Last Updated July 3, 2024
What is a Joint Venture (JV) Agreement?
A Joint Venture (JV) Agreement is a contract between at least two business entities or individuals entering into a temporary business relationship. By joining forces, the parties hope to achieve a mutual goal.
For example, with this business relationship, each party can:
- Grow without needing outside funding
- Fund the growth of another business
- Gain access to wider markets
- Share resources
- Develop products
- Diversify
A Joint Venture Agreement sets out the terms and obligations of the members and their shared goal. A contract is valuable because each party shares in the risk and reward, and they can minimize disputes by documenting their agreement.
What are the different types of joint ventures?
You can use LawDepot’s Joint Venture Agreement template to create either a contractual joint venture or a general partnership.
Contractual Joint Venture
A contractual joint venture is when two separate businesses sign an agreement that outlines their common purpose and how they’ll work together.
Although they have a common goal, the parties operate separately and don’t pool profits or losses. Each party keeps its accounting records separate and there are no registration requirements.
General Partnership
A joint venture in the form of a general partnership is when the partners agree to share in the profits and losses from the project. Each party is jointly and severally liable for the obligations of the partnership.
This type of joint venture is popular with real estate ventures (e.g., between a land owner and a developer).
Keep in mind that a joint venture is typically limited in scope and time. The relationship ends once the parties achieve their goal (or once the contract end date passes). Use a Partnership Agreement to create a contract that continues for as long as you want to be in business.
How to write a Joint Venture Agreement
Customize LawDepot’s Joint Venture Agreement template to suit your business relationship. Our questionnaire walks you through the key elements of a joint venture.
1. Establish the details of the joint venture
Add information about your industry, location, and which type of venture you’ll form. Include the venture’s name, address, purpose, and the contract’s start/end dates.
2. Describe the members of the joint venture
Provide the name, address, and capital contributions of each party member. Specify any member duties and obligations (such as who supplies certain goods or services).
If needed, you can also allow or restrict a member’s ability to sell or assign their interest in the business.
3. Set terms for business management
Be clear about how the partners will conduct business together. For instance, you can specify when to hold meetings (e.g., regularly or as required) and the weight of each member’s vote when making decisions. Further, if the members move to dissolve the venture, you might require a majority or unanimous vote.
You can also establish a management committee, a board of directors, or a team of managers who are responsible for daily operations.
4. Set terms to help avoid or manage disputes
You can include terms for non-competition and confidentiality if you think it will help minimize the risk of disputes between members. However, these types of restrictive covenants must be reasonable (i.e., they cannot be too broad or long).
If a dispute happens, you can require the members to try mediation or arbitration before taking any legal action.
What are the pros and cons of a joint venture?
Partnering with another business does offer its perks, but there are some possible risks as well.
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
More financial, technical, and human resources |
Imbalanced resources, expertise, or investment |
Access to new markets and distribution channels |
Chance of disputes (especially if partners are also competitors) |
Larger capacity for new projects and products |
Differences in management style or workplace culture |
Is a Joint Venture Agreement legally binding?
Yes, when executed properly, a Joint Venture Agreement is a legally binding contract. As such, it’s possible for either member to take legal action against the other if someone doesn’t uphold the agreement.
A legally binding Joint Venture Agreement must contain the following elements:
- Offer and acceptance: One business approaches another and proposes the terms of a joint venture. The other business may negotiate certain terms, but agrees to work together.
- Consideration: Each party gets something valuable from the agreement. For example, they may be able to use different services, gain access to new markets, and share in any profits.
- Mutuality: The parties agree that they intend to enter an enforceable contract.
- Legality: The business contract doesn’t contain any unlawful promises or considerations. For instance, one company cannot agree to work in conditions that go against the labor laws of their jurisdiction.
- Capacity: Each party has the legal ability to sign the contract. For instance, a business representative might not have the legal authority to sign any documents (although they may be able to negotiate contract terms on behalf of their employer).