The text offers possibilities how to find partners when expanding or establishing a company. These possibilities involve clusters, franchising, strategic alliances, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and partners from an EU member state.
If it so happens that the insufficient size of a company prohibits the business from fully implementing a number of activities, such as employing specialists, or that the financial strength of the company is not interesting for banking institutions or other investors, in some cases, outsourcing can be considered, a partnership can be established, or a form of a business association may be preferred. Newly established structures may be clusters, networks, associations, alliances, mergers, concerns, holdings, franchises, or joint ventures.
Clusters are sector associations of mutually interconnected companies, specialised suppliers, providers of services or companies that work in related fields.
- Guide to clusters (in Czech language only)
- Green book of cluster initiatives (in Czech language only)
The principle of franchising is long-term, contractually closed cooperation between independent entrepreneurs.
Franchising enables the franchisee to reach bigger growth; the parent organisation provides various services, trains the franchisee''s management, and saves on start-up capital and operating costs.
- Franchising (in Czech language only)
- Czech Franchise Association (in Czech language only)
- Czech franchising portal (in Czech language only)
- Czech Franchise Institute (in Czech language only)
Strategic alliance is an organizational form which helps maintain the common entrepreneurial activity through individual units – strategic partners. At the same time, each of the partners appears to be an autonomous entrepreneurial unit on the outside.
- Strategic alliance (in Czech language only - use Google translator)
A merger is a union of two or more companies into one, either by merger or integration. In case of a merger, one of the companies remains as the successor organisation, while in case of integration a new company emerges which absorbs its legal predecessors. Companies typically agree to a merger in their own interest, i.e. voluntarily. Their motivation is based on a large value of a whole compared to smaller values of individual parts due to using a synergy effect in their economic activities.
Acquisition may be considered a looser expression of cooperation between companies. One company is acquired, while both remain independent of each other. This type of takeover is carried out based on getting participation in the acquired company, while it can have the form of a friendly or hostile takeover.
Joint venture means establishment of a new entrepreneurial entity, typically with a foreign partner. The founders must agree on common business activities, ownership, organisational structure, and control of the entire venture.
Proposals of Czech companies and institutions for cooperation with foreign suppliers of defense and security technology within offset programmes mediated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the CR.
Partner from an EU member state
The main facilitator for searching for a business partner is the state agency CzechTrade. CzechTrade offers an assistance service through its foreign offices.
The agency also administers a database of foreign inquiries.
- Foreign inquiries (in Czech language only)
There is also an online database with current projects and tenders. The online database of investment opportunities is intended for companies who have decided on investment or acquisitions abroad.
- Foreign projects and tenders (in Czech language only)
- Foreign Investment Opportunities (in Czech language only)
When searching for a business partner it helps to contact foreign offices of the CzechTrade agency in the EU member states, or contact the relevant mixed chamber of commerce.
- List of foreign chambers of commerce (in Czech language only)
Personalised help and advice
The Czech Chamber of Commerce is your first contact when looking for a business partner. The Czech Chamber of Commerce provides services to its members, as well as foreign persons upon request.
The Enterprise Europe Network is an extensive network (with 600 host organisations and 4 000 full-time staff) providing information and advice to entrepreneurs through its local partners.
- Commercial Code (No. 513/1991 Coll., as amended) (in Czech language only)
- Act on Transformations of Corporations (No. 125/2008 Coll., as amended) (in Czech language only)