Hello Partner.
There are many Rules and Regulations.
It takes time to find a Contract.
It takes thought to write the changes.
- Manager for daily duties.
- Making mutual decisions.
- Ownership of the assets.
- How we will resolve issues.
- Taxes. Death.
Oh yes, and profits.
Much boilerplate but not too much heat.
Much cool but never chill.
And in the meantime, yes, in the meantime, folks are crawling out of the woods .
They each have a paper flag to wave.
The State.
The County.
The City.
The Broker.
The Accountant.
The Lawyer.
The Bank.
The Lease Manager.
The Manufacturer.
The Distributor.
And, oh yes, the Owners.
Each want $$.
Each want time.
This country would double small business productivity if every clerk, administrator, representative, agent, officer, consultant and licensed professional was required to call me to make appointments, submit proposed paperwork for my review, drive over to my office and wait until I can see them.
And then to demonstrate point by point, line by line, why I must sign on any line or pay any fee in order to carry out tasks only they insist are necessary.
Longer, original version:
Starting a business from the trenches
or
Starting a business is the trenches
I thought of marital stuff a few moments ago. Maybe you don’t have time for this. But I’m writing it anyway. I thought of marital stuff because I am working on the administration of a new business. The business required a partner. I got a partner.
Now I must assure that the partner and I stay happy. It takes dedication, good will. It will require patience. And warmth. Much effort. Enthusiasm. The mere preamble is absorbing. Hours of pondering. It consumes thought and exchange to compose an agreement to manage current duties, proposed outcomes and how we will resolve potential upsets. Buy Out. Taxes. Death. Oh yes, and profits.
Much boilerplate but not too much heat. Much cool but never chill.
And in the meantime, yes, in the meantime, folks are crawling out of the woods .
They each have a pulp & parchment flag to wave. The State. The County. The City. The Broker. The Accountant. The Lawyer. The Other Lawyer. The Bank. The Lease Manager. The Manufacturer. The Supplier. The Distributor. Each want $70, $62.93, $450, $4250, $27,450. They each want me to call them before AM coffee or a bit after lunch. They want me to drive over, stand in their lobby or sit a few minutes in their fresh customer service area. They expect me composed, clean, showing a posture but relaxed. A good credit score. Not too much tan. Appropriate creases.
They wait for two to thirty typed pages on their counter, their desk, or more personably in their hands. Each thumb pages. Some thumb each page. All search for errors. They want chat but not distraction. Slide a few pages in my direction. And then pause, point, focus, point, pause. Observing my signature, again, and here, then, yes, again, and so, and there too. And thanks for your check. Is that MasterCard? Sorry, no cash. It’s been such a pleasure. I hope I can crawl out of the woods to serve you again soon.
But it’s hot. My dog is in the car. To whom do I write the check?