Readers of  The Partnership Charter: How To Start Out Right with Your New Business Partnership (Or Fix the One You're In) have responded enthusiastically.  Many have shared their thoughts on Amazon.com or in letters to the author.  The following is a sampling of reaction.


Rolf Dobelli (Luzern Switzerland) February 8, 2007 This is a top-notch book - nicely written, smartly organized, and easy to follow and understand. It provides insightful information, telling case histories, useful checklists and exercises, and even includes a fully developed "Partnership Charter" in the appendix. Author David Gage offers an inside view of partnerships, and his case studies make the text a pleasure to read. More importantly, he shows you how to create a partnership charter that will function as your enterprise's Magna Carta in the years to come. If you are planning a partnership, we advise you to study this expert presentation first. You will save yourself a lot of trouble.

Brett Netherton,Cayce, SC January 4, 2007   This author has done a masterful job of presenting a topic that is not talked about enough. Partnerships are hard, but how to make them easier and better is a subject that needs to be taught and discussed much more. As an avid reader, this book has been more timely and helpful to me as a partner is a successful small business than any other book, hands down.

Nance Schick(New York, NY) January 3, 2007    One of my clients referred me to this book, and I now recommend it to all of my small business clients. It is perfect for developing partnerships of any type, including business, strategic and personal partnerships. It has helped me frame my vision for a number of projects, and I will continue to refer to it.

T. Booth, (Davis, CA) November 10, 2006    I've been regularly informed that its not a matter of if, but rather when your partnership will fail. David Gage starts out warning the reader about business partnerships and makes you take stock and check your head if really do need a partner or not. Ultimately, this book develops a framework for setting expectations and creating lines of communication up front for a successful long-term partnership. The real-world examples, years of experience and clear, concise straight-up language makes this a great read. The unspoken expectations of a business partnership are no more! Buy this book and read it thoroughly.

Pamela Burgess, November 5, 2006    This is an excellent book if you're thinking about forming a partnership (as I was.) It's all about communication, with yourself and with your prospective partner as you define your business and discuss your plan. Easy to read, logical, great tips. I used some of the topics in the book as part of an outline for discussion between my partner and I during a formal retreat we took before we opened our business. You don't have to read the whole book, just skim, but the basic premise of the book - communication - is solid advice.

D. Haviland, Management Consultant, June 12, 2006    I am a management consultant that helps companies with growth, and work with 3 partners in my firm. We developed a partnership agreement, but, as the company has developed, it has lacked depth in thinking through how we continue to work together as circumstances have changed. Gage's book provides a structure and process by which this would not happen -- i.e., partners have a better discussion at the start of the partnership (or whenever it is needed/wanted -- we'll be having one soon) that enables them to better plan for what might happen and create a framework for bringing these issues up when they need to be discussed. This is a terrific book because it provides background and context, as well as practical, actionable advice. And it is useful for people considering, in, or dissolving a partnership.

Bill Crowe, Attorney(Atlanta) September 9, 2006    Just wanted to say what a good book I think this is. Most small business owners today (primarily the younger ones) are ordering their "Incorporation package" or "LLC package" online. So they are getting no counseling at all upon set-up. Just a few years ago, if such owners were lucky, they might have had an opportunity to sit down with a wise lawyer or accountant before entering into a relationship. If they were really lucky, it was an older lawyer that had seen some of these start-ups being given a (somewhat) respectable funeral in the bankruptcy courts (or worse). I see the issues mentioned on page 29 constantly in my practice. As these issues have to eventually get pinned down for tax compliance and other reasons, the sparks tend to really start flying (about a year and a half into it). I found the book in our public library completely by accident and I will begin to recommend it wholeheartedly.

Eitan Grunwald, Business Advisor(Roosevelt, NJ) May 1, 2006    As a business advisor I'm constantly looking for tools to help my clients, and this is the best one I've found for partnerships. Gage's book explains how to defuse potentially explosive issues by detecting them in advance using a positive and creative process. While the underlying concepts make perfect sense --- addressing compatibility, on multiple levels, before there's a crisis --- what really impressed me was the practical, systematic approach to identifying and working on these issues. The author's depth of experience and expertise is made easily accessible by his clear, jargon-free style of writing. Not a panacea --- these are realistic suggestions that require commitment and work --- but worth the effort if you want to improve the chances for a successful partnership.

