Hi,
Some of you may have read my previous posts about my partner and SIL.
When we decided to go into business together, I had cake experience of 8 yrs. She had taken Wilton course 1 and 2 an never really decorated.
I am self-taught.
The way it works is one of us takes an order, then we half the work. With the pay, take out whatever the supplies were and then split whatever is left.
She has a habit of taking an order when she doesn't know beans about it or how much work it entails. She also tends to wait until 2 weeks before the event to hammer out an order, then she likes to change them without consulting me first. I am the director of children's ministry at our large churhc, and I have 4 little ones of my own. So I HAVE TO BE SCHEDULED in advance to work aorund all my meeting and life emergencies!
For all of these reasons (that drive me to become a raving lunitic to get my 1/2 done) I have decided to part paths.
WE finished our last cake together this weekend. It was for the cupcakes in my pic. Again she decided to take this ONLY 2 1/2 weeks before the wedding-Even though we have known for 4 months about the wedding. She would not give me any of the money we collected to buy my supplies, so I had to wait for her to buy them and give them to me.
The order was for 200 cupcakes, 150 with gumpaste roses and chocolate butterflies, along with a 6 inch topper and about 12 full roses. When we split the responsibility, I was given the flowers and butterflies- she the baking and frosting.
When I showed up to set the thing up on SAT,(which took 5 hrs JUST to set up!) I was horriflied by the look of the cupcakes and 6 inch topper- the icing was just glopped on and the cupcakes had several where the batter had overflown out of the cups so they were crusty and gross looking. AHHHH!! I DON'T WANT MY BUSINESS NAME ON THOSE FOR THE 200+ POSSIBLE CLIENTS EATING THEM!
They looked better once I got them assembled with the flowers and butterflies but I still was ashamed to claim them.
OK it's over- NOW for my payment!! She kept having excuses of why the brides mom had not paid yet. OH-Brides Mom forgot payment- she'll mail it out next week.
I called again yesterday to bother SIL about my payment, and she informs me that she thinks I didn't do very much work, so she wants to add up how many hours I worked and pay me that way. WHAT?! We are PARTNERS! We have always split whatever is left after supplies down the middle. She continues to say that she knows she has way mor eitme invested since she did all the baking and frosting.
I informed her that since she has NO KNOWLEDGE what-so-ever on HOW to work with gumpaste, or make flowers or do chocolate ANYTHING that she doesn't know HOW LONG it takes. And that had I known we were changing the way we are paid, I would have kept track of my hours.
The more I think about it, the more unfair it seems to me, not only because of the time I have invested and the decietful way she has changed our agreement, but also beacuse she has kept numerous supplies that OUR cake money bought- since we pay for supplies (that she keeps) first then split what is left.
SO- please please be honest about this rant! Am I being unfair to still expect half of what is leftover?
Sorry tis is SOOOO long- I just would love some input as my view is obviously one-sided!

I don't think it's one-sided.. I feel you have a right to be upset... cut your losses and move on!!

I know yout upset but working with family often doesn't go the way it should. Just keep your parting on a happy note because she is family and you do have to live with that so try to keep your comments about parting as kind as possible and have the business you book for yourself. I am sure that she won't be as successful as you are. These situations are always a tough one.

Good luck and God Bless
Kathy

uuuuhhhh, who died and named her cake god?
You deserve half as was agreed. period.
You actually deserve more because of the degree of skill and difficulty of making flowers. Insist everything you all bought for the business be equally divided between you both with you both present at the dividing and then blow her a big goodbye kiss!

if you agreed to split half, then regardless of who had more work, you split half. and she's kidding herself if she thinks it takes longer to bake that many cupcakes than it does to make that many gumpaste flowers. ask her to make ONE and see how long it takes her.

Nope, you are right to part ways - try to do it on a decent note as you are family but I would certainly part ways. It sounds as though you both have different expectations of what you would like to represent (going through that though process now myself..hmm..)

I think for her to change the guidelines of payment and how the proceeds are split, she has officially drawn lines in the sand. You would be better off by yourself.

I hope this helps and sorry things went this way...

She can't change a business agreement on a whim.

You should get half.

You deserve your share of the profits, the same as you both had been doing all along - period!

As time goes on, and folks order from her, they will see that she does not have the talent to pull off a cake business.........and if she comes crying for help, well

deb

It sounds to me as if SIL is a wee bit bitter over whatever (let's get catty and say it's her obvious lack of talent lol). Your deal, whether formal or informal, was for half. You deserve to get half. Since she's family, I'm afraid your options are completely different than if she was just a partner. You're still going to be forced to be near her on some occasions, so burning bridges (or blasting them with a mine - which sometimes feels better) isn't really something you can do. I'd let her know she owes you half. You may never get it, but she's still going to know that she's the amoral skank who cheated her own family.

Thanks for the responses so far!
One thing I forgot to mention... since she didn't get me all of my supplies for the flowers until exactly 2 weeks before the wedding, I tried for 2 days to make them (knowing they had to dry for a week so that I could paint them.) But I felt so rushed and it was taking so long and I still had life blasting around me, I hunted online and found some to buy. I still made about 20 and I ended up making the full roses out of chocolate clay- as they take less time to dry.
I did have to still paint each bud (the ones I made and the ones I bought) with a tiny brush as they were tiny buds ( A mixture of everclear and Americolor) and hold them over a steam bath...
The butterflies were done in a 3 step process of wings- then connected, then a body piped on.....
Does this change what you think is fair?
I already feel like a peaceful splitting is not possible

did not change my mind in the slightest. And actually only adds fuel to your argument about scheduling and time management constraints and her lack of business savvy.

