How to Find Partner Businesses in Your Community

Sometimes it is very easy to find a power partner to work with. A florist works with a wedding planner, a realtor works with a mortgage lender, and a gym works with a nutritionist. Sometimes, however, the most interesting opportunities come from businesses that don’t seem to have anything in common. Their products/services are very different, but their customers share a need, an interest, or a problem—and this overlap creates room for a partnership. These types of partnerships get people talking and gives both businesses a new audience.Think of a chiropractor teaming up with an office supply company to host a workshop on creating an ergonomic home office. A dog trainer could partner with a hunting/outdoor retailer to offer an introductory session on preparing a dog to become a hunting companion.While traditional referral relationships are valuable, partnership opportunities can go further than just exchanging business cards and recommending each other. Maybe you can collaborate on:An e