Entering a partnership can effectively grow and scale your business operations. These arrangements can have varying conditions and features, often changing based on each party’s business requirements and goals. Additionally, there are times when a partner prefers to lay low and have minimal involvement in daily business activities, such as silent partners. In these setups, silent or limited partners have little to no participation in running the business besides providing capital.
What are their responsibilities?
These partners typically retain liabilities in the business despite having less involvement than their general counterparts. Like the traditional arrangement, they are still responsible for financial obligations, such as expenses, taxes, losses and other items that apply to all business partners. They also have the same rights when it comes to profits.
They can also help in other aspects of the business, such as offering opinions when requested, becoming a resource for contacts, and participating in mediation when conflicts arise. They might not participate in day-to-day management but can be valuable advisors when dealing with complex challenges.
This type of partner can also have limitations built into their agreements, such as conditions for when they plan to end the setup. This information can include how much they can receive based on their investment and whether there are risks with long-term effects.
How partnership details impact the business
Typically, business partnerships involve agreements that indicate details of the arrangement, whether parties are general or silent partners. These designations can significantly impact when they decide to break up the partnership.
In any scenario, seeking legal counsel, even before establishing the setup, can be helpful. It might not guarantee success, but it could help determine what issues can arise in the long run and include ways to address them.