10 Reasons why you should rent a business partner

In December I popped into our local Burlington Holiday Market and a cute vendor’s tent filled with trendy, minimalist and customizable apparel caught my eye. I started chatting with the shop owner, and ending up ordering a white “Homebody” sweatshirt which spoke to my introverted side.

A little while after that the owner reached out to my team at The Water Cooler and told us that she could really use some help taking her business to the next level. We hopped on a zoom call and talked through everything she wanted to achieve and the tight window of time she had. We came to the conclusion that what she needed was to rent a temporary business partner.

We planned to achieve everything from choosing a new business name, branding and a website overhaul to building out a skeleton business plan including her brand’s values and goals and streamline her processes and operations.

Bringing on a temporary business partner has kept our client from continuing to spin her wheels, create the refresh her brand so needed and increase profitability while working smarter.

We thought we’d break down ten big reasons why taking this approach make take your business from stuck to thriving…

1. Someone to bounce ideas off of.

When you are a one person operation you can at times feel like you are losing your marbles. Trust me, I’ve been there. It is so easy to get distracted by what everyone is doing around you that you almost become paralyzed when it comes to decision making. Having that person to bounce ideas off of points you in a clear direction.

2. A person to share the workload with.

Endless to-do lists can feel completely overwhelming, especially when it comes time to put in the extra hours to do a brand overhaul. Bringing someone in to cary some of the workload burden can mean that all your plates keep spinning and you don’t get burnt out.

3. That person to cheer you on.

Impostors syndrome is real, and it’s common for a doubtful voice to creep into a business owner’s mind from time to time, especially when you are a one person show. Having someone to validate the hard work you have put in, what makes your brand special and you a specialist in that area and that your future is bright can be the exact ingredient you need to propel your business forward.

4. To get you out of your head.

Many of us who work in a fairly isolated manner can spend a lot of time in our heads, or we may resort to talking to ourselves or even our pet “coworker.” To touch on some of the points already made, you can second guess yourself, doubt your talents, and feel really lonely at times. An injection of a person who you know has your best interest in mind and that you can communicate with can get you out of your head and give you the mental recharge you are needing.

5. To be held accountable.

Are you reaching your goals? Are you checking items off of your to-do list? How often do you grab your phone and start scrolling and suddenly realize you lost 30 minutes? If no one is checking in on your productivity then you can get a little distracted, and let’s face it, lazy. To set aside a specific amount of time where you are working in tandem with a business partner to hammer out your goals and hold you accountable is key.

6. Make sure you will stick to your goals.

Dream big! That’s our motto. Big ideas and big dreams are typically common attributes when it comes to entrepreneurs. But have you ever talked through your big ideas and really flushed them out as future goals? What about taking your big goals and breaking them down into steps to get there? Bringing on a business partner can help you really clarify what you want and create a plan to get there.

7. To feel a little less alone.

One is the loneliest number. Many of us thrive off of the more isolated working dynamic, but I think we all from time to time can start feeling a little lonely. Not only that but you can start to feel lonely within your industry. Having that team that is there for you during a time of change and growth can create excitement and energy where there was once a feeling of isolation and loneliness.

8. It’s temporary, so you know you don’t have to share the profits when you are done.

This is a big one. Many entrepreneurs can struggle with the
“should I bring on a partner” idea when they are feeling overwhelmed and stagnant. But then you know that once your business is running smoothly with a fresh injection of new branding, focus and strategy, your future profits have to be split. When you rent a business partner for a limited period of time you get to pocket all of the profits when you are off the races.

9. To get your business to the next level.

Often what can happen is you gain some traction with your business and you’ve hit a bit of a wall. Whether it’s self doubt or not knowing what the next steps are, it’s common to start feeling stuck and stagnant. Going through everything from top to bottom with a temporary business partner will give your business that strategic push it needs to create momentum to get to the next level.

10. To increase your profitability.

Okay… most small business owners are extremely passionate about what they have created, so much so that it can feel like their baby. But a business without profits is not a business, it’s a hobby. Many people, especially women, can feel strange and kind of guilty when making money.

We highly recommend reading “You Are A Badass at Making Money,” by Jen Sincero if you have felt this way.

We have spoken to multiple women small business owners who admit they have struggled with these feelings, and tend to self-sabotage, sometimes without realizing it. To bring someone into your world, help you realize how amazing you and your brand that you built are, figure out how to increase profitability and in many cases add additional revenue streams, can be the exact thing you need to take your side hustle to a booming business.


Are you considering investing in your business? We at The Water Cooler make sure that we meet business owners where they are, break down the fourth wall and the traditional agency model to bring you into the process working hand-in-hand to keep you involved and to stay within your budget.

Step one is to have a complimentary meeting with our CEO Joanna and from there we design a proposal that fits exactly what your business needs to get to the next level.