A partnership where one partner retains ownership and buys out the other partner is called a disassociation, which is the focus of this guide. However, there are different ways for a business partnership to end.nnHere are a few alternatives to a full buyout.nnPartial Buyout: A partial buyout means your business partner will retain some ownership stake in the company. For example, if you have a 50/50 split, you could buy out 50% of their ownership stake, making it a 75/25 split with your partner becoming a silent partner or taking a diminished role in leadership.nnDissolution: When a business partnership ends in dissolution, the business usually shuts down. The remaining debts are paid off, and any remaining business assets are split between the partners according to their equity shares. Dissolution typically occurs because the business is failing, there is a legal issue resulting in court-ordered dissolution, defaulting on business debt, or other extreme circumstances.nnOutright Sale: Sometimes, a business partnership ends, and no one can buy out the other, or they're unwilling to make the investment. But if the business is still viable, all partners could agree to a complete sale of the company.nnInitial Public Offering (IPO): This is unlikely to be an option for most small businesses or general partnerships. However, suppose you formed as a corporation or converted your general partnership into a C-Corp. In that case, it's technically possible for partners to exit the company by selling their shares after going public.