Going into business with a partner can be a smart decision. It can be great to have another person to share your successes with, and having a business partner who can help you maximize your capital and help you come up with more ideas can be a wonderful thing. However, there is always the potential that you will have disputes with your business partner in the future. Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to help prevent disputes with your business partner.

1. Choose the Right Business Partner

First of all, there will be less of a chance of there being a problem in the future if you choose the right business partner in the first place. Just because someone is a good friend or a close family member does not mean that he or she will be the best business partner for you. Instead, you will want to look for someone who will be able to bring equal things to the table to what you will be bringing yourself, and you will also want to find someone who is relatively like-minded and who has the same goals for the business as you do.

2. Work With an Attorney

It's never a bad idea to work with a business lawyer from the very beginning. Then, you can get things in writing -- such as how much of the company each of you will own, how you will be compensated, and more -- to make sure that both you and your business partner are clear on one another's expectations. Plus, you will have documentation in writing to protect yourself if something does pop up.

3. Focus on Communication

As with any type of relationship, it is essential to focus on good communication with your business partner. Scheduling regular meetings -- whether formal meetings or informal phone calls or lunches -- and making sure that you cover what is going on with the business is essential. It's also critical for you to come to one another with any concerns that you might have before they escalate and become too serious. In many cases, clear communication can prevent disputes.

As you can see, there are a few ways that you can prevent disputes with your business partner. If you are concerned that you and your business partner might have issues in the future, focusing on these three things can help prevent these problems.

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