The Importance of a Partnership Agreement
If your business is run by two or more partners, it is vital to have a properly drawn up written partnership agreement, even if your partners are also your family.
Common provisions in a written partnership agreement should include the following:
Management and Control of the Partnership
Specify the decisions which need the unanimous consent of all the partners, or decisions which need a special majority.
Ownership
Set out specific assets, such as the partnership’s premises, that are partnership property. Where the partnership uses an asset that belongs to one of the partners, it is advisable to make clear in the agreement that such asset is not partnership property and the terms on which the partnership is permitted to use the asset.
Sharing of Profits and Losses
If the sharing of profits is not intended to be equal, this must be set out and also state whether losses are to be shared in the same manner as profits.
Expulsion of a Partner
A written partnership agreement will usually reserve the right, with the consent of a specified majority of partners, to expel a partner in the case of bankruptcy, long-term illness, mental illness or serious breach of the partnership agreement.
Outgoing Partner’s Shares
Provisions should be included for acquisition by the remaining partners of the outgoing partner’s share in the partnership, in the case of the death, retirement or expulsion of a partner.
Termination and Winding Up
A written partnership agreement will include provisions covering the departure of a single partner when the business of the partnership can be carried on by the remaining partners and voting provisions specifying the required percentage majority for the partnership to be dissolved and wound up.
A partnership agreement can be altered at any time provided the parties involved agree, but once a dispute arises, that agreement can be elusive. The documents need to be reviewed periodically while relations and communications are good.
If you don’t have a partnership agreement in place, please contact us to discuss how we can help draw up this important document. Doing it now could save you time and money in the future.
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Whilst every effort has been made by CavanaghKelly to ensure the accuracy of the information here, it cannot be guaranteed and neither CavanaghKelly nor any related entity shall have liability to any person who relies on the information herein. Information given here is for guidance only. Detailed professional advice should be taken before acting on any information contained herein. If having read the guidance here, you would like to discuss further; a member of our team would be pleased to help you.