Brian A. Thomas November 18, 2005    This book is a must read if you are considering forming or have formed a partnership. If you don’t read this book before or after you have started a partnership it is likely to be the most expensive business decision you make. I found this book extremely helpful and the author's consultation very informative as well…. Don't sit there reading this review - read the book.

C. K. Owens, Medical Professional(Florida) November 6, 2005    After reading this well written, easily read, book, I ordered seven more copies for friends and associates. Any one in a partnership or contemplating a partnership should read this.

Virginia Wilmerding, Consultant and Author of Smart Women and Small Business October 12, 2005    I came across this book in the small business section of the library, and once I had read it, decided I needed to purchase a copy for my permanent collection. I have been through the partnership anguish described in the book, and I wish I'd found the book earlier because I think my partner and I may have had a chance at working things out had we followed Gage's advice. Moreover, I am writing a book on women and small business, including a section about how natural and helpful it is to take on a business partner. I plan to refer to and recommend Gage's book in my own. The Partnership Charter is insightful, useful, and well written. In a very professional way, Gage tackles one of the most vexing challenges of small businesses: they are personality-driven. I won't pretend that implementation of his advice is easy, but at least you'll have a roadmap that helps you and your partner to reduce the risks, get to know each other better, and give it your collective best shot.

Eve Benton Bund, Business Consultant and Business Owner(Washington DC) August 11, 2005    I read The Partnership Charter as I was about to enter into a partnership to start a business requiring large amounts of startup capital, which I had almost, finished raising. Upon reading this great book, I realized that my partner was not the one to do this venture with and I pulled out at the last minute. I thank David and this book for saving me from a great deal of anguish and aggravation. Had I entered into this partnership, I would have ended up doing the lion's share of the work and would have had to break up the partnership.

Eric Weiner, Therapist and Family Business Advisor(Wisconsin) July 27, 2005    Despite the need for partnerships in business, little is actually taught in how to go about it in a careful and thoughtful manner. David Gage addresses this as he offers a short course and a concrete tool in how to be a business partner. Gage uses his skills and talents as a mediator in an easy to read manner. Many examples illuminate how the model works in real life. Those most likely to benefit are people in business. I think too that mental health professionals who wish to work in business and organizational settings will benefit from reading this book.

Dori (Virginia) April 29, 2005    The Partnership Charter contains all of the elements needed to start a partnership out right, or to mend one that has been sidetracked. Most of the Partnership Charter framework is also transferable to other relationships, e.g., teams in a business setting. The systematic approach to discussing issues such as values and expectations accelerates the ability to work together effectively, and to create better long-term relationships. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is working to establish better working relationships in a small group setting, be it in a partnership, or in a team environment.

“ Audio Junky” April 26, 2005    I've been in partnerships for over 10 years. Due to some recent issues that have come up, I was looking for some insight. This book was the ticket! Well written, interesting, solid business wisdom, and relevant case studies. You can't spend a better 12 bucks if you are in a partnership.

Susan Phillips, Seoul, South Korea October 25, 2004   I was surprised at how easy this book was to read. The subject matter could have become dry, but David Gage provides so many interesting examples that I was curious to continue reading. Half way through the book, I was also struck by how this is more than just about how to form a business partnership. There is some good advice here on all kinds of partnerships, including marriage and any other endeavor that requires you to work with different personalities. I'd recommend to anyone that was thinking about starting a business with another person, something that often involves a heavy time and/or financial commitment, to take the time to read this short book. I found the example Charter in the back especially useful.

Bill Robinson, ManagementConsultant,Charleston, SC October 16, 2004    Reading this book is one of the best ways that I can imagine to start or fine-tune a partnership. Its concise and well written yet comprehensively covers the issues partners need to address before they become problems. The examples and anecdotes are incisive and reflect practical experience in fixing the disasters Dr. Gage would like us to avoid. Follow the directions in this book and avoid the bad accidents.