Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst
Joint ventures are never formed with the expectation of problems and failure. That kind of mentality would go against both the spirit of a joint venture and the realities of commercial life. In the early stages, the parties usually share a common, commercial goal, built on a foundation of trust. However, while joint ventures typically begin with high expectations, their long-term success depends less on optimism and more on how well they are structured from a legal and organizational perspective. Once the business begins to operate, disagreements between shareholders or between shareholders and the company can and often do arise. Differences in priorities, financial outlook, and long-term plans constitute an unavoidable risk for almost all partnerships.