Hey everyone,

This is my first time posting on here. I wanted to run this by some others and see what the best thing to do is from other business owners.

I started my business a while few years ago now and then added a business partner after a little bit. He is a friend and I thought he was going to be a great partner so I offered him 50% ownership. (I know, what was I thinking 🤦🏻‍♂️) He didn't bring anything really to the business other than a few items that would help us in the short term.

Fast forward a couple years. We are now in a spot where I am doing all the work all the time and he almost does nothing. We have a weird structure setup where it's 50/50 ownership but the meaning of that is odd. I get a full time salary and he wants to only be paid hourly. This is fine and works out well overall. But I'll admit that is not 50/50 at all. Among many other weird split things, it is just an odd setup right now.

Anyway, the reason I post is I am trying to get advice on this part of this. I am trying to grow this company and get bigger and do big things and try to spend money where it needs to be and push the envelope to help with that process. He does not. He doesn't want to spend any money and wants things to stay slow and small. (he isn't an entrepreneur at all)

How do I best resolve this problem?

We have a long term friendship but the relationship is weird. He hates confrontation and doesn't see anything he says or does(nt) do an issue. The only thing he cares about or pushes back on really, is growing and spending money. Do I try to buy him out and if so I would love some insight on how to go about doing this cause I don't have funds to just outright pay him and how do a grasp the actual value of our company? Or do I leave it alone and just do what I need to and want to and hope he comes along? Do I try to split things with him and take back full ownership? I am just at a loss and not sure what the next steps should be. Am I overthinking all of this?

I would love to hear any and all of your insights.

Thank you!