Partnership Agreement Templates
Three partnership agreement frameworks for different business relationships — General Business Partnership, Referral Partnership, and Joint Venture — so you can formalize any collaboration with the right level of structure.
General Business Partnership Agreement
Best for: two or more founders or co-owners starting or formalizing a business together
Document Header
General Business Partnership Agreement between [Partner A Name] and [Partner B Name] | Effective Date: [Date]
1. Business & Purpose
The partners agree to operate [Business Name], a [describe business type], for the purpose of [primary business objective]. The principal place of business shall be [address].
2. Capital Contributions
[Partner A] contributes [amount / assets] representing a [X]% ownership stake. [Partner B] contributes [amount / assets] representing a [Y]% ownership stake.
3. Profit & Loss Sharing
Profits and losses shall be allocated proportionally to ownership stake unless otherwise agreed in writing. Distributions shall be made [monthly / quarterly] after all operating expenses are paid.
4. Roles & Decision Making
[Partner A] is responsible for [primary function, e.g., sales and marketing]. [Partner B] is responsible for [primary function, e.g., product and operations]. Major decisions require unanimous consent of all partners.
5. Dissolution & Exit
Either partner may exit with [90 days] written notice. The departing partner's interest shall be offered first to the remaining partner(s) at fair market value. Disputes shall be resolved through mediation before litigation.
Referral Partnership Agreement
Best for: businesses establishing a formal referral or affiliate program with partners
Document Header
Referral Partnership Agreement between [Company Name] ("Company") and [Partner Name] ("Referral Partner") | Effective: [Date]
Referral Terms
Referral Partner agrees to introduce qualified prospects to Company's [products / services]. A "Qualified Referral" is defined as a prospect who meets [qualification criteria] and has not been in Company's CRM within the past [180 days].
Commission Structure
Company shall pay Referral Partner a commission of [X]% of the net contract value for each Qualified Referral that converts to a paying customer. Commission is paid within [30 days] of Company receiving payment from the referred customer.
Term & Termination
This agreement is effective for [12 months] and auto-renews unless terminated with [30 days] written notice. Commissions on referrals made before termination continue to be paid per agreed terms.
Joint Venture Agreement
Best for: two companies combining resources for a specific project or market opportunity
Document Header
Joint Venture Agreement between [Company A] and [Company B] for [Project / Venture Name] | Date: [Date]
Venture Scope & Purpose
The parties agree to collaborate on [specific project or initiative] for the purpose of [defined business goal]. This joint venture is limited to the described scope and does not create a general partnership between the companies.
Contributions & Resources
[Company A] contributes: [e.g., technology, team, capital]. [Company B] contributes: [e.g., distribution, customers, domain expertise]. Each party retains ownership of its pre-existing IP.
Revenue & IP Ownership
Revenue generated through the joint venture shall be split [X]% to [Company A] and [Y]% to [Company B]. Any new IP created during the venture is jointly owned unless otherwise specified.
How to Use These Templates
Choose the right structure
Match the template to the nature of the relationship. A referral partner does not need the same depth of agreement as a co-founder or joint venture partner.
Define contributions clearly
Ambiguity about who contributes what causes 80% of partnership disputes. Be explicit about money, time, IP, and customers.
Include exit terms upfront
Agreeing on exit mechanics before things go wrong is far easier than negotiating when the relationship sours. Always include this clause.
Have both parties review
Even with templates, both partners should review the document carefully. For significant deals, a lawyer's review is worthwhile insurance.
Customize in Dewx
Inside Dewx, tell Dew: "Draft a referral partnership agreement with [Partner Name] offering [X]% commission on referred deals." Dew generates a complete agreement, tracks the partnership in OPS Hub, and monitors referral revenue automatically. No spreadsheets or manual tracking needed.
Related Templates
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a business partnership agreement include?
A solid partnership agreement covers partner contributions (capital, skills, time), profit and loss sharing ratios, decision-making authority, roles and responsibilities, dispute resolution procedures, and exit or dissolution terms. Without these clauses, partner disputes default to generic state partnership laws which rarely reflect your intentions.
Do I need a lawyer to create a partnership agreement?
For complex arrangements involving significant capital, IP, or multiple partners, legal review is strongly recommended. For simple referral or collaboration partnerships, a well-structured template reviewed by both parties is often sufficient. Always have all parties sign a final agreement, even if informal. Dewx can draft an initial agreement for you to review with counsel.
What is the difference between a referral agreement and a joint venture?
A referral agreement compensates a partner for sending leads or clients your way — typically a commission or flat fee with no shared operations. A joint venture is a deeper partnership where two businesses combine resources for a specific project, sharing both profits and risks. Joint ventures require more detailed agreements covering governance and IP ownership.
How does Dewx help manage business partnerships?
Dewx OPS Hub tracks partnership terms, milestones, and revenue-sharing calculations. Dew can draft partnership agreement drafts, track referral commissions, send partner performance reports, and flag renewal dates. The GTM Hub manages co-marketing campaigns with partners and tracks leads generated through each relationship.
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Dewx helps you formalize, track, and grow every business partnership. Dew drafts agreements, monitors commitments, and keeps every partner relationship on track.