Advice on how to find a business partner

[Richard P]

Hello. Im a techy with experience in development and support. I would like to start a business next year. I think I could do with partnering with someone with sales and marketing experience (although I have limited experience of this). I have some developed some products that I have not taken to market yet, I am currently unsure what i should concentrate my time on. I have the equipment and skills and can fund myself and can learn new skills if necessary . I live in clay cross Derbyshire. Does anyone have any advice for me?

 

[NickZ]

I have some developed some products that I have not taken to market yet

A few questions I've got:

• Why don't you give us an idea what kind of products you actually have developped.
• Which scripting language you like to use.
• Who are your future clients?

 

[Richard P]

Im not prepared to discuss that. In my experience with this website, people are quick to dismiss things. It may be that my ideas are no good and the partner can help with new ideas. So unless you live locally and are in sales then I dont think you can help me, I will say I work with PHP and c# and have several wordpress websites and have developed wordpress plugins.

 

[fisicx]

Rather than partnering up, why not just pay for their services until you have sufficient business to go it alone.

Have you monetised your Wordpress plugins? They can be a very good source of income. Enough to pay all my bills.

 

[ctrlbrk]

Im not prepared to discuss that. In my experience with this website, people are quick to dismiss things.

That is true, unfortunately.

Somebody once said that ideas are very fragile, especially at their early stages. It doesn't take much to shatter them.


What is also true is that most businesses fail!

 

[MOIC]

Hello. Im a techy with experience in development and support

What products have you developed? This is important to disclose if you want to get advice.

I have some developed some products that I have not taken to market yet,

So, no idea if they will be successful and at what cost it will take to launch?

I am currently unsure what i should concentrate my time on.

Not a good sign to disclose if looking for a partner.

Rule of thumb, concentrate on what you're good at, and delegate the rest.

Im not prepared to discuss that. In my experience with this website, people are quick to dismiss things

Be transparent, if people want to dismiss them, they'll hopefully give reasons why, which you can take on board.

It may be that my ideas are no good and the partner can help with new ideas

You said you're looking to partner with someone who has experience in sales and marketing . . . . or, are you looking to partner with a developer to offer ideas too?

So unless you live locally and are in sales then I dont think you can help me

You're narrowing (drastically) the people you think can help you.

Does anyone have any advice for me?

Don't drip feed the information and don't discount posts. You may not like some replies, but take them on board and don't reply negatively. This way, you'll get more posters offering advice, some of which may help you going forward with your planned business.

 

[Richard P]

thanks guys

 

[Mark James]

Hi Rich

My advice for what it’s worth is NEVER partner with anyone, do what fisicx said and sub out any work you can’t deal with. Pay people with the skills you need.

Can get messy and you will regret it, especially if you grow.

 

[Richard P]

Hi Rich

My advice for what it’s worth is NEVER partner with anyone, do what fisicx said and sub out any work you can’t deal with. Pay people with the skills you need.

Can get messy and you will regret it, especially if you grow.

thanks for your advice

 

[WaveJumper]

Hi Rich

My advice for what it’s worth is NEVER partner with anyone, do what fisicx said and sub out any work you can’t deal with. Pay people with the skills you need.

Can get messy and you will regret it, especially if you grow.

Totally endorse this and @fisicx suggestion the forum is full of threads where partnerships have fallen apart, buy in what you need and all the very best for the future

 

[Mark T Jones]

Im not prepared to discuss that. In my experience with this website, people are quick to dismiss things. It may be that my ideas are no good and the partner can help with new ideas. So unless you live locally and are in sales then I dont think you can help me, I will say I work with PHP and c# and have several wordpress websites and have developed wordpress plugins.

The forum is quick to Dismiss things and can be brutal in their response - but nowhere near as quick, brutal and costly as the market itself will be. Except that the market won't offend you with feedback, they will simply ignore you.

Essentially this is a re-work of the 'business idea' theme. Ideas are worthless New products are worthless.

The person who has the vision required will easily find someone with the skills to create the product.

I'd strongly recommend that, at least in the short term, you think in terms of how you can add value with your skills rather that trying to bring things to market

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

The forum is quick to Dismiss things and can be brutal in their response - but nowhere near as quick, brutal and costly as the market itself will be.

