Certainly the main goal in forming a joint venture is to increase your revenue. By sharing resources, your partner and you hopefully can experience more revenue streams in one or both of the following ways:
Revenue Sharing - A joint venture may be one where products or services are combined and packaged for sale to clients and customers. A package deal of services or products could result in more sales, and thus, more revenue for you and your joint venture partner. Though you would be splitting a portion of sales, don't think of it as a smaller percentage of profits, but a percentage of a much bigger piece of pie.
New Business - Your joint venture partnership could be using the talents and strengths of each other to increase each of your respective businesses. For example, you could be sharing your graphic design expertise to provide great brochures to your partner, while he gives you access to lead lists of potential customers. The result of this type of joint partnership is measured individually rather than combined.
New Networks
Your joint venture can lead to new networks of potential business partners and customers, which can benefit your business. It could bring your products or services to new channels of customers who otherwise would not know your business exist. Find ways to market to your partner's mailing lists. Perhaps provide a free sample to your partner's regular and loyal customers. But don't forget to do the same for your partner. Promote his or her business to your current customers as well.
Your combined networks could also allow you to find other ways to improve your business with other joint ventures. You could find other affiliates or individuals with strengths that could result in another business relationship. This may take time and effort outside your joint venture purpose, but sharing your partner's business contacts can be beneficial as well. Just be sure not to steal or sour any business relationship for your joint venture partner.
Joint Venture Case Example: Saving Money and Increasing Clients
As an example, John was a freelance writer who found that he could offer copywriting services to his joint partner, Michael, in exchange for free web hosting that Michael's company provided. While working with Michael, John was introduced to Joyce, who was a CPA and performed Michael's bookkeeping. John approached Joyce in a similar manner and offered his copywriting and promotional services in exchange for tax advice for his freelance business. Joyce agreed, and the result was increased business for both Michael and Joyce, while John saved heaps of money on accounting and web services.
Save Time and Money
Your joint venture is a way to combine efforts and resources. By doing so, you could save money on your own marketing budget if you share marketing costs. And you can save time by sharing the required tasks with your joint venture partner. Freeing up your time and money to focus on other ways to grow your business, or even to spend more time with family, can be one of the best benefits you enjoy.
