{"id":7984,"date":"2014-07-14T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-07-14T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/creator\/?p=7984"},"modified":"2020-03-30T19:00:34","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T23:00:34","slug":"4-things-ask-potential-startup-co-founders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/professional-development\/4-things-ask-potential-startup-co-founders","title":{"rendered":"Four things you should ask potential startup cofounders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not every startup founder wants to run things without a partner in crime. After all, isn\u2019t having two heads \u2014 both with their own unique skillsets \u2014 better than just one?<\/p>\n

That being said, this isn\u2019t something you should take lightly. Co-founders are partners when it comes to running a business, which is why you need to implicitly trust yours.<\/p>\n

Why Having a Co-Founder Rocks<\/b><\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve started not one, but two, business filing<\/a> companies with my husband at my side. Let me tell you: You lower your headaches when you\u2019ve got someone to share them with. And even if you don\u2019t have the benefit of raising children with your co-founder like I do, there are still plenty of perks to reap<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You Expand Your Skills. <\/i><\/b>You\u2019re analytical. He\u2019s creative. Together you\u2019re the Dynamic Duo. You attack problems differently because of your skillsets. When you have a co-founder, your company becomes well rounded.<\/p>\n

You Share the Workload. <\/b>My husband and I each have our areas of expertise. He handles our digital marketing, while I oversee operations. If we didn\u2019t have each other for support, one of us would have to tackle everything alone.<\/p>\n

It Shifts Your View of Your Business. <\/b>Having a co-founder allows you to look at problems and tasks with a different perspective.<\/p>\n

If you’re interviewing for a co-founder, here are some questions you need to ask in order to pick the right one.<\/p>\n

1. What\u2019s Your Vision for This Company?<\/b><\/p>\n

While it doesn\u2019t need to be identical to your own vision, it should still fit in with what you want for your company. If you want to run this business until you retire, but a potential co-founder sees selling it in five years, it might not be such a good partnership.<\/p>\n

2. What Would You Contribute to this Partnership?<\/b><\/p>\n

You want a co-founder who\u2019s not afraid to roll up his sleeves and work hard. You also want one with skills that complement your own. He or she should have a clear idea of what they would like to do, and you should be okay with it.<\/p>\n

3. What\u2019s Your Background?<\/b><\/p>\n

Ideally, your partner would have either extensive experience in your industry or familiarity with the tasks he or she will need to do as a co-founder. If they have experience running businesses, you\u2019ll also want to look into that.<\/p>\n

4. What\u2019s Your Approach to Running a Business?<\/b><\/p>\n

If they\u2019re lax about financial decisions and you\u2019re uber-conservative, you might have trouble agreeing on the best way to run the business. But if you\u2019re both aligned in your strategy, it could be a great fit.<\/p>\n

More Tips for Choosing a Co-Founder<\/b><\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve chosen the best fit for your partnership, use these pointers to keep it running smoothly:<\/p>\n