Posted: 3/29/2005 1:50:38 PM EDT
My partner has had a bug up his ass about the office rent we're paying, and we've been casually looking at other places to rent or buy. Today my secretary came in the office and said "We're moving by the end of the month."  Long story short, without consulting me, he's given notice on our present digs and agreed (not in writing yet, I hope) to sublet space in an office condo building. Here are the problems: 1. It infuriates me to have anyone make decisions that will affect me without at least consulting me. I don't like for my wife to buy shirts for me. 2. The building is kind of a dump. Nothing elegant, impressive, or awe-inspiring about. Not (unlike our present location) a place that makes people say "$30,000 nonrefundable retainer? Well, OK! Is cash acceptable?" 3. The building is filled with mediocre shitheel lawyers of no discernable professional reputation. 4. The two guys whose names are already on the door to the suite are (a) a former judge who was defrocked and disbarred (20+ years ago; since readmitted to practice) for screwing underage girls and (b) a sloppily dressed buffoon. I dress down when I'm not seeing people, but I have never seen this guy with his top button buttoned, even in court. He wears Hush Puppies and pastel sport coats to court! 5. New phone numbers, since it's on a different hub (or whatever it's called). 6. Maximum savings of $800 a month, but there's no way to tell since my partner isn't the most studious guy in the world and I fully expect to find out that the lease adds in rent for common areas, pro-rated building maintenance, custodial service, et c. 7. The building is 4 miles from my house, rather than 6 blocks like the present place. 8. I am mad enough to chew nails. I will wait till the chance of raising my voice, cussing, or personally demeaning him has passed. Any suggestions on what I should say or how I should say it if (a) we can still back out or (b) we're stuck? I'm not interested in parting ways over this. In fact, I'm largely just venting. Your comments and advice will be much appreciated. |
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If your partner is not the majority stakeholder in the business: its time to move on and seperate from him, he feels as though you are not an equal partner. If he is majority: then it's his decision live with it, or move on and become the decision maker. Either way it sounds like it isn't really a partnership. |
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He made this decision without consulting you?! How could he sign, or give notice on a lease without you? Do you work for him? I would be pissed too. Do you need him? If not I would look for a new partner and keep the current office. (at least you would be involved with the decision making for your business) |
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I would speak to him in private, and first EXPLAIN (calmly) just how pissed off his action made you - and then have a conversation about the decisions that were made and why. Maybe this is the result of some miscommunication or misunderstanding. Perhaps you guys had a conversation about it in the past that you thought was vague and nonspecific, but that he somehow took to be some king of agreement or endorsement on your part? Always check for the honest mistake or stupid misunderstanding first - THEN go to the yelling!  (Why am I giving YOU advice? You're much smarter than me.)
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| are you 50/50? Who is the President? The President has the power to decide even if you are 50-50 owners and partners. You can talk with an attorney but he will tell you the same thing, best thing you can do is go on vacation for two weeks including the moving time and let them take care of the rest. |
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Get a divorce. It amazes me why people form partnerships, especially concerning the aspect of liablility. It takes two exceptional people to make it work 
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I know you said you're not interested in parting ways over it, but that's the only thing that comes to mind. Maybe you could play it a bit, and say "I hear you're breaking away and renting some rat-hole. You could have told me first!" Any way you handle it, make sure the new place knows at the beginning of business tomorrow that you're calling it off. Life can be very bad when you hate going to work every day.
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and today is the 29th - you're talking about moving RIGHT NOW - oh hell no. |
See! Attorneys really are dirtbags, and sometimes, even to each other.  I had an airplane partner that did essentially the same thing - swapped our middling hangar for a dirty, unsecure, wet (it had 3 inches of water the day I found out), POS; I told them to undo the trade. WTF, it's a business. |