A joint venture (JV) is the entity created when two businesses join in a partnership for specific, often strategic, reasons. JVs can be a fantastic way for small businesses to increase their customer bases, and for businesses to share their skill sets to offer new or better products and services. However, in order for a JV to be successful, it's essential for both parties to take the agreement very seriously and do all of the homework involved.

A joint venture entered into without research or caution is setting itself up for failure. If both parties don't take the process seriously they could lose valuable time and money, or worse destroy their business. To avoid these pitfalls, there are several things one can consider: choose your partner carefully, make sure you share a common goal and above all, stay organized.

The choice of partner is the most vital part of starting a JV. You should know the person well enough to have confidence in them and to know whether they are trustworthy. There are plenty of fast talkers out there who are eager to separate a fool from his money. As with everything else in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Take the time to research your potential partner. Look into their past business practices, ask for references and proof of past successes. Make sure they can deliver what they're offering.

Knowing as much as you can about your partner is important, but it can be detrimental to enter into a business agreement with a close friend or loved one. If the JV were to fail, you could lose a valuable relationship along with your business. It can also be tempting to cut corners if you're working with a friend. It can be awkward to write out a binding legal contract that outlines both of your responsibilities when you would rather just trust the person to uphold his or her end of the deal. If you give in to this temptation, it might turn out that you never had the same long-term vision of the JV at all, and it can turn into a disappointment for all involved.

You'll want to look for a good balance in a partner -- someone you know well enough to trust, but not so well that your personal relationship will get in the way. Your partner should possess a skill set that will compliment your own. For example, perhaps you're really great at marketing products, but you lack organizational skills. Look for a partner whose organizational skills can make up for your shortcomings and who, perhaps, needs assistance with marketing.

Making sure that both partners share a similar vision is also very important. In order to reach a common goal, both parties must define it and see the path to reaching that goal. If you and your partner have disparate ideas about your goals, it's not likely your venture will last very long. You can't reach two different goals if they are in direct conflict with each other.

Maintaining proper books and adhering to the business plan can make or break your JV. To start, write out a clear business plan that lines out your expected achievements and benchmarks for getting there. The plan will also define each partner's responsibilities.

Along with a clear business plan, it's important to draw up a binding contract that outlines the legal details of your JV. This agreement will articulate the legal responsibilities of each party.

In order to establish a successful joint venture, it's necessary to exercise self-control and time-management. Don't try to do too much all at once. Starting a new venture takes time and effort. At first, you most likely will not be able to focus on two projects at once. Before starting a new business venture, make sure you have the time and space in your life to properly focus on your new efforts.

With a good partnership, common goals and excellent organization, a joint venture can be just the thing to increase your fledgling company's size, offerings, technologies and skills. Taking the time to do your homework and learn as much as you can about the process can make the joint venture work for you as hard as you are working for it.