aligned.
But pause.
The first checkpoint isn’t about personality — it’s about business clarity.
Ask:
What specific problem are we solving?
What strengths are we each bringing — tested, not theorized?
Is this actually a partnership? Or would a contractor, joint marketing campaign, or simple rev-share be more appropriate?
What happens if this generates zero revenue in six months?
If you don’t have clean answers to these questions, you don’t have a partnership ready to build yet — you have an enthusiasm spike.
Define How This Will Function — Before You Need to Enforce It
This is the operations checkpoint — and where most legal fees eventually pile up when it’s skipped.
Consider:
Who is responsible for each function of the business?
Do they have the proven skill to execute on that responsibility?
How will performance be measured — and reviewed?
What happens if someone underperforms, shifts focus, or needs to exit?
Is there a buyout plan that’s financially feasible for both sides?
Here’s where most “50/50 partnerships” become dangerous. Equal ownership doesn’t equal equal capacity or contribution. And vague agreements invite resentment.
Plan for Inevitable Change — Before It Becomes a Crisis
Partnerships don’t only break because of fraud or betrayal. More often, it’s life itself that changes:
Burnout
Family obligations
Health issues
New opportunities that pull one partner’s focus elsewhere
Before any agreement is signed, build in:
Documented exit paths for both voluntary and involuntary departures
Built-in check-ins for ongoing alignment
Clarity on values and vision that will help anchor tough decisions later
Why I Created the JV Pre-Nup
This is exactly why I built the JV Pre-Nup — not as a legal document, but as a guided conversation framework.
Inside, you’ll work through:
12 of the most critical partnership conversations
25 high-leverage questions designed to surface blind spots
The same sanity-saving process I use with my private clients before they ever draft agreements
Because clarity up front is cheaper than conflict later.
If you’re approaching a partnership, or even just considering one, this framework will help you have the right conversations before any documents are drafted.
[Download the JV Pre-Nup for $1]
What Happens After These Conversations?
Once you’ve clarified your deal with these conversations, that’s when legal documents finally make sense to draft.
That’s where my Informed Partners AI Guide picks up — helping you:
Use AI to build your partnership documents efficiently
Map out roles, responsibilities, and buy-sell clauses
Create legal-ready drafts to take to your attorney
But start with the conversations first.
If you haven’t had them, you’re not ready to draft anything yet.
OR… WANT TO SKIP TO THE GOOD PART?
Let’s not pretend:
You can ask the right questions—or you can build the whole damn system.
The Informed Partners AI Guide is $250 $97.
And it walks you step-by-step through:
Your RACI matrix (so roles are clear)
Your buy-sell clauses (that can actually be enforced)
Your partner alignment worksheet (based on values, not vibes)
Your performance agreements (so “accountability” isn’t just a buzzword)
Legal checklists, AI prompts, and sanity filters to run it all through
⚠️ It’s not a contract. It’s the step-by-step framework to draft thorough agreements to bring to your attorney, so your documents get done right, the first time.
👉 [WANT TO SKIP TO THE GOOD PART? Get the Informed Partners AI Guide]