One of the best comments of the year!

You have several products already, launch them and try to get revenue.

Ask for comments on the products here - you may not like the answers, but, on the whole, you will get hundreds of years worth of experience behind them which could otherwise cost you a lot to get.

If you can program, you can probably learn the basics of online marketing. If web based products, you will need these online marketing skills, even if you bring on a partner or suppliers - understanding what they do gives you a stronger base to build on.

 

[NickZ]

My advice for what it’s worth is NEVER partner with anyone,

That limits your success greatly. Speciallly in Marketing you need to have severall people on bord in oder to qualify as a markting firm, an d to be accepted in most hubs. Partnership is needed to become succesful.

 

[Mark James]

That limits your success greatly. Speciallly in Marketing you need to have severall people on bord in oder to qualify as a markting firm, an d to be accepted in most hubs. Partnership is needed to become succesful.

Fully accepted Nick and yes you may be right in some circumstances but can I just ask have you ever been involved in a partnership or known any one friends or family who have? If so I take it they have all turned rosy ?

 

[NickZ]

but can I just ask have you ever been involved in a partnership

yes, and I'm or we are still in partnership(s). One thing for sure you need to be mature enough, don't make second guesses. Communication skills on all sides are needed.

 

[Mark James]

yes, and I'm or we are still in partnership(s). One thing for sure you need to be mature enough, don't make second guesses. Communication skills on all sides are needed. t

---

Great to hear Nick and I hope your business (Well yours and your partners) continues to flourish.

 

[japancool]

That limits your success greatly. Speciallly in Marketing you need to have severall people on bord in oder to qualify as a markting firm, an d to be accepted in most hubs. Partnership is needed to become succesful.

You are confusing a partnership with having employees or outsourcing your marketing. Not to mention that the OP is not trying to be a marketing firm.

 

[Richard P]

I am inspired by a startup company i joined in 1997. They were a start up company with 3 directors - a marketing director, a development manager and an MD. They were pioneering mobile phone software for logistics before smart phones became widely available. They had 2 sales people and managed to land million pound contracts before they actually had the software available. They were essentially getting the business first (maybe with a basic demo) before they delivered the product. They would also deliver the product in stages for payment. I am inspired by their success. I firmly believe teamwork can work. The bigger you think - the more you'll succeed,
I would like to find business partners that will be friends that we can share success together.

 

[MOIC]

I would like to find business partners that will be friends that we can share success together.

What skills, experience, proven success, finance (as well as many other attributes you’ll need to disclose) are you bringing to the table, for potential business partners to be interested in collaborating with you?

 

[NickZ]

You are confusing a partnership with having employees or outsourcing your marketing

I'm not confusing anything, I leave interpretations to people who love to be incorrect.

 

[Mark James]

I'm not confusing anything, I leave interpretations to people who love to be incorrect.

Have you got a business partner? ie someone you share 50% ownership with?

A Limited company with 2 Directors ie you and your business partner?

 

[japancool]

I'm not confusing anything, I leave interpretations to people who love to be incorrect.

Oh? Then how did you interpret the OP to want to succeed at being a marketing company?

You just didn't read and comprehend the OP.

 

[Richard P]

Sorry for being ignorant but what does OP stand for?

 

[MOIC]

Opening Post/Poster . . . .

 

[japancool]

Sorry for being ignorant but what does OP stand for?

Opening Post or Opening Poster.

 

[fisicx]

I would like to find business partners that will be friends that we can share success together.

What do you offer that would make them want to be partners with you?

Ideas or even an MVP isn’t enough. I can get software developed anywhere in the world at lower costs than your expected wages. I can find an agency to market and product I get developed. What exactly are you bringing to the table?

Sorry to be so harsh but business isn’t about making friends. It’s about money.

 

[NickZ]

business isn’t about making friends. It’s about money.

Absolutely, plus that is the very reason some people look for partners, so they don't have to pay for a service they cannot offer themself.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

For those of you that think your business partner is not a friend or you may not get along as friends then forget it and do it on your own

As already said businesses fall apart because the directors did not get along and there are a list of businesses on this site
Forget the idea of your business partner not being an important person in your life

 

[Richard P]

What do you offer that would make them want to be partners with you?

