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Comment by hownottowrite | Hacker News Reader

Because I have a whole bunch of employees who still like to eat and a whole bunch of customers who love what we do. If I stop, all that stops too.

The state of my partnership might be crap, but the worst day I’ve ever had working for myself is still better than the best day I had working for someone else.

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Can you buy them out?

That would be one way to kill the nuisance and find some more joy in what it looks like your self-respect forces you to do.

Alternatively, find new partners that are interested in funding the buyout. Post in Who is looking to collaborate and just mention that you are looking for deeper than normal pockets, maybe?

I went this way a couple years back, but one partner is intractable.

One yes and the other no. It’s a rather complicated, self-inflicted situation. Cleaning up the mess would definitely raise the joy factor. I’ve been working for awhile to find a mutually acceptable solution but we are at an impasse. So, I can get a bigger bite of the apple but probably never get the whole thing.

Ok, then you should offer them to buy you out at the same valuation at which you would be happy to buy them out. And if they don't want to accept that you have to walk.

Keep in mind that your loyalty to your customers and your employees can and will be used against you if you don't put your foot down and put some kind of ultimatum on the table.

Then they can choose between having money in their pocket or a large chunk of nothing at all.

Best of luck with all this!

Thanks! And yes, that's exactly what is happening.

Would it be feasible and better to start a new business and let the customers and employees who want to migrate across?

Not unless you like lawsuits.

Precisely and when one party has a business lawyer for a sibling it gets even more expensive.

Not in this case. As Jacques notes, there’s the legal barrier but there are also a few other unique factors.

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