Ideas for a new joint venture

[1977]

Hi all,

I need some opinions, the more the merrier.

A couple of friends and myself are considering starting a new joint venture targeting our local market - offering a service, with myself taking care of the website and SEO etc. (that's what I do) and they take care of the day to day operations.

The issue I'm having is that we can't quite agree on what exactly we should do...

I think patio cleaning, gutter and roof cleaning would be a good idea, the other 2 lads are ok with the idea but not 100%.

It would be 2 vans on the road with them doing the work and getting the majority of the money as my time would be front loaded then a few hours a week and as needed.

Does anyone have any insights into this type of business?

 

[WaveJumper]

Not sure about patio's but I see lots of people having gutters and roofs cleaned the latter seems to be the latest craze judging by all the adverts you see on social media. One thing I would say is please make sure you get a proper partnership agreement in place, you've been around long enough to know there's plenty of threads on that subject here where its all gone wrong.

 

[1977]

Not sure about patio's but I see lots of people having gutters and roofs cleaned the latter seems to be the latest craze judging by all the adverts you see on social media. One thing I would say is please make sure you get a proper partnership agreement in place, you've been around long enough to know there's plenty of threads on that subject here where its all gone wrong.

That's partly why I looked into the roof cleaning, every 5th house round my way seems to be having done. They look good too. And we live in an affluent area.

And you're right, I've been around long enough to see people unwittingly get burnt.

 

[japancool]

The issue I'm having is that we can't quite agree on what exactly we should do...

Then this should worry you.

This is really arse about face. If you can't agree on what to do, there's no guarantee your skills will be equally needed. I mean, how much are you realistically going to contribute after you've done the website? And why would the others want to share their profits with you if you're not doing anything? A patio cleaning business isn't going to need an all-singing, all-dancing site, what local businesses need is local visibility, for which Google My Business is your friend.

Come up with an idea, build the business around the idea and decide what skills are needed, then see if the people you have are enough to build that idea, and whether you want to go into business with them. You're doing this almost the exact opposite way around.

And make sure it's something you're going to still have the enthusiasm to do two weeks from now, never mind two years from now. Remember, a partnership lasts only as long as it takes for one person to say "I've had enough".

 

[fisicx]

A patio cleaning business isn't going to need an all-singing, all-dancing site, what local businesses need is local visibility, for which Google My Business is your friend.

This was my thought. All the local tradies we use I've found from their Google Business Profile.

 

[a4nthony]

There’s a very old saying ‘you never know someone until you live with them or work with them’.

It is bad enough between two friends.

But if you want to try it then before deciding on what business you are going to start, you need to establish, i) what skills each of you have and equally, ii) what you each enjoy doing (the two could be different). From that, you can see what synergies or overlaps there are and decide if you can make a business out of it. You then need to decide if there is a need for that business.

Just deciding to be in business together because you are friends, is a serious no no. That’s not a strong enough reason.

Sorry to put dampeners on it but I’ve seen so many fallouts for a multitude of reasons

 

[Mark T Jones]

A shareholder/partnership agreement is always important- but never moreso than here!

Because I foresee arguments early on, when they are working 12 hour days and you are sitting at a computer. Whatever the reality, I can pretty much guarantee that will be the perception

 

[WaveJumper]

A shareholder/partnership agreement is always important- but never moreso than here!

Because I foresee arguments early on, when they are working 12 hour days and you are sitting at a computer. Whatever the reality, I can pretty much guarantee that will be the perception

Especially when its cold out side