Business advice???

[DJDIGGLER]

I probably know the answer to this but I wanted some outside opinions first.

I am opening a franchise of my business up north and have two people that will be majority shareholders (basically owners of that branch). One of them is my best friend and the other is a friend.

My best friend never gets things done when I ask, and after many many inquiries I still don't get results. He doesn't return calls when he says, and always puts everything off. On the other hand he is a very hard worker and a perfectionist to boot. The other friend is always punctual, gets everything done on time, and returns calls 99% of the time.

I'm at the point where I'm going to cut my best friend because I don't like his level of involvement and lack of ambition when it comes to dealing with starting this business. I don't think it's fair to the other friend who is doing his part that they have equal shares.

So here's the question. Should I cut my best friend from this business?

[T-Man007]

Re: Business advice???

Well, rule # 1, never hire friends or family. LOL Too late for rule # 1.

Rule # 2, delegate jobs that suit their strengths. They can maintain equal shares but the organized friend needs to be the customer contact person, the guy who schedules stuff and the guy who makes sure the job is done on time. The other guy, your best friend, should be the one doing the actual jobs or at least the on the site guy who makes sure everything is done to perfection.

You have two guys with two totally different strengths. I would not expect an unorganized guy to become organized. I would find what he's best at and let him loose. Then have the organized guy make sure the administration is handled and make sure the unorganized guy stays on time. This way, both guys stay busy. One is out getting new business, setting schedules, keeping in touch with the customers, collecting money and making things run like a well oiled machine. The other guy is the work horse. He does the job to the best of his ability and doesn't have to deal with any of the other BS. It's obvious he doesn't like to do the other stuff or he would. So, tell him he no longer has to deal with that stuff he just has to do the jobs and the other guy will deal with all the admin BS.

That's how to maximaize what you have IMO.

[NATE]

Re: Business advice???

T-man worded that like a politician lol...

One guy works and one guy is a slacker. I dont know that you find jobs to suit the slacker, that just makes him a bigger slacker. Eventually that leads to the worker being upset that the slacker gets paid as much as he does and rightfully so.

Take from a slacker, we NEVER change!

[Starr]

Re: Business advice???

Good advice from T-Mann. You and your partners are also going to need to sit down and have a straight talk about the delegation of work and responsibilities. Hopefully all involved are mature enough to be able to distinguish the working and personal relationships and you're all able to persevere through the start up portion of this endeavour.

[daved150]

Re: Business advice???

t-man hit that one perfect. play to there strength's. the best thing is, you know what they (the strength's of each) are BEFORE your going into this. set it up accordingly...good luck bro

[angryoldman]

Re: Business advice???

Well, rule # 1, never hire friends or family. LOL Too late for rule # 1.

Rule # 2, delegate jobs that suit their strengths. They can maintain equal shares but the organized friend needs to be the customer contact person, the guy who schedules stuff and the guy who makes sure the job is done on time. The other guy, your best friend, should be the one doing the actual jobs or at least the on the site guy who makes sure everything is done to perfection.

You have two guys with two totally different strengths. I would not expect an unorganized guy to become organized. I would find what he's best at and let him loose. Then have the organized guy make sure the administration is handled and make sure the unorganized guy stays on time. This way, both guys stay busy. One is out getting new business, setting schedules, keeping in touch with the customers, collecting money and making things run like a well oiled machine. The other guy is the work horse. He does the job to the best of his ability and doesn't have to deal with any of the other BS. It's obvious he doesn't like to do the other stuff or he would. So, tell him he no longer has to deal with that stuff he just has to do the jobs and the other guy will deal with all the admin BS.

That's how to maximaize what you have IMO.

I concur 110%. I set up Corporations, Partnerships, LLC's, etc.... for people all the time. You may want to make your friend, the workhorse with horrible communications skills, your VP or sales, or a position better suited for his hard working abilities.

[kite]

Re: Business advice???

Well said Tman

[NATE]

Re: Business advice???

Get rid of the slacker or live with it until it becomes a major problem, your choice......good luck!

[Fit2bLarge]

Re: Business advice???

hit the slacker where it hurts, the pocket.

redistribute the shares, 60-40 70-30

[NATE]

Re: Business advice???

hit the slacker where it hurts, the pocket.

redistribute the shares, 60-40 70-30

and if he improves compinsate him..

but he wont..so don't worry.

[mick-G]

Re: Business advice???

Good advice from 007. And i will repeat. Never, ever mix friendship w/business.

[T-Man007]

Re: Business advice???

Get rid of the slacker or live with it until it becomes a major problem, your choice......good luck!

He's not a slacker when it comes to work. Read his post again. The guy does awesome work, he's just bad at the communication with the customers and he bad at organization. He's not totally useless, he's just useless when if comes to admin stuff.

[NATE]

Re: Business advice???

He's not a slacker when it comes to work. Read his post again. The guy does awesome work, he's just bad at the communication with the customers and he bad at organization. He's not totally useless, he's just useless when if comes to admin stuff.

please forget everything i have said in this thread

[T-Man007]

Re: Business advice???

please forget everything i have said in this thread

[DJDIGGLER]

Re: Business advice???

Thanks for the advice guys.

I guess I'm just starting to get worried because the business doesn't open until September and it's coming up quick. I know this guy works hard when he does work, but he's always got damn excuses why he couldn't get something done. I'm afraid to keep him on because he seems to always put everything else in front of the business, and he seems to have zero ambition. He also always lies about things and overexaggerates.

I shot a few tests his way like I sent him a contract and it took him literally 1 month to sign it and get it back to me, and the only reason I got it was because the other guy made him sign it and sent it for him. So that test failed. Plus I called him every week about it and he would always say "oh I sent that this morning" which of course he did not! Lie #1!

Then I had another test where I asked him to get rates for shops around the area and gave him specifics of what to look for so he would have an adequate size shop with the right features. I gave him two weeks for that and he didn't call anywhere. At first he lied and said he did, then when I called his bluff and told him to email me the prices, sizes, and company info he said he didn't remember any of it, and didn't write it down. Then he tried to come up with crap off the top of his head and you can tell when people are searching for stuff to say. In all essence it means he lied. Lie #2!

So that's the reason why I truly needed advice. I'm trying to figure out whether it's worth keeping him on when he constantly procrastinates, and lies, keeping in mind that he does work hard at manual labor? I don't know if the positive outweighs the negative on this one.

I do agree with you Tmann... But I didn't elaborate enough on the situation for you to see the whole picture. Would you opinion be the same knowing the whole issue now?

So what do you think now guys?