As a business coach, I am often consulted by wannabe women entrepreneurs and asked, "Should I ask 'so-and-so' to be my partner?" I am never surprised by the question as I know how scary it is to launch a business all alone. Women, more often than men, wonder if having a sidekick will make the journey less frightening. Is it because women are brought up to believe that we need a partner in life and therefore in our business?

First, let me say that there is a big difference between having a business partner and a life partner. Although, even as I write this, I realize that more and more today the two are often indistinguishable. As an entrepreneur married for more than 42 years, I know that what I need in a mate in no way resembles what I might look for in a business partner. For instance, as I have told my husband many times, when I am ranting about business, "I don't want your opinion, I just want you to listen!" The first lesson in business partnership is to respect what each of you bring to the business and be prepared to act on the opinion of the partner best able to handle the situation. Successful partnerships are all about balancing the skills of the partners. For example, if you want to launch a retail business and your expertise is merchandising you probably don't need a partner to handle the details of accounting, real estate, legal or marketing. These are all positions that you can easily contract out and hold on to 100% ownership of the company. However, you may think you want to bring on a partner because of a financial opportunity.  I suggest you think long and hard before making that decision. The consequences could be difficult.

In another scenario, you are starting a technology business of some type and your expertise is IT, you may very well need someone who specializes in sales, marketing and business operations to become a partner. The balance of skills may be just what is required to be successful.

The fact is there are no hard and fast rules of how to find the right partner for any business that I know of. But, there are a lot of things to think about before divvying up the equity in your business.

As a fan of Shark Tank, I notice that the majority of businesses profiled on the show are partnerships. I'll bet that since the show first aired in August of 2009 more businesses in America are partnerships that ever before. (I hope someone will research this for me and email me the answer). But, the show doesn't share any downside of business partnerships and I'm here to tell you they exist and they destroy small businesses every day in America. Miserable business partnerships keep me and many of my colleagues in business and they don't move the company they fight over forward.

So, before you swing your partner round and round and do-si-do (meaning, two partners facing each other, step forward, right shoulder first, step back, left shoulder forward, in unison and together) consider whether or not you need a partner in the first place. Yes, you can dance alone and, in the long run, the scenario may actually be less scary.

First, if you need financial resources for your business there are other answers besides bringing on a partner. If you truly have a business worth financing someone will be willing to fund it. Second, if you are feeling scared or alone reach out to other women in business or women entrepreneurs. There are many women business groups out there and if you can find one call me and I'll find one for you. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO IT ALONE! I believe strongly in women's networks because I've built them and I know how much they help. Find one and use it to end your feeling of isolation.

Finally, if you believe you need a partner make sure it is all for the right reasons. Make sure the person you choose, male or female, brings your business something you absolutely need and cannot contract out. Once you enter into a partnership you will have someone who has the right to challenge your decisions and change them legally. Swinging your partner will become much more difficult and do-si-do an exercise of wills.

Of course, not all partnerships end in disagreement, but too many of them do. So don't believe what you see on TV.

Women entrepreneurs must believe in their ability to do it on their own because they have what it takes to be successful.