Business is all about relationships. Unfortunately, just like certain personal relationships, some business relationships will eventually come to an end. The key to ending these relationships, no matter how disastrous the results, is to end them graciously.

I can already see my email, as well as the comments to this article, lighting up with people saying: "End all relationships graciously? Are you nuts? How can I end a relationship graciously when my vendor did X, Y and Z?"

After a decade in the interactive space (all on the client/buy side), I keep saying that I've seen everything when it comes to relationships with vendors and publishers going awry. Of course, just when I start to believe this to be true, something comes up in a business relationship that I've never seen or even conceived of before.

Sometimes it isn't even something that goes wrong, but instead it's just a decision that arises out of changing business needs. When something goes wrong, breaking up is easier. But when you have to break up with an otherwise good partner because of changing business needs, it's hard for both parties.

Regardless of the reason for the breakup, there are four primary reasons to end a relationship on good terms.

Author notes: Sean Cheyney is the VP of marketing and business development for AccuQuote.