Said It Here

How do I deal with a 50/50 business partner who does no work?

When one partner carries the entire workload and financial burden while the inactive partner contributes nothing, it forces them to initiate all communication and push every task forward. This creates a trap where the absent partner can suddenly resurface demanding full control over account decisions, leaving the active partner struggling to establish boundaries without blowing up the company.

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

  1. 1
    Trying to unwind the business responsibly and pay off debt
  2. 2
    Carrying out all operations and communications independently
  3. 3
    Stepping in to do the work yourself
  4. 4
    Considering firing or buying out the cofounder

In their words

Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.

“I own a vending business 50/50 with my business partner. The biggest issue is that this isn’t really a situation where he recently stopped contributing. Looking back at the business, he has done essentially zero meaningful work since we started.”source ↗

“I have to initiate communication. I have to identify what needs to happen. I have to push things forward.”source ↗

“Meanwhile, I’m contributing more money and doing essentially all of the work.”source ↗

Top_Pollution_5743 · r/smallbusiness · 4 upvotes

“He was supposed to set it up. Six weeks later, the result was 8 ignored pings and a 12-day payout hold that almost left us unable to cover hosting.”source ↗

“Now, he has resurfaced and is demanding 'full say on account decisions,' despite having done zero work on the actual setup.”source ↗

“How do I frame this conversation? I need to establish boundaries without blowing up the company.”source ↗

Murky-Accountant3880 · r/ecommerce

Where this came up

r/ecommercer/smallbusinessbusiness partnershipspartnershipssmall business

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