[mwilk1027]

I could use a little advice. My best friend and I have talked about starting a business together since we were children. We have mulled over multiple ideas but they were always too extreme to do initially. I have finally found something we could do and love- but there is a catch.

I went to school for business and have the background and motivation to get this started. I have spent countless hours on research developing the business plan and she has done nothing. I have kept her updated but she barely ever has feedback or opinions for me. She is more "creative" and has no knowledge on any aspect of starting and running a business. She would be a key resource for what I want to do, but I do not feel I should have to share the company with her.

My question is, have any of you run into this problem? I do not want my friendship with her suffer; but I am very afraid that if I give her more power than she deserves that I will resent her in the future. Any and all feedback and assistance would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[Outta Hand]

Hate to say it but keep the friendship and scratch the business plans unless you don't mind loosing this person as a friend because it'll only get harder and more personally and emotional as time goes by. Thats a big can of worms to open so be sure you think it through first

[aspire2b]

I have been there and done that unfortunately. I put in all the hours to get the business up and running and my partner was very much the same as yours. As soon as I started making the money though, they piped up and took 50% of the credit. Luckily he did not yet have a share in the company so I told him he wouldn't be getting any either. All I could do was be truthful to him and he accepted that.

My advice is to cut her out the loop all together. Having friends as partners is always risky but added to the doubts you are already having before you've even started is a definite no no.

If she asks why then make sure you let her know that it's the lack of commitment she's been showing.

Jamie

[akula]

cut her ASAP, because she is not happy. when people are happy, they work. stop torturing her and holding out like she owes you something. it's you who is gonna screw things up if you put a guilt trip on this poor soul.

at any rate: you shouldn't be hard on her. only weird, kamikaze type people do startups. she just sounds like a normal prerson who wouldn't be caught dead doing the kind of entrepreneurial masochism that you're into.

btw: power is never given. it's taken. if she wanted it - she would have taken it from you. but she doesn't want it.

[CP Mr Ofevaw]

Hey, when friends hand you dillemas, make dillemanaide... Otherwise, just listen to Akula.

[akula]

Originally Posted by CP Mr Ofevaw

Hey, when friends hand you dillemas, make dillemanaide... Otherwise, just listen to Akula.

lol, I would so put a DISCLAIMER on that.

yo! I like how you're moving along cuz. You got some great stories cooking. Your vision of where the net is going and where the opportunities are, is expansive, rational and compelling.

[sorry for the hijack]

[mwilk1027]

Thanks guys. The feedback is very helpful. I appreciate all of your help.

[p3rsian]

well I do understand what you mean completley, but I personally think you are becoming a little greedy. Here is a good example for you
Lets say me and you want to be partners.
I am a lazy person who likes to sit on my ass all day but I have alot of my daddys money which I can invest in .
You on the other hand need my investment , but you are a type of person who is very serious and does his reasearch every second.
you can never compare ppls talents or what they have to say oooh you deserve this % or that %.
you know what i mean ?
you said yourself your friend is very creative .. what happens if he comes up with an amazing idea which could have givin you like a 200% profilt but your greed for just 50% leting him share ruined it .
on the other hand your friend might not even come up with an idea at all so your wasting the 50%.
so if i were u personally i would work with her.
but again business is business, friendship is friendship

[dre]

well I do understand what you mean completley, but I personally think you are becoming a little greedy. Here is a good example for you
Lets say me and you want to be partners.
I am a lazy person who likes to sit on my ass all day but I have alot of my daddys money which I can invest in .
You on the other hand need my investment , but you are a type of person who is very serious and does his reasearch every second.
you can never compare ppls talents or what they have to say oooh you deserve this % or that %.
you know what i mean ?
you said yourself your friend is very creative .. what happens if he comes up with an amazing idea which could have givin you like a 200% profilt but your greed for just 50% leting him share ruined it .
on the other hand your friend might not even come up with an idea at all so your wasting the 50%.
so if i were u personally i would work with her.
but again business is business, friendship is friendship

[skatewhale]

Originally Posted by p3rsian

well I do understand what you mean completley, but I personally think you are becoming a little greedy. Here is a good example for you
Lets say me and you want to be partners.
I am a lazy person who likes to sit on my ass all day but I have alot of my daddys money which I can invest in .
You on the other hand need my investment , but you are a type of person who is very serious and does his reasearch every second.
you can never compare ppls talents or what they have to say oooh you deserve this % or that %.
you know what i mean ?
you said yourself your friend is very creative .. what happens if he comes up with an amazing idea which could have givin you like a 200% profilt but your greed for just 50% leting him share ruined it .
on the other hand your friend might not even come up with an idea at all so your wasting the 50%.
so if i were u personally i would work with her.
but again business is business, friendship is friendship

p3rsian has a point. How about a limited partnership?
She gets a percent of the revenue, but not shares of your company.
Or give her smaller share of your business. so you've still got the decision making power.
Or how about a bonus system, give her a small percentage of revenue (5% or 10%) but give her bonus for the work if she does all the work.
Again, a formal agreement will probably help if you are to go into business with a friend.

You can't expect a creative person to sit on a chair all day and do the boring productive tasks. Creative type (like me :P) always needs time and space to explore new ideas.

Cheers

[Outta Hand]

Originally Posted by skatewhale

p3rsian has a point. How about a limited partnership?
She gets a percent of the revenue, but not shares of your company.
Or give her smaller share of your business. so you've still got the decision making power.
Or how about a bonus system, give her a small percentage of revenue (5% or 10%) but give her bonus for the work if she does all the work.
Again, a formal agreement will probably help if you are to go into business with a friend.

You can't expect a creative person to sit on a chair all day and do the boring productive tasks. Creative type (like me :P) always needs time and space to explore new ideas.

Cheers

It personally sounds like the person in this situation could become a pain in the side because you don't want to work with someone who is lazy and unfocused... it slows everything down and gets you unmotivated... Bad Blood