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Two tall cases of clear glass on one long base of brushed steel in a concrete hall open to the sea, each holding a steel column: one column tall and capped in carnelian glass, the other short under its glass. A wide concrete wall in raking daylight fills the right half.

Partner due diligence checklist

See who leads when only proof counts.

Try the matrix

You score each partner on evidence you hold. The matrix organises it; it does not verify anyone.

The matrix in 25 seconds

What the film shows, in words
  1. See who leads when only proof counts.
  2. Every claim counted: A 81, B 75.
  3. Proof only: A 40, B 63.
  4. Verify A’s ownership: 58.
  5. Verify its regional coverage: 73. The lead changes hands.
  6. Score what you are told. Count what is proved.

The worked example: the lead changes hands when a claim is proved

Step 1 of 4

With every claim counted A is ahead, 81 to 75. On proof alone B leads, 63 to 40.

Distributor B (example) leads on verified evidence (63). 5 checks open; A’s ownership is the one the tool lists as critical.

Distributor A (example)

40 verified81 with claims and unknowns

4verified
3claimed
3verified
4claimed
2unknown
3verified

Distributor B (example)

63 verified75 with claims

Ahead on verified evidence

3verified
4verified
2claimed
3verified
3verified
2claimed

Distributor A (example): 40 verified, 81 with claims and unknowns. 3 scores verified, 2 claimed only, 1 unknown. Distributor B (example): 63 verified, 75 with claims. 4 scores verified, 2 claimed only, 0 unknown. Distributor B (example) leads on verified evidence (63).

The criteria, by number

  1. 01Legal registration and good standingweight 3
  2. 02Beneficial ownership knownweight 3
  3. 03Track record with similar productsweight 2
  4. 04Coverage of target regionsweight 2
  5. 05Financial capacityweight 2
  6. 06References from current principalsweight 1
  • Steel: a score you have marked verified
  • Glass: claimed only
  • Outline: unknown
  • Solid line and dot: the verified score
  • Hairline and ring: every score counted
  • Carnelian: ahead on verified evidence

Checks still open

  • Distributor A (example)3 checks open

    • Beneficial ownership known (claimed only)critical
    • Coverage of target regions (claimed only)
    • Financial capacity (unknown)

  • Distributor B (example)2 checks open

    • Track record with similar products (claimed only)
    • References from current principals (claimed only)

Nothing here is an allegation. Unverified means not yet checked, not doubtful. Verify identity and ownership through official registries.

The scores are yours, on evidence you hold. GKM has not checked, vetted or recommended any partner on this page, and a score is not a finding.

ExampleTwo fictional distributors. One cell of the matrix changes at each step. Nothing is saved or sent.

Now your partners, on what you can prove.

Compare potential local partners on weighted criteria, and record for every score whether it is verified, only claimed or unknown. The matrix separates the verified score from the claimed one and lists the checks still open.

Works on this page. Nothing you enter is sent.

LiveDistributor B (example) leads on verified evidence (63)

The scores are yours, on evidence you hold. GKM has not checked, vetted or recommended any partner on this page, and a score is not a finding.

Distributor A (example)

40 verified81 with claims and unknowns

Distributor B (example)

63 verified75 with claims

Ahead on verified evidence

Partner 1 · Criterion 02 · weight 3

Distributor A (example): Beneficial ownership known

Open check, listed by the tool as critical: Beneficial ownership known (claimed only).

Score

How do you know?

Distributor A (example): 40 verified, 81 with claims and unknowns. 3 scores verified, 2 claimed only, 1 unknown. Distributor B (example): 63 verified, 75 with claims. 4 scores verified, 2 claimed only, 0 unknown. Distributor B (example) leads on verified evidence (63).

Keys on a bay: arrows move between bays, 0 to 4 set the score, V, C or U set verified, claimed or unknown.

Criteria and partners

Name what matters for this partnership and weigh it, then name who you are comparing. Scores are set on the picture above: select a bay.

One criterion at a time: its name and weight, then each partner’s score and how you know it.

Criterion 1 of 6Legal registration and good standing

Criteria

What matters for this partnership, with a weight.

  1. 01
  2. 02
  3. 03
  4. 04
  5. 05
  6. 06

Partners

Score 0 to 4, and say whether the evidence is verified, claimed or unknown.

CriterionScoreEvidenceLegal registration and good standingBeneficial ownership knownTrack record with similar productsCoverage of target regionsFinancial capacityReferences from current principals
CriterionScoreEvidenceLegal registration and good standingBeneficial ownership knownTrack record with similar productsCoverage of target regionsFinancial capacityReferences from current principals
  • Steel: a score you have marked verified
  • Glass: claimed only
  • Outline: unknown
  • Solid line and dot: the verified score
  • Hairline and ring: every score counted
  • Carnelian: ahead on verified evidence
40/81Distributor A (example): verified / claimed score
63/75Distributor B (example): verified / claimed score
Verified score (of 100)
  1. Distributor A (example)81 including claims40
  2. Distributor B (example)75 including claims63
Scores by criterion (0 to 4), with evidence status
RowLegal registration and good standingBeneficial ownership knownTrack record with similar productsCoverage of target regionsFinancial capacityReferences from current principals
Distributor A (example)4verified3claimed3verified4claimed2unknown3verified
Distributor B (example)3verified4verified2claimed3verified3verified2claimed

Checks still open

  • Gap: Distributor A (example): Beneficial ownership known (claimed only).
  • Check: Distributor A (example): Coverage of target regions (claimed only).
  • Check: Distributor A (example): Financial capacity (unknown).
  • Check: Distributor B (example): Track record with similar products (claimed only).
  • Check: Distributor B (example): References from current principals (claimed only).
  • Note: Nothing here is an allegation.Unverified means not yet checked, not doubtful. Verify identity and ownership through official registries.
Your editable templatePartner comparison matrixTry this form

Practice 08: Growth, representation & partnershipsFree · instant results on this pageTool owner: Kenneth GagakumaVersion 1.0 ·

Your editable template

Partner comparison matrix, by email once delivery is connected.

Partner comparison matrix (spreadsheet) with the evidence gaps still to close

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Method and limits

It organises your evidence; it does not verify anyone.

How the two scores are counted

  1. 01

    Each criterion carries a weight of 1 to 3. Score = Σ(score × weight) ÷ (4 × Σ weights) × 100.

  2. 02

    The verified score counts only scores backed by verified evidence; the claimed score counts everything.

  3. 03

    Every unverified score becomes an open check; registration, ownership and contracting gaps are listed as critical.

  4. 04

    A lead is named only when one partner is ahead on verified evidence: equal scores are level, and nothing verified is no lead.

What it cannot tell you

  • Identity, ownership and sanctions checks need official registries and, where needed, professionals.
  • Nothing in the matrix is an allegation about any partner.
  • “Verified” is your own mark. The tool cannot see a source, and the firm has not seen one either.

Quality rule No allegation or identity treated as verified without sources.

Close at one prism’s corner: the green-clear edge of thick glass, the brushed face of the steel core behind it and the air gap between them, with a band of carnelian glass crossing the frame once.
Two scores, counted separately: what is claimed, and what is proved.
A tall steel-clad core standing clear beside the glazed floors of the building above the sea, a band of carnelian glass at its top the only colour.
Evidence, standing without its claims.

When an open check needs a person

The matrix lists what you have not yet proved. Closing those checks is separate work: registry searches, references, visits. It is scoped and priced before it starts, and nothing on this page has been checked by the firm.

Kenneth GagakumaTool owner

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