I’m getting requests left and right from potential partners—other agencies wanting to collaborate, freelancers wanting to subcontract, even some brands asking if we can co-deliver with their in-house team. And while it’s flattering, I’m terrified of saying ‘yes’ to the wrong person.
My worry is that I’ll do the vetting too fast and end up with someone who’s unreliable, or I’ll do it too slow and miss out on good partnerships. So what’s the actual minimum? What’s the bare minimum I need to check before I commit to working together?
I’m thinking: portfolio, maybe one reference call, a small test project? Or is that naive? What corners will bite you if you cut them?
You’re on the right track, but here’s what I’d emphasize: a portfolio alone tells you nothing about reliability or communication style. I always require at least two reference checks—and I call them myself. I ask specifically about timeliness, how they handle feedback, and whether they’ve ever missed a deadline or had scope creep issues. Then yes, a small paid test project is crucial. Not unpaid work, paid work. It changes their behavior immediately. You see their real operations, response times, and quality bar.
The other thing I check: do they have insurance? Do they sign agreements? If they’re refusing to formalize anything or seem sketchy about legalities, that’s a no from me. You’re putting your reputation on the line when you co-deliver.
I’d add one more crucial piece: ask them directly about their capacity and timeline. Some people want to partner but are already overcommitted. A good partner will be honest about whether they can actually deliver. If they’re vague or overselling their availability, that’s a sign they’ll drop your projects when things get busy.
Here’s what I check from a risk perspective: How long have they been in business? Do they have any red flags on payment history or client disputes? If they’re less than a year old or if there are warnings about them in industry forums, I’d be cautious. Also, ask for NDA and IP agreement templates. If they don’t have these, they’re not operating at a professional level.
I think what matters most is whether you feel like you can communicate with them. Have a real conversation about expectations, communication style, and how you’ll handle conflicts. If they’re defensive or dismissive of your questions, that’s going to show up in the partnership. Trust your gut on this one.
From my experience: check how they handle the first conversation. Do they ask thoughtful questions about your needs? Or do they just pitch their services? A partner worth working with will want to understand your business first. Also, check their online presence—LinkedIn, website, reviews. You can learn a lot about their professionalism just from how they present themselves.
I jump in whenever a partnership involves creators, and my question is always: how do they treat creators? Ask them specifically about this. Do they have ongoing relationships with creators, or do they just hire them project-to-project? That tells you a lot about their values and whether they’ll be ethical in how they work.