Challenges faced when looking for a Business Partner
April 20th, 2009 | Author: Dan Harrison
Something that I struggle with is too much time in front of a PC. I have what’s otherwise known as a Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). For me, this means that both of my arms hurt when I use a PC for longer than about 14 hours a week. Something that’s entirely incompatible with being a software developer or web developer.
However, to solve this problem, I have been looking to partner up with a skilled web developer in return for a large share of profits from my ideas. I know my ideas will work, it’s just a matter of getting them implemented. However, I never thought it would be easy finding a business partner, but I’m finding it impossible so far!
I put up a request for business partners (on a couple of forums), but get people who respond who haven’t read my requirements. This is what I’ve been getting:
- offers from people with a wildly different skill set (i.e. .NET/SQLServer when I want PHP/MySQL).
- offers from people who have no time, but they are looking for a web developer. erm, I have no time, that’s why the advert is up! Basically offers of the opposite of what I’m after.
- offers from people wanting me to use their web development services. A big requirement is for a partner, because I don’t have the startup capital. Therefore by partnering, I keep costs low, profits high. If I wanted a web developer, I’m spoilt for choice. There are around 150 in my post code area alone!
To their credit, I have made some good contacts on the back of my adverts, and they’ve been people who’ve made offers in one of the categories above. So they weren’t people I was looking for, but I took the opportunity to network.
However, I have been contacted by 2 people who were really keen to strike up a deal. We exchanged a few emails and things were going well, but I haven’t heard from either in a few days now. Interestingly, a deal with someone who contacted me is going ahead and seems to be going fine so far.
I’d love to know what I’m doing wrong. I seem to be scaring off potential partners! I would have thought that a few websites that make money without too much effort would be desirable?
Perhaps there are so few people who share my commitment and drive to implement my ideas, that I’m struggling to find them? Looks like I’ll be flying solo for a while, despite my efforts.
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Hmm, interesting. I’ve found it difficult in the past to find people (via the web) who are ’seriously’ interested in a partnership, i found it very difficult to get any venture off the ground.
Have you tried advertising offline for a locally based partner, that way you can have face to face meetings and can be more confident going forward with your partnership.
Hi Ash. It’s far from easy. I’ve turned down 10 or so people. However, the chap I was most interested in working with has finally managed to get back to me (he was swamped) and things are moving forward.
I did think about finding a local partner. However, my current experience of finding a web developer partner (so far) is they are only interested in paid work, rather than partnering. I have no capital at the moment, so it’s pointless only wanting paid work.
The other issue with local developers is that very few have the skills I want (i.e. actual PHP/MySQL development skills). The majority simply take a free template, hack it, and then call themselves a web developer!!!
Dan