As the business arena becomes more competitive, small companies and self-employed individuals are finding collaboration to be a practical solution to the problems they face every day. This detailed guide, originally published as Teaming Up, outlines how to form win-win business relationships without falling prey to the pitfalls so common in business partnerships. It answers the key questions a small business or self-employed person asks when thinking about joining forces with others, such as how to find appropriate people to work with, what safeguards to take, and how to best work as a team to attract more business for all involved.

Collaboration comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, and this book covers them all, from networking to joint ventures to virtual organizations. Based on extensive research, interviews, and surveys, Own Your Own But Not Alone deals with issues most business books do not - namely, the social, psychological, and legal aspects of working with others. This book is also a detailed trouble-shooting guide that explores win-win conflict resolution, including when breaking up is advisable.

You'll learn about:

• Finding reliable people whose talents complement yours
• Mutual strategies for developing a steady flow of customers
• The psychology of relationships for preventing personal differences from interfering with business
• 10 Win-Win Ways to share resources, contacts and opportunities, boost your business, and become more competitive

On Your Own But Not Alone covers ten ways of working with other people, ranging from networking, to joint ventures, to virtual organizations. It deals with the social, psychological and legal aspects of working successfully with others and creating win-win relationships for all involved.