Is it possible for two people to co-own a market place merchant store?

[Peter Travis]

I wish to sell items I create with a friend in sl on the market place. Is it possible to have co-ownership of a store, with access for both of us independantly? One solution might be to create a joint avatar, but all ideas welcome.

[Monti Messmer]

A shop can only be owned (run) by one avatar, you can only split the income.

Have a joint avatar is against the TOS - you have to give your account details away ....

Monti

[Rolig Loon]

No, it's not possible.  Your Marketplace business is tied to your SL account.  Any money flows directly from one into the other.  As you suggested, you could create a joint avatar.  That would still be an account that is under one of your names, since you can't share a SL account, but the account owner could agree to let the other one have password access.  There are perils there, of course, because it's not uncommon for today's business partners to be tomorrow's mortal enemies.  That's your risk, though.

The other option is to use the Revenue Distributions option on each item's listing.  That won't solve your shared access needs, but it will direct Marketplace to split any profits between the two of you, so that you don't have to do it yourself later.

[Lindal Kidd]

Here's what you could do.

1.  Create a new avatar account, SuzyAccountant Resident, to be the "bank" for you and your partner. 

2.  You, your business partner, and Suzy all join a group that you create, "Wonderful Creations".

3.  YOU are the group owner.  Do not make your business partner a group owner.  Make her, say, a Manager.

4.  Have Suzy list all the items for sale, and collect all the sales receipts.  NOTE:  You will have to log in as Suzy frequently, to take care of customer complaints, load new items, put up new listings, and so on.

5.  Once a month, copy Suzy's Transaction Log, put it on a notecard, and provide a copy to your business partner.

6.  Split the profits or losses according to whatever agreement you have with your partner.

Do not share group ownership, or Suzy's login information, with ANYONE.  Not even your partner.  Be open and frank with all your dealings, provide full disclosure, but YOU should be the senior partner and hold the keys to the cash box.

If your business partner is not willing to accept this, then maybe you need to find another partner. 

In any event, if we are talking significant money here, you both should exchange Real Life contact information, and draw up a Real Life partnership agreement.  Contracts and agreements between anonymous avatars in SL are not binding and unenforceable.  In any SL-only partnership, neither partner should risk more than they are prepared to lose.