Across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, it is estimated that 20-30% of small businesses fail within the first year, and 50-60% fail within the first five years.

It’s not for want of trying. As a business owner you put your heart and soul into your business.

Sometimes, though, this isn’t enough. No-one can be an expert in everything, and successful business owners know this. They know when their business needs to bring in a specialist with skills in an area they don’t have, to drive long run success and avoid becoming part of the statistics.

The Business Partner Benefit calculator can help you visualize just how much you and your business stand to gain.

How does PrtnerUp help you?
Finding a subject matter expert or investor with the right fit for you and your business is tough. Personal networks are too limited, and Facebook is hardly any better. LinkedIn has become Facebook for business, while specialist sites can be too narrow, too expensive, or just plain useless. Gig economy websites are a lottery, and in any case you want someone with the skills to help you in the long run, not a short engagement before they vanish. 

As a result, a lot of business owners like you struggle to find people with the expertise they need to help them grow and succeed in the long term.

Meanwhile, a lot of experts are looking for a better sense of fulfillment than they’re getting in their current roles, and investors are looking for a business they can help take to the next level.

PrtnerUp helps you connect with each other, so you each become more successful and achieve your goals. Think of it as internet dating, but for business. 

This is not the gig economy. PrtnerUp aims to help business owners, subject matter experts and investors build long-term relationships for mutual benefit. 

There’s no rules about what that relationship can look like. Using PrtnerUp you could find someone wanting to join your team as an employee. Or someone willing to act as a mentor, or a consultant. You might find a business partner or an investor. Or even an established business looking to link up with another. The opportunities are limitless.

And with the right match, your business might be too.

Top tips for finding a perfect match using PrtnerUp
PrtnerUp offers a range of parameters that allow you to filter community members to find a pool of potential matches. These include: industry, expertise, type of relationship desired, availability and location. 

Start by clearly defining your need: identify the specific area of the business that requires specialized expertise. Then think beyond this. The more narrowly you define the options in your profile and your search, the harder it will be to find a match. 

Individuals from industries other than your own may have just the expertise you’re looking for but can’t find elsewhere. 

This isn’t the only parameter you should think broadly about. There’s also the sort of relationship you want – employee is not the only option! 

It’s the same with location. Remote work is now a proven way of working, so it makes no difference if an expert is on the other side of the country (or even the world!). 

How to make contact with a potential Prtner
Create your profile and search for a match, or wait for someone to match with you based on your profile. Then connect. It’s as simple as that. Send a message to your potential Prtner expressing your interest and explain why your business might be exactly what they’re looking for. Swap details and get in touch. 

How to complete an agreement
Here’s where the process really is a little like dating: you need to think about how to build trust, both yours and theirs. 

That could involve almost anything, it’s completely up to you. But there are a few steps to follow to help maximise the chances of success. 

Really engage with your potential Prtner: understand their qualifications, experience, and how they can help the business. These discussions will also help you assess their personality and compatibility with you and your business culture.

Ask for references from previous clients or employers to get an idea of the candidate's work ethic and track record.

You might want to try some more concrete steps to build trust. For a subject matter expert, you could design a short contract project to ensure you’re a good fit for each other. For an investor, perhaps arrange some strategy workshops. Whatever. This relationship needs to work for you as much as your Prtner. Take the time to make sure it’s going to work, or at least that you’ve made it as safe as possible. 

Once you’re sure, clearly communicate the expectations and goals of the relationship (however it’s defined) and document your Prtner’s role and responsibilities. Legal advice is a must-have if your agreement touches on investment and ownership structures. 

Establish a regular communication schedule to ensure that your new Prtner is kept informed of the business's progress and any issues that may arise.

Finally, regularly review the relationship and evaluate performance to ensure that your Prtner knows if they are meeting expectations and contributing to the success of the business.

The PrtnerUp philosophy
We aim to help business owners, subject matter experts and investors build long-term relationships to succeed and grow. This is about you, not us. So, we try to keep our website and business model as simple as possible. 

• One low upfront cost (less than a couple of coffees a month)
• No additional charges to unlock full functionality. You have access to everything on PrtnerUp from the moment you join. 
• No commission on payments for agreements made through our service, and no onerous paperwork. 
• No sneaky auto-renewals of your membership.

We see ourselves as being here to work for you, not the other way around. 

Go ahead, try it out. 

It could be the most life-changing dollar a week you’ve ever spent.

Check out our FAQs, including plans and pricing, if you still have questions. 

Or if you’re ready to find a business partner now, SIGN UP