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Business Partnership Agreements Best Practices

Written by JGPC Business Law on .

Running a business with friends or others who share your vision and values can be extremely rewarding. This in part explains the appeal of partnerships – joint business ventures between two or more individuals in which each participant shares the costs and profits of the business. Your partnership, however, will only be as strong as the agreement which governs it. Costly and damaging partnership disputes can arise even between the best of friends, and when they do you may find that your business goals are brought to an abrupt halt. An experienced California business partnership agreement attorney can help you avoid this.

Best Practices for Partnership Agreements 

Before starting your partnership, you and your soon-to-be partners should create a business partnership agreement to govern the operation of your business. In general, the more specific you make this agreement, the more benefits you and your partners will derive from it. More specifically, your business partnership agreement should:

  1. Be in writing. No matter how good of friends you and your partner(s) are, your partnership agreement should be in writing and signed by all partners after each are given the opportunity to consult with an attorney. Having your agreement reduced to writing eliminates the troubles that can arise when important terms of the agreement are forgotten or remembered incorrectly.
  2. Be specific. The more situations and circumstances you can address through your partnership agreement, the stronger your partnership agreement will be. Your partnership agreement should define what capital each partner is contributing to the partnership and what each partner’s responsibility should be in the event that more capital is needed. The agreement should also describe how partnership decisions ought to be made – especially important decisions – and who, if anyone, has the “final say” in such decisions. Your agreement should also describe what should happen in the event a partner dies or becomes unable to fulfill his or her responsibilities as well as the circumstances under which your partnership would be dissolved.
  3. Be updated. As your business changes, you may wish to revisit your partnership agreement and make sure it still provides you and your partners with the protections and directions you desire. How you and your partners made decisions at the outset may not be how you wish to make decisions going forward. Or your original agreement may not have addressed what ought to have happened in the event of a partner’s death or disability. It is best to periodically review your agreement and amend it as necessary as opposed to waiting until a crisis develops and then attempting to navigate the crisis using an incomplete or outdated agreement. 

How a California Business Partnership Attorney Can Help 

For assistance in developing a comprehensive partnership agreement, or if your existing agreement is in need of updating, contact the business partnership attorneys at JGPC Law for assistance. We take the time to understand your partnership’s needs and goals and will use this information to craft your individual and unique partnership agreement. We assist partnerships of all sizes in Pleasanton, Danville, Livermore, Walnut Creek, San Leandro, Fremont, and Oakland. Contact JGPC Law today for assistance at (925) 463-9600 or online through JGPC Law’s website.

Business Partnership Agreements Best Practices

JGPC Business Law is a business law firm providing cost-effective, quality legal services to privately held businesses, corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), general partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability partnerships (LLPs), limited partnerships (LP), trusts, business start ups, entrepreneurs, business owners, managers, executives, investors, buyers & sellers throughout the Tri-Valley and the East Bay Area, including Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore, San Ramon, Danville, Walnut Creek, Castro Valley, Fremont, Tracy, Modesto, Manteca, Stockton and all of Alameda County and Contra Costa County. We are here to serve all of your business and corporate law needs.