Business Template
Free Partnership Agreement Template
A partnership agreement defines the rights, responsibilities, and profit-sharing between business partners.
Template
Copy this markdown, replace the {{variables}}, and send via API.
# Partnership Agreement
**Partners:**
- {{partner1Name}} ({{partner1Email}})
- {{partner2Name}} ({{partner2Email}})
**Business Name:** {{businessName}}
**Date:** {{date}}
## 1. Purpose
The Partners agree to form a partnership for the purpose of {{businessPurpose}}.
## 2. Capital Contributions
- {{partner1Name}}: {{partner1Contribution}}
- {{partner2Name}}: {{partner2Contribution}}
## 3. Profit and Loss Distribution
Profits and losses shall be divided {{profitSplit}}.
## 4. Management
{{managementTerms}}
## 5. Decision Making
Major decisions require unanimous consent. Day-to-day decisions may be made by either partner.
## 6. Withdrawal
A partner may withdraw with {{noticePeriod}} written notice.
## 7. Dissolution
{{dissolutionTerms}}Send for e-signature
curl -X POST https://signb.ee/api/send \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"content": "YOUR_RENDERED_MARKDOWN",
"senderName": "Your Name",
"senderEmail": "you@company.com",
"recipientName": "Recipient",
"recipientEmail": "recipient@email.com"
}'What happens next
- Signbee converts the markdown to a professional PDF
- Recipient gets an email with a signing link
- Both parties sign with an animated handwriting signature
- Both receive the signed PDF with a SHA-256 certificate
All signatures are legally binding under the ESIGN Act, eIDAS, and ECA.
More details
A partnership agreement is the constitution of your business relationship. Without one, most jurisdictions default to equal profit-sharing and unlimited personal liability — which rarely matches reality.
General Partnership vs Limited Partnership: - General Partnership (GP): All partners share management and liability equally. Simplest structure but highest personal risk. - Limited Partnership (LP): Has general partners (who manage and bear liability) and limited partners (who invest but don't manage). Common in real estate and investment funds. - Limited Liability Partnership (LLP): Each partner's liability is limited to their own investment and actions. Standard for law firms and accounting practices.
Critical clauses most partnerships forget: 1. Deadlock resolution: What happens when 50/50 partners disagree? Options include mediation, arbitration, buy-sell triggers, or a casting-vote mechanism. 2. Intellectual property: Who owns IP created before vs during the partnership? What happens to IP if the partnership dissolves? 3. Non-compete scope: Duration, geography, and industry scope must be reasonable to be enforceable. Overly broad non-competes are routinely struck down. 4. Valuation methodology: For buyouts and exit scenarios, agree on valuation method upfront — book value, multiple of earnings, independent appraisal, or a formula. 5. Death or incapacity: Buy-sell provisions funded by insurance prevent surviving partners from being forced into partnership with a deceased partner's heirs.
Electronic signatures are standard for partnership agreements. Both partners sign remotely, and the SHA-256 certificate provides a tamper-proof record of the exact terms agreed upon.
Frequently asked questions
Is a partnership agreement required by law?
In most jurisdictions, a written partnership agreement is not legally required — but operating without one is extremely risky. Default partnership laws may not match your intentions regarding profit-sharing, liability, and decision-making.
Can a partnership agreement be signed electronically?
Yes. Partnership agreements are fully valid with electronic signatures under ESIGN (US), eIDAS (EU), and ECA (UK). Both partners can sign remotely from any location.
What happens if partners disagree and there is no partnership agreement?
Without a written agreement, most jurisdictions default to equal profit-sharing and equal management rights regardless of capital contributions. Disputes often end in court, which is expensive and unpredictable.
Related resources
Send this template for signing — free, no credit card.