The Partnership Charter: How To Start Out Right With Your New Business Partnership (or Fix The One You're In) [Paperback]

David Gage (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 29, 2004

In The Partnership Charter, psychologist and business mediation expert David Gage offers a comprehensive guide to the art of establishing and maintaining a business partnership. The centerpiece of his approach is the Partnership Charter, a document that clearly outlines the goals, expectations, responsibilities, and relationships of the principals. The charter identifies potential sources of conflict and how they will be resolved, while addressing such sensitive issues as personal styles, values, money, and power. Illustrating every principle through engaging stories drawn from Gage's front-line experience consulting to business partners, as well as interviews with the founding partners of such successful businesses as Progressive Insurance Company and Manpower, Inc., The Partnership Charter dispels common myths and presents a practical framework for launching, building, and sustaining a thriving business partnership.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gage, a professor at the Kogod School of Business at American University, believes that business partners should have an operating charter in addition to a partnership agreement. This operating charter, while not legally binding, is a strategic way for partners to have a serious, ongoing discussion about how they plan to run their business, deal with work issues and people, and spell out their expectations. The actual charter is far less important than the conversations leading up to its drafting. Gage discusses the four key questions that should be considered when deciding to form a partnership. While some people can explain why they want to own a business and why they want to have a partner, two questions—are there better alternatives than choosing a partner and is the person you're choosing the best partner—are more difficult to answer. Using a variety of examples, Gage shows how business people sometimes choose partners instead of finding outside financing or hiring a consultant. This is a clear and helpful book, best for people who are considering setting up a partnership. Readers who are already in partnerships, however, may find Gage's advice useful but harder to implement. Overall, this book is a solid addition to the business guide category.
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About the Author

David Gage is founder of BMC Associates, a multi-disciplinary Arlington, Virginia-based mediation firm. He is also an adjunct professor at the Kogod School of Business at American University, and maintains a private practice as a clinical psychologist. Gage speaks regularly to business and professional organizations, runs seminars, and writes articles on issues of preventing and resolving conflict. He lives in Arlington.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (June 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738208981
• ISBN-13: 978-0738208985
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,206 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #100 in Books > Business & Investing > Organizational Behavior > Organizational Change

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful Advice to Small Business Owners October 12, 2005

By Ginny Wilmerding

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I came across this book in the small business section of the library, and once I had read it, decided I needed to purchase a copy for my permanent collection. I have been through the partnership anguish described in the book, and I wish I'd found the book earlier because I think my partner and I may have had a chance at working things out had we followed Gage's advice. Moreover, I am writing a book on women and small business, including a section about how natural and helpful it is to take on a business partner. I plan to refer to and recommend Gage's book in my own. The Partnership Charter is insightful, useful, and well-written. In a very professional way, Gage tackles one of the most vexing challenges of small businesses: they are personality-driven. I won't pretend that implementation of his advice is easy, but at least you'll have a roadmap that helps you and your partner to reduce the risks, get to know each other better, and give it your collective best shot.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Practical Guide for Business Partnerships February 8, 2007

By Rolf Dobelli HALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

This is a top-notch book - nicely written, smartly organized, and easy to follow and understand. It provides insightful information, telling case histories, useful checklists and exercises, and even includes a fully developed "Partnership Charter" in the appendix. Author David Gage offers an inside view of partnerships, and his case studies make the text a pleasure to read. More importantly, he shows you how to create a partnership charter that will function as your enterprise's Magna Carta in the years to come. If you are planning a partnership, we advise you to study this expert presentation first. You will save yourself a lot of trouble.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Saved me from lots of grief August 11, 2005

By Eve Benton Bund

Format:Paperback

I read The Partnership Charter as I was about to enter into a partnership to start a business requiring large amounts of startup capital which I had almost finished raising. Upon reading this great book, I realized that my partner was not the one to do this venture with and I pulled out at the last minute. I thank David and this book for saving me from a great deal of anguish and aggravation. Had I entered into this partnerhip, I would have ended up doing the lion's share of the work and would have had to break up the partnership.