District of Columbia Partnership Agreement in minutes

What is a Partnership Agreement?

A Partnership Agreement is a contract between two or more people who run a business together. It sets out who the partners are, what each contributes, how profits and losses are shared, and how decisions get made.

Without one, your partnership defaults to your state's generic partnership rules, which rarely match what the partners actually intended. A written agreement puts your own terms in charge and prevents disputes before they start.

When do you need one?

Any time two or more people share ownership of a business, a written Partnership Agreement protects everyone involved. Common situations include:

• Starting a new business with a friend, family member, or colleague
• Formalizing an existing handshake partnership
• Bringing a new partner into an established business
• Partners contributing unequal amounts of money, property, or work
• Preparing for a bank loan or investor who asks to see your agreement

Types of partnership

The right structure depends on how involved each partner is and how much liability they accept. We tailor the agreement to the type you need, including:

• General partnership (GP): all partners manage the business and share liability
• Limited partnership (LP): general partners run the business, limited partners invest only
• Limited liability partnership (LLP): partners share management with reduced personal liability, common for professional firms
• 50/50 partnership: two equal partners, where clear tie-breaking rules matter most

What to include

A complete Partnership Agreement leaves no room for doubt about how the business runs. Make sure yours covers:

• Full names and addresses of every partner and the partnership itself
• The business name, purpose, and start date
• Each partner's capital contribution: cash, property, equipment, or services
• How profits and losses are allocated and when distributions happen
• Management rights, voting, and which decisions need unanimous consent
• What happens when a partner leaves, retires, dies, or wants to sell
• How disputes are resolved and how the partnership can be dissolved

Profit sharing and contributions

Profit split is the clause partners fight about most, so make it explicit. Shares do not have to mirror capital contributions: one partner may put in more money while another puts in more time, and the agreement should say exactly how that trade is valued.

Spell out the percentage each partner receives, whether losses follow the same split, how often distributions are made, and whether partners draw a salary before profits are divided. Our guided questions cover each of these points.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Relying on a handshake and skipping the written agreement entirely
• Leaving the profit split vague or assuming it is equal by default
• No exit or buyout clause for when a partner wants to leave
• Ignoring what happens if a partner dies or becomes unable to work
• No tie-breaking mechanism in a 50/50 partnership
• Never updating the agreement as the business and partners change