Ran a lot of joint ventures over the years, and the deals that fall apart almost always die for the same 3 reasons — before a single dollar changes hands.

1. The split % gets agreed verbally, never in writing

"We'll do 50/50" in a DM is not a deal. It's a vibe. The moment revenue shows up, someone's memory of "50/50" conveniently becomes "60/40 because I did more work." Get the split, the definition of "revenue" (gross vs net), and the payment cadence written into an actual agreement before you promote anything.

2. Payment terms are vague on timing

"I'll pay you your cut" means nothing without a date. Weekly? Net-15? On the 1st of the month? Vague timing is how JV partners quietly stop paying and hope you don't notice for two months. Lock the exact payout schedule into the agreement.

3. Nobody defines what happens when the JV ends

Launches end, promos end, partnerships cool off. If your agreement doesn't say what happens to affiliate links, existing customers, and residual payments after the JV wraps, you'll have an awkward — sometimes ugly — conversation later. Define the wind-down terms up front, while everyone's still friendly.

The fix for all three isn't complicated — it's just a template you actually use every time instead of winging it over DMs. Structure beats vibes when real money is involved.