Agreeing on a fair split

There’s no formula that makes everyone happy. There is a conversation that makes most partnerships work. Have it before anyone does the work.

Start with the jobs, not the numbers

List every job the product needs, from idea to the last support email:

• Making it (writing, design, building, recording)
• Selling it (audience, email list, ads, affiliates, launch work)
• Running it (customer questions, updates, refunds, the sales page)
• Money and risk (paying for tools, ads, a designer)

Then write who does each one. Most arguments later are about work nobody agreed to do.

Three honest ways to decide

1. Equal split. Two people, both all-in, roughly equal effort: 50/50 is simple and feels fair. It goes wrong when one person does far more after launch.

2. Weighted by contribution. Score each job by how much it matters to sales, and give each person points for what they own. Turn points into percentages. Good when skills differ, like a creator and a marketer.

3. Maker plus seller. One person makes it; others bring buyers. The maker keeps the majority, the sellers get a share that reflects the audience they bring. If the “seller” would be just as happy with a commission, make them an affiliate instead of a partner.

Partner or affiliate?

A partner co-owns the product and its customer list, signs the agreement, approves changes, and is paid from every sale. An affiliate earns a commission only on the sales they send, and doesn’t own anything. If someone’s only contribution is “I’ll share it with my list”, an affiliate deal is usually cleaner.

Talk about these before you sign

• What happens if someone stops doing their part? (You can change the split, but only if everyone signed agrees.)
• Who answers customers, and how fast? (The terms require replies within 3 business days.)
• Who can change the price or the sales page? Consider electing a leader.
• What if you want to sell it elsewhere, bundle it, or make a second edition?
• Is anyone putting money in, and do they get it back first? SplitPartner splits by percentage only, so settle repayments between yourselves, in writing.

Write it down

SplitPartner records the roles and percentages, and how changes work. Anything else you agree (who does support, repayments, what happens to a second edition) goes in a short shared document you all read. Put the date on it.