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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think i should be paid

50 replies

99luftballoon · 15/09/2012 21:34

My DH runs a new training business with a business partner Anyway to top it off:

I have got accreditation to teach the courses, designed and produced all of the courses, do the book keeping, answer emails, design leaflets and brochures, designed the website and organising all of the paperwork. I have not been paid for my 100's of hours of work, but I have said that I would like to be paid when the business starts to make money. (very quiet at mo, due to summer hols) DH says I have to wait until he and BP have got all of their start up costs out of the business (about £6000). I do not want to be paid for my work up until now, but would like to invoice business for £400 per month for 15 hours per week work. DH is worried BP will not like it and does not to rock the boat,

AIBU

OP posts:
nancy75 · 15/09/2012 21:36

If they had to get someone in to do what you do they would have to pay them, why are you different?

HecateHarshPants · 15/09/2012 21:39

yes and no.

No because you pay your bills first. That's how a business works.

When you start up, it can be a long time before you see any money yourself, but you don't recoup your costs before paying your creditors.

I don't imagine them saying to staples oh, hang on, we want to recoup our starting up costs before we pay your bill...

yes because he's your husband and this is your future you're investing in and delaying a payment to you so he can pay himself is still money in the family pot and goes to the same place in the end.

Unless there is no family pot, in which case it's just no and you should refuse to do any more work until they settle your bill

If it was anyone else doing this work - would the other bloke have a problem paying them? No. So if he's expecting you to put it all in for free and gets arsy with you, then he needs to be told a few things about business!

Original poster
99luftballoon · 15/09/2012 21:39

That's what I think, but BP says he needs to get his initial investment back asap. Don't we all :)

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 15/09/2012 21:41

It is not just up to your husband to make the decision. If he has an equal partner in the business, then it has to be a joint decision.

If you dont want to work for free, then dont do it.

Original poster
99luftballoon · 15/09/2012 21:41

DH and I have totally joint finances but I have given up some of my own hours at work to do this. If it was just DH business, I would do it for free.

OP posts:
HecateHarshPants · 15/09/2012 21:42

no he doesn't. That's not the way it works. you are the last to get paid! (and don't I know it!) when you start up, you have to plan and expect to be making bog all in the early days.

If he's like this, watch out. someone who wants to take out of the business before it's able to pay its bills is going to run it into the ground.

HecateHarshPants · 15/09/2012 21:43

then refuse to do any more until you are paid.

And add late payment charges to your invoices.

nancy75 · 15/09/2012 21:43

If your dh and the partner are taking an equal share from the business then you should be paid, because as a couple you are putting more in than the partner

Original poster
99luftballoon · 15/09/2012 21:46

There are not many bills to pay to be honest, except office rent. So basically whatever the business makes can come out to pay start up costs, well that is the plan, although directors will need to take salary at some point, I believe.

OP posts:
Redbindy · 15/09/2012 21:48

Charge them for the labour and the IP rights on work that you have already completed, especially the training courses. You have made substantial investment in time, that is probably more than equivalent to the financial investment by the BP.

LydiasMiletus · 15/09/2012 21:50

I think you are being a little unreasonable. Its not 'his' business and they have agreed they are taking their start up costs back first.
Which is what me and dh did with our business. Replaced the start up costs. If our business goes belly up, we have not actually lost anything as what was put in has been replaced.
I have only just started to be paid a wage from the business (I didn't take a wage at my request to replace our savings) after 18 months.
This was the arrangement we made. Its possible your dh has some arrangement with his partner.

Gingerodgers · 15/09/2012 21:51

There must be tax benefits to paying you. Check it out with an accountant

madwomanintheattic · 15/09/2012 21:52

Well, if none of the three of you are being paid at the mo, and the expectation is that you all will be at the same point in the future, then I don't see too much of an issue, tbh.

Although if you are designing and running the courses, the pr, marketing, and bookkeeping, I'm not entirely sure what the directors are doing? Drinking coffee?

I might have discussed this with them when the 'let's start a business' idea came up in the first place, tbh. Why aren't you a director of the company as well, if you are an integral part in the start up and operations?

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 15/09/2012 21:53

Lydias, the dh can have whatever arrangements he chooses. OP, however, is not a partner in the firm, has done a lot of work, and presumably made financial layouts, as well as her time. Why shouldn't she be paid?

LydiasMiletus · 15/09/2012 21:55

If her bro gbpaid a salary was part of the plan, why hasn't it been agreed?
My point is that her dh may have already made commitments to the partner. Who asked the OP to do this work, what was the preagreed payment arrangement?

madwomanintheattic · 15/09/2012 21:55
Original poster
99luftballoon · 15/09/2012 21:56

DH is out getting business and teaching. BP is still working FT in another job and has done nothing for the business in the last three months.

But that is another thread that should be called. "Ever think you have made a massive error of judgement and chosen the wrong BP..."

OP posts:
OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 15/09/2012 21:58

I'm with your DP. In your position I'd just want to support the business until both partners have their start up cost back. When they start to make profit I would expect to be paid before the directors took a wage, as if you are doing a huge amoun of work that needs to be done, your wage is a cost to the business which comes before profit.

LydiasMiletus · 15/09/2012 21:58

If her being a paid a salary was part of the plan.
I hate my phone.
For me, as long as the business produced enough cash to cover bills I was happy. I didn't need to take a wage until it was running and making a good profit. But that's me. If I needed money our hoi t account had it. I didn't need my own 'wage'.
That's whys it my opinion she could be unreasonable.
Certainly unreasonable to start doing work without sorting this out.
I assume the partner believes she is dpi g this to support the business, not for a wage.

Original poster
99luftballoon · 15/09/2012 21:59

I see what you mean, Lydia. The work was not pre-agreed. I did it because I wanted to and enjoyed it, and do not want paying for the past work, just for the time I put into the day to day running of the business now.

OP posts:
GoldShip · 15/09/2012 22:00

Just stop doing it.

Original poster
99luftballoon · 15/09/2012 22:01

I mean once the business is running well and making a profit

OP posts:
Original poster
99luftballoon · 15/09/2012 22:01

To stop doing it would affect DH and the business. I would never endanger the business

OP posts:
GoldShip · 15/09/2012 22:04

Then what choice does he have?

You've got to understand that you've got to ride the rough with things like this. As long as he knows that'd when the profit comes in, you've got to be paid, then that's that.

LydiasMiletus · 15/09/2012 22:12

I would not class a business as making a profit until the start up costs have been replaced.

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