Partnership framework template

Use this concise partnership framework as a fill-in template you can adapt and share with legal:

• Purpose: one-sentence goal (e.g., "Co-develop and sell X in Y markets").
• Scope: products/services, territories, customer segments, excluded activities.
• Roles & responsibilities: partner A / partner B – specific tasks, delivery owners, single point of contact.
• Governance: steering committee members, meeting cadence, decision thresholds.
• Deliverables & milestones: name each deliverable, owner, due date, acceptance criteria.
• Financials: revenue share %, pricing authority, invoicing, cost allocations, payment terms.
• IP & licensing: ownership of existing IP, new IP, licensing rights and duration.
• Data & security: data types shared, storage, access, compliance (e.g., GDPR).
• Branding & go-to-market: co-branding rules, joint marketing budget, approval process.
• Performance & reporting: KPIs, reporting frequency, remediation steps for missed targets.
• Confidentiality & non-compete: scope and duration.
• Term, renewal & termination: initial term, notice period, wind-down obligations.
• Dispute resolution & governing law.
• Signatures and date.

First steps: fill purpose/scope, assign contacts, run a 30-day pilot, then legal review.

What type of partnership are you planning (reseller, joint product, distribution, strategic alliance)?