Don't look to a dating site for matchmaking business relationships

People looking for a quick fix for finding relationships often think of dating sites today. I've heard that there are over 5,000 dating sites online around the world, but I couldn't find one that focused on scientifically matching companies or people for business-to-business (B2B) relationships. That seems strange, since every business expert tells me that finding good business partners is just as tricky as a good marriage, without the sex.

Everyone agrees that successful business partnerships can provide cash for growth, reduce costs, provide new geographic markets, or bring whole new customer sets to the table. Bad ones will suck the energy out of your company and leave you wanting more. The thrill of the chase is always the fun part, but making it work is a lot harder.

Yet there are many similarities between finding a good business partner and finding a good personal relationship. For example, in both cases good relationships...