05 December 2018
1.Strategic and Operational Risks: The owners of private businesses are responsible for developing, implementing and changing the company's business model over time. The business model provides guidance on where profit comes from and how a company maintains a steady cash flow. Without direct managerial control, silent business partners have no official input into the profit models employed by their managing partners, causing them to leave the profitability of their investment completely in the hands of others. Their inability to conceive and control the way a business generates profit presents a distinct risk to silent partners, who must trust their partners to make the right strategic and operational choices.
2.Legal Risks Silent partners have no control over their companies' legal compliance in day-to-day operations, forcing them to trust that their partners run the business in accordance with local, state and federal laws. Without actively checking accounts and bank statements or supervising operations in person, silent partners have no way of knowing whether employment laws, workplace harassment guidelines, environmental regulations or accounting standards are being upheld. This presents a distinct risk, as a silent partner could find himself in legal trouble for unscrupulous practices he didn't know about.
3.Valuation Risks Silent partners may invest in businesses with the intention of selling their stake at a future date. Because they have no control over how assets and debt are managed, they have no influence over company valuations. This presents a risk for investors looking for a short- or medium-term turnaround on their investment, because they cannot actively position the company's finances to maximize its valuation when they are ready to cash in.
4.Financial Risk A silent partner's financial risk is generally limited to the amount of her invested capital, as in most cases she is not exposed to unlimited liability in the same way as managing partners in a private partnership. However, the nature of silent partners' contributions makes this risk worth noting. Unlike other financial contributors, such as lenders and creditors, silent partners have no claim on company assets in the event of dissolution until all company obligations are paid.
05 December 2018
1.Passive Income for the Silent Partner As a silent partner, you invest money into a business. You can earn a return on that money when the business makes a profit. Partners, even silent ones, share in the income brought in from a business. The amount of income you make will depend on how well the business does and what arrangement you have with the other partners. For example, some silent partners may make a smaller share of the profits than more active partners, especially if you invest less in the business than others.
2.Less Responsibility for a Silent Investor Small business startups typically require a lot of work, with many long hours and periods of uncertainty. Active partners must devote a good portion of their time to getting the business up and running. They must make crucial decisions, and often have to deal with difficult situations, such as hiring and terminating employees. As a silent partner, you have less of a responsibility to the operations of the business. A silent partner does not involve himself in the daily operations of the business, so your investment in the company may come with less stress and hassle.
3.Easier Investments An active partner in a small business must work hard to make sure the business succeeds. Most active partners have a deep knowledge of the industry and understand how to market their type of business successfully. As a silent partner, you can invest in a small business even if you do not fully understand the industry, since you will have little involvement in the business itself. This will give you more freedom to choose the investments you want, as you do not have to limit yourself to industries where you have experience.
4.Warnings While you can sign on as a silent partner without much experience -- if you have the funds to do so -- you should take care to measure the risks of any large investment. You will also share in any losses. Protect yourself by researching the company and the other partners involved before investing large sums of money.
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