Loosing a best friend because of business!

[1111166666]

Hi All!

How do you tell your best friend (with whom you started a business partnership) who has really helped you out, that you no longer want to work with him and would like to branch out on your own.???

We just don’t work well together. There is no communication between us, we have a different approach when it comes to business and the way to deal with certain things. Also, there has been a lot of tension between us because of this reason. We don’t communicate and I feel he doesn’t work hard enough. I just want out!! I’m constantly angry at him and frustrated because I feel that I’m doing all the work.

I’m worried that if I leave this company and start working on my own, that it will be the end of our friendship. Is it worth it? But, then again is it worth feeling the way I have been?? I have a goal and I just feel that our working relationship is preventing us from moving forward and reaching that goal.

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

[Ralf]

You should be straight with him. If he is really your best friend, he will understand. I know that the mere prospect of it may seem very unconfortable, but best friends should be able to talk. And if you're still friends afterwards, you can be sure that your friendship wasn't a fluke. You never know, maybe it will cement your friendship on the long run. Good luck!
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[Jamie (K)]

I agree with Ralf. Just tell him. Be kind, and even somewhat self-deprecating, but he has to be told. You shouldn't keep yourself trapped in a business you don't want to be in, just for the sake of a friendship. After all, it's your friend, not your spouse.

You might tell him that you think the two of you make better friends than business partners. Let him know that you don't want the end of the business partnership to be the end of the friendship.

I have done business with a friend or two, and it didn't work out. We both took an honest look at the situation, stopped doing business together, and we remained friends.

[1111166666]

Hello Ralf and Jamie.

Thank you very much for your advice. I will have to tell him. I'm just worried that the friendship will never be the same again. But like you said Ralf, i guess this way i will know if the friendship was really what i thought it was. Also, there is a language and i guess a cultural barrier between us. I will find someone who can sit down with us both and translate what each of us has to say. Jamie, you are right - we make better friends than business partners. I will tell him that i just want my friend back and that working together is just not meant to be for us - and if we continue like this we could lose our friendship too. I will tell him that we can collaborate on certain projects (that could work), but to actually work and run a business together is just impossible.

Once again, thank you so much. It's just been playing on my mind recently and it's good to get an outsiders opinion.

Thank You.

[Boke]

Business + Friends very rarely works out, its just like money and friends, you end up losing both

[1111166666]

Hi Boke.

Yes, very true. I regret it a bit now. I just hope i don't end up losing both. I think i will still have the friendship, but it will not be the same.

[Jamie (K)]

[1111166666]

just want to say thank you Ralf, Jamie and Boke....

I spoke with my friend/business partner and told him how i felt and that i just can't continue working with him. I was honest with him and i actually felt much better afterwards. I think he understands and he realizes that he has to change if he wants to move forward with his career. I told him that we are on different wave lengths at the moment and in order for us to progress and reach our goal we have to work seperately....

Now, i have the problem of having to tell our investors that i want out!! This is the scary part.

[Boke]

I think you handled it well, honesty goes a long way

Try the same with the investors, be honest and strong