Ask HN: Should I fix something that is still profitable?
Me and a college friend started our company in 2006. Since then we've launched a couple of websites and few have them have gained good traction (we’re making about $500k in total profit every year which we split 50/50).
Now while we’re both co-founders on all our sites, yet ever since the beginning I’ve been doing 95% of the work from idea, marketing, SEO, PR, design, affiliates, etc (you name it). Basically, I never thought of it as work, for me I’ve always loved learning, and doing this stuff. Since I started the business first, initially when he joined me, he looked to me to teach him the ropes. Thing is, after all these years, he still does. Maybe it’s lack of confidence or motivation or complacence, but he rarely ever has shown any input or initiative to help our business (nothing till date except stuff I’ve told him to do).
Yet he still is my best friend and a really great guy and he stuck with me for the first two years when we did not make anything. He got campus placed but turned down the job offer and joined me for free to work together on projects.
Anyway, I’ve talked to him about a dozen of times and while he agrees he needs to step-up his game, it generally fizzles out in a month because he just can’t work without someone else telling him what to do and we’re always back to square one.
To cut a long story short, at the end of the day we’re just two guys behind this whole business. It is good to have him around because I’ve tried working alone before and it is terribly boring and unproductive. So even though he doesn't do much for business I still like to have another person, let alone my best friend, hang out with me all day. And all things considered we’re profitable. On the other hand, it feels rather unfair that for the last 5 years I’ve been doing most of the work, splitting profits in the middle and carrying around a dead weight which is causing me to burn-out.
What do I do HN? Should I fire my best friend, at least for all the new sites I create? We have an awesome relationship (we’re practically like brothers) but I feel that if do this, it may ruin our friendship.
Sorry, if this is too much drama but I don’t know who else to talk to and I’m going crazy thinking this over and over and not arriving at any good solution. So, decided to share it here, in case anyone cares to comment.