If a new partner is going to buy into our business, should he give us the money as shareholders or should he invest the money into the business?

Hi, great question. You determine the value of the business before the partner joins, then you determine the value of what they bring. You then issue new shares to them. I made this video which may clear things up a bit for you. https://youtu.be/1EjKjSAd1F8 And this one about share dilution: https://youtu.be/FtogXYXCC1s If you want to discuss your specific circumstances, please feel free to request a call. David www.DavidCBarnett.com

If you are really investing in a strategic partner (one that will provide mutual benefit in the end, either in terms of revenues, access to financing or other resources) then revenue sharing isn't absolutely necessary. In the partnerships I help to form, they are often around shared value (http://www.fsg.org/OurApproach/WhatisSharedValue.aspx) which means shared revenue isn't the absolute aim. What is the aim, however, is sharing information, knowledge, technical assistance, operational help, etc) and build a lasting framework for engagement together into the future that will benefit both parties. I am happy to help you negotiate these types of partnerships (it's what I do!) so feel free to get in touch.

What city are you in? Are you talking about your product or do you keep it secret? Finding a team is one of the most difficult parts. Make sure you ask friends of friends if they are interested. People often forget to tap their network to find talent. There are a lot of events that help find startup co-founders. Cofounders lab does a meetup group, you might want to check that out. Hope this helps.

I think the closest analogy would be - the same way you're flirting with a girl. Like, if you know she's really interested you call the next day. If she's not then you "play hard to get" and wait the standard 3 days. You have to look at their indicators of interest, whether there's a specific timeframe involved, etc. Either way - it helps to follow up as much as every 1-3 days - you want to get the conclusion to a simple yes or no as soon as possible. Hope that helps!

I've been a commercial real estate broker for 5 years now and have ventured into a handful of business partnerships - some have worked and some have nearly ruined me. What I find, on a surface level, is that you must absolutely share the same VALUES and MISSION as your potential partner. Having even stake in the game also helps, as it avoids one partner eventually grabbing "the upper hand". If you are not bringing cash or equity to the table, be prepared to demonstrate how your hard work can be translated into $ value. If you have more detailed scenarios or questions, feel free to bounce them off me at anytime. Cheers! -S.