Sometimes making businesses requires having one or more partners, sometimes it's a person we know, a friend or a family member, but often we deal with persons we've just met for business purposes.

I've worked with many persons I've met online, I've had every kind of experiences, good and bad, and I've learned that, as in the real world, social relationships always change when there's money involved.

Finding the right person takes time, it's good to know as much as you can about your future business associate. Talk to him, or her, as often as possible before closing any deal. Thanks to search engines and business social networks now is possible researching one person quite easily.

You can also use instant messaging and Internet based phones to have "real" conversations and know your candidates better.

Don't forget being honest at all times with your business relationships, online or not.

Would you tell us about how you met your partners online and how you deal with them?