How to Get Information on Business Partners

Checking References

1). Ask your business partner to provide three business references who can speak to his behavior in managerial or ownership roles in the past.
2). Call each of those references and ask about the prospective partner's self-discipline, honesty and attention to detail. At the close of each conversation, ask for the names of other people who can tell you about him.
3). Call each of these "secondary references" and ask them the same questions, including the request for other contacts.
4). Continue the cycle until most of the contacts people give you are repetitions of contacts you've already received. Once you've reached this point, you can be reasonably certain you've heard all the angles on your prospective partner.

1). Use public records at your state and county recorder's office to check for any criminal history your partner may have been involved in. A criminal record doesn't necessarily make somebody a bad business partner, but hiding one from you may.
2). Obtain a copy of his credit report and bank statements to confirm that the partner's financial records are as he described them.
3). Do a simple Web search using your prospective partner's name and last known job position. Follow whatever comes up to see if there are public complaints about him.
4). Contact any ex-spouses or former business partners. These people will be in a good position to tell you the things you need to know about your prospective partner.