Partnership deed, also known as a partnership agreement, is a document that outlines in detail the rights and responsibilities of all parties to a business operation. It has the force of law and is designed to guide the partners in the conduct of the business. It is helpful in preventing disputes and disagreements over the role of each partner in the business and the benefits which are due to them.

The key ingredients of a Partnership Deed are given below:

1. Definitions and vital information The partnership deed normally carries the name of the business, the address of its principal place of business and a short summary of the nature of business the partners intend to operate.

2. Investment The deed gives important financial details of the partnership, such as the amount of capital to be invested by each partner, the Profit /Loss sharing of each partner, the salaries to be paid to each partner and the method of distributing the business income. The partnership deed also documents the accepted method of raising additional capital, if necessary how loan funds may be raised and rate of interest if any, applicable on the loans.

3. Accounting The partnership deed provides for the accepted method of accounting for the cash flow, profit and loss, and assets and liabilities of the business; it also defines the fiscal year to be used in accounting statements and how these statements will be distributed among the partners and other shareholders.

4. Duties, powers and obligations of the partners The duties, powers and obligations of each partner may also be spelt out in the Partnership Deed. The Deed may also provide designate a partner as the Managing Partner, who will be responsible for day to day management and conduct of the business.

5. Withdrawals The document must also provide for actions to be taken in case of the voluntary withdrawal or death of a partner. In such a case, accounts will have to be drawn up to ascertain the assets, liabilities and the entitlement of each partner (including the outgoing partner)

6. Expulsion If a partner is proving to be a hindrance or detriment to the business, or loses legal rights in a bankruptcy or other court action, the other partners must have a method of modifying the partnership rights of or expelling him.

7. Dissolution The partnership deed should also describe the methods by which the partnership and business will be dissolved, if desired, and how the accounts among the partners would be settled at the termination of the business.

8. Arbitration As in all business contracts, a partnership deed must provide for the means of arbitration of disputes. The main goal of the deed is to avoid expensive litigation over details that have not been fully worked out in the signed agreement