Ideas or even an MVP isn’t enough. I can get software developed anywhere in the world at lower costs than your expected wages. I can find an agency to market and product I get developed. What exactly are you bringing to the table?

Sorry to be so harsh but business isn’t about making friends. It’s about money.

According to your argument. There is just no point in starting an IT company. Whats the point of working in IT when someone in India can do it cheaper? Whats the point in manufacturing something when someone in China can do it cheaper, Whats the point in being in a creative industry when AI can do it for free. Theres no point in working in IT as theres always going to be someone who can do it cheaper. No point in being an actor cause AI can create actors for free, According to your argument there just wouldnt or shouldnt be any jobs int IT in this country or any creative industry.
Yet there are still successful companies in the UK that employ people.
Sorry but I have to say I think you are very negative. You a are quick to dismiss others ideas and businesses. Have you ever praised anyone on this forum?

 

[fisicx]

My point was you don’t yet have anything to offer a potential partner.

If you had a working product of monetised your plugins or something viable then you might gain some interest.

I started and now run an IT business. I’ve found a niche that works. If I need skills I pay for them. Which is what I an others have suggested. Pay someone for their sales and marketing expertise.

That’s how many companies work. Right now a partnership isn’t needed to sell your products.

 

[Richard P]

My point was you don’t yet have anything to offer a potential partner.

If you had a working product of monetised your plugins or something viable then you might gain some interest.

I started and now run an IT business. I’ve found a niche that works. If I need skills I pay for them. Which is what I an others have suggested. Pay someone for their sales and marketing expertise.

That’s how many companies work. Right now a partnership isn’t needed to sell your products.

What is your background? Are you a developer?

 

[fisicx]

What is your background? Are you a developer?

Yes. I found my niche after about 10 years. It pays the bills which is all it needs to do.

And because it’s a niche marketing sort of took care of itself. The website gets found by people all over the world.

 

[Richard P]

Yes. I found my niche after about 10 years. It pays the bills which is all it needs to do.

And because it’s a niche marketing sort of took care of itself. The website gets found by people all over the world.

Ive been developing my web products in PHP and JQuery. Is it still ok to use jQuery or do I need to move to react or vue?

 

[fisicx]

Ive been developing my web products in PHP and JQuery. Is it still ok to use jQuery or do I need to move to react or vue?

Really depends on the products. All I do is Wordpress plugins so php, jquery and some sql suffices.

If you are building saas then you can use whatever you want. Have you got a monetisation plan in place? It is something a development agency could replicate? Does it need an app?

The problem with most software products is they aren’t anything new. And they can easily be copied. Which is why I do plugins. I’m piggybacking onto an existing infrastructure.

If you for example build a woocommerce extension you have an immediate large set of potential user.

 

[Richard P]

Really depends on the products. All I do is Wordpress plugins so php, jquery and some sql suffices.

If you are building saas then you can use whatever you want. Have you got a monetisation plan in place? It is something a development agency could replicate? Does it need an app?

The problem with most software products is they aren’t anything new. And they can easily be copied. Which is why I do plugins. I’m piggybacking onto an existing infrastructure.

If you for example build a woocommerce extension you have an immediate large set of potential user.

As you say. Anything can be copied. Aren't you worried about someone muscling in on your territory?

 

[fisicx]

As you say. Anything can be copied. Aren't you worried about someone muscling in on your territory?

Nope. Because it’s too niche. Not enough in it for the agencies.

And it has been copied but I get emails from developers in India who can’t get their versions to work!

 

[Richard P]

Nope. Because it’s too niche. Not enough in it for the agencies.

And it has been copied but I get emails from developers in India who can’t get their versions to work!

So i take it your not trying to become a millionaire? Like you I just want to make a living that pays the bills. Just want to work from home - either for myself or someone else. Im lucky that I own my own flat - so no rent or morgage to pay- so I dont need alot to live on.

 

[fisicx]

I could make a lot more money but that means I need to do more work and that’s not part of my plan.

So back to your products.

What problem do they solve? How can they be monetized? Would you sell them on your own website or is there a platform you plan to use?

 

[Richard P]

I dont have those answers at the moment. Maybe we could talk about it in private some time?

 

[fisicx]

Use the private messaging system here or contact me via the sites in my signature.