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Original poster

Trapped with gf, could lose everything

91 replies

stupididiotbastard · 30/11/2025 16:58

Trapped w/ gf who’s listed as co founder on our company

I stupidly listed my gf as a co founder on our shared company years ago. Trying to separate while maintaining the company (extremely profitable) would mean that I would lose a proportion of wealth that I’m not prepared to do.

I have fallen out of love with her after almost a decade together. I’ve met someone else and I want to leave her but I can’t. The current compromise is that we will be in an open relationship. I’ve fallen in love with someone else who is not comfortable with the open relationship.

I honestly don’t know what to do. Is there any way I can separate without her nuking my life and finances? Anyone have any experience with separating from a co director?

OP posts:
ginasevern · 30/11/2025 17:41

Novostella · 30/11/2025 17:31

The OP never mentioned a threesome. They said “The current compromise is that we will be in an open relationship” The OP is seeing someone else, that doesn’t mean a threesome.

Show quote history

Oh that's OK then!

Crispus · 30/11/2025 17:40

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 30/11/2025 17:40

ZenNudist · 30/11/2025 17:06

Do you mean she has shares ? I don't understand what her being a founder has to do with not breaking up.

I'm an accountant who deals with this kind of thing.

If she has shares there's still no obligation to buy her out. It depends what the Articles of association say.

Finally - someone actually referring to the company's constitutional documents as being determinative rather than saying 'oh, he's got to buy her out'

Viviennemary · 30/11/2025 17:38

See a lawyer. But you haven't much option other than to pay her off.

YellowGuido · 30/11/2025 17:38

So you want your (free) cake and to eat it, too?? Knob.

Cantbloodyrememberthenameonthread · 30/11/2025 17:36

Struggling to understand how breakup = unable to manage a company?

why have either of you got to lose the company?

Tillow4ever · 30/11/2025 17:36

This has got to be a reverse surely? No way is anyone this thick skinned as to why their partner might be upset etc.

OP if you are the gf whose partner is cheating on you but won’t end the relationship because they dint want to give you your fair share, YOU can end things. See a solicitor to learn what you are entitled to from the business.

If it really isn’t reverse, end the relationship, see a solicitor and work out a fair way to buy her out OR agree a way to co time as co-owners when not together.

Lemonysnickety · 30/11/2025 17:35

You’re being extremely inconsiderate right now. There are other people involved, and their needs matter too

HeadyLamarr · 30/11/2025 17:33

So you are cheating on your girlfriend of 10 years while trying to work out how to stiff her from her financial entitlement to the company she co-founded.

Aren't you a prince.

Vivi0 · 30/11/2025 17:32

Too bad, so sad.

Novostella · 30/11/2025 17:31

ginasevern · 30/11/2025 17:09

So you want to leave your gf of 10 years with nothing but also have a threesome with her and your new one? Yeah, that all checks out. Wtf.

The OP never mentioned a threesome. They said “The current compromise is that we will be in an open relationship” The OP is seeing someone else, that doesn’t mean a threesome.

Dissappearedupmyownarse · 30/11/2025 17:31

stupididiotbastard · 30/11/2025 16:58

Trapped w/ gf who’s listed as co founder on our company

I stupidly listed my gf as a co founder on our shared company years ago. Trying to separate while maintaining the company (extremely profitable) would mean that I would lose a proportion of wealth that I’m not prepared to do.

I have fallen out of love with her after almost a decade together. I’ve met someone else and I want to leave her but I can’t. The current compromise is that we will be in an open relationship. I’ve fallen in love with someone else who is not comfortable with the open relationship.

I honestly don’t know what to do. Is there any way I can separate without her nuking my life and finances? Anyone have any experience with separating from a co director?

So shes invested time, money, effort and a decade of her life into 'your' business and you are denying her a fair portion of that in order to move on a start her life again?
You sound like one of those twatty men who is angry that their wife has the audacity to want a chunk of 'their' hard earned pension because she hasn't worked for the past 20yrs!!!
Fuck off you complete arsehole and I hope she takes you to the cleaners and back again for good measure and uses 'your' money to fund her legal support in doing so.....

shuggles · 30/11/2025 17:29

Daleksatemyshed · 30/11/2025 17:23

So after ten years you want to leave her and the only reason you're having second thoughts is because you want to take all your money with you. You don't love your GF or the new woman if the cash is more important than either of them. There's a word for people like you and it's not a nice word @stupididiotbastard

Get real.

MannersAreAll · 30/11/2025 17:28

I stupidly listed my gf as a co founder on our shared company years ago.

If it's a shared company, which you describe as "ours", then it sounds like her being listed as a co founder was the normal, fair and sensible option.

If you want the company to switch from "ours" to "mine" then obviously you'll have to pay accordingly. Just as she would if she wanted it to be hers rather than joint.

KimTheresPeopleThatAreDying · 30/11/2025 17:25

Your thread title is melodramatic. You wouldn’t lose everything if you bought her out at a fair market value. Stop being silly.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 30/11/2025 17:24

I would love to hear her take on your falling in love with someone whilst still being in a relationship

Jennifer Lopez Judging You GIF by NBC
Daleksatemyshed · 30/11/2025 17:23

So after ten years you want to leave her and the only reason you're having second thoughts is because you want to take all your money with you. You don't love your GF or the new woman if the cash is more important than either of them. There's a word for people like you and it's not a nice word @stupididiotbastard

AwfullyGood · 30/11/2025 17:23

Is she both a director and a shareholder?
Who is the beneficial owner?

You should speak to your solicitor.

LivingTheDreamish · 30/11/2025 17:16

Presumably she owns shares and is not just a director? You need a lawyer and yes this will likely be expensive. You were happy to share your worldly goods with her 10 years ago and it’s only now you want to leave that you’re having second thoughts. You can’t turn back the clock on this and will have to accept that. But it might not be as bad as you think - you will only know when you have consulted a lawyer. Find one who specializes in business exits.

ginasevern · 30/11/2025 17:09

So you want to leave your gf of 10 years with nothing but also have a threesome with her and your new one? Yeah, that all checks out. Wtf.

Tumbler2121 · 30/11/2025 17:07

Are you in uk? Founder doesn’t matter .. do you have a partnership document or is the company limited with you having equal numbers of shares? Do you both take salaries or just dividends?

does she play a useful part in the company?

you could agree to run the company together without being in a relationship

ZenNudist · 30/11/2025 17:06

Do you mean she has shares ? I don't understand what her being a founder has to do with not breaking up.

I'm an accountant who deals with this kind of thing.

If she has shares there's still no obligation to buy her out. It depends what the Articles of association say.

Euphesia · 30/11/2025 17:06

Ncforthis2244 · 30/11/2025 17:00

Well if she's a co-founder you offer to buy her out at a fair market value surely?

Presumably this is the bit he doesn't want to do.

ChloeMorningstar · 30/11/2025 17:05

What do you want here?

To leave her with nothing after 10plus years together?

Did she do anything to help build the company? Or support you while you did?

Barrenfieldoffucks · 30/11/2025 17:05

Shared company? So hers as well? Value the business and her proportion of it and come to an arrangement, go on your separate ways.

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