It's too bad that your business agreement wasn't in a written contract form. Hopefully, if you ever decide to partner with anyone again this will help you with that partnership. It's sad, but sometimes we're treated the worst by our family when they are the ones that are suppose to be the most supportive.

I am so sorry this has happened to you. Definitely just cut your losses and get out as gracefully as possible!

OMG!!!!!!!!
Are you kidding me? She thinks she did more work than you? Forgive my french, but what an IJIT!!! Sorry, I can just imagine how you must feel!
I can see why you were concerned about the icing. But your roses and butterflies are exquisite and just seconds that you did the lion share. Chin up - hopefully you will be much happier on your own. You don't need worries like that!!!!

You definitely should get your half. There is no question you put more time and effort into it, but you both have to stick with the agreement. You both should split the supplies evenly too. It doesn't sound like this is going to have a pretty ending. Just keep in mind that you still have to deal with her for family events. Don't let this get to a point where other family members take sides. It could be disastrous! I completely agree that she is way out of line and totally in the wrong. But you may have to cut your losses some where.
If it gets out of hand, you could possibly consult a lawyer. Maybe go to People's Court! Just kidding!! I hope this works out for you!

You are being unfair to yourself even thinking that MAYBE you're overreacting! HE** NO! That SIL of yours is cheating you out and what's worse is that she thinks she can. Split this now! As some others have said, she may not ever pay you half, but in the long run- she will pay.

Seriously ask her to make a gumpaste rose- make her do ONE and see how long it takes her. Your second post didn't change my opinion w/soever.

BTW, I looked at your site, and you're really talented; why didn't you go into business by yourself?

I think it's time to part ways with your sil as far as business goes. Either work on your own, or find someone else to work with who you can trust.

I don't see your working relationship getting any better after this.

If you want to pursue getting your money on this job, you are certainly justified. However, maybe it wouldn't be worth the hassle. Just don't let her get away with it again.

Good luck!

Holly

I think that she's probably bitter about losing the better half of the business.
Aside from that, my advice to you is to be firm and determined. If you want half your money, and half the supplies, say so, and don't let up. We're often taken advatage of because we don't want to put up a fight, but I think in this case you must. She is likely hoping you will just get frustrated and she'll get her way. (Can you tell I have SIL issues?)
Best of luck, I hope everything works out in your favor.

Well I'm certainly not much of a decorator myself but I just looked at those cupcakes and quite honestly looks like she is not much of one either lol looks like she really scimped on the icing some of the cupcakes are not even fully frosted I can see the cake part. Plus I dont know about any one else but I like my cupcakes piled hi with icing or swirled or something that looks like some effort was put into it. As for your part well the flowers and butterflies are very well done and you shud be happy to part ways with her if you compare the skill level between you 2 let her go on her own she'll be out of business before long I believe. I think you shud iniste on sticking to the original agreement but as your family dont sweat it if she doesnts just be glad your out of it and can go on your own and do things the way you like them done. IMHO

I agree that you deserve half of everything.( sounds like you actualy deserve more). But i don't agree that you should be graceful about it. She sure didn't think about your feelings when she dropped the bomb on you and she probably thinks that she is better than you or this would have never come up.(sounds to me like it's the other way around)She made sure you knew how she felt, now she needs to know how you feel.

I'm not a fan of arguments but i sure wont be nice to someone who just slaps me in the face.

If YOU feel it's better to forgive do it for You and only YOU!

Family is so hard to deal with sometimes! You do deserve your half of the $, but remember you have to see her during the year, and do you really want to end this on a bad note?

I know you have done nothing wrong, and have every right to be ticked off at her.

Honestly, it sounds as if she has already decided she is not paying you. Say fine, or take what $ she gives you, smile, and walk away knowing your business will be 100 times better than hers, and that you did the right thing and helped preserve the family ties. Know that you are the better woman here. You will feel so much better if you do. And then you can just laugh when you hear people complain about how terrible her cakes & cupcakes look. It will be sweeter than buttercream.

You absolutely deserve 1/2 of the money....probably more. But, it sounds like you're not going to get it without a huge stink. If you value your relationship with your brother and don't want to put the rest of your family in a very awkward situation, I think you need to take the high road and let this go. Let her make the excuses and try to justify things. She's just going to make herself look very, very bad. In the long run, you'll win, hands down. If it were me, I wouldn't let myself be drawn into a feud.
I'm sorry this has happened to you.

Just remember that in the end, you get exactly what you deserve. YOu will fare much better than she in the decorating area.

I agree with everyone else. You do deserve half, but with the family thing, I wouldn't push it. I also agree about the cupcakes. Skimpomania man. Did she not buy enough ingredients to make the frosting? I like mine piled high too.

Send her a bill for her half of supplies and time. Tell her it is your buy out price or else she can hand over everything and you will split it evenly. I doubt if she still has supplies. She probably messed up so many cupcakes she had to throw some away and remake more. Give her a bill as per your agreement and then let her know that you can and will go to small claims court if need be. Trying to keep peace just because she is family when she is trying to steal from you is just not right. Document every transaction that takes place between the two of you whether it is over the phone or in person or equipment, just in case you do need to go to court. Hope it doesn't go this far, but be prepared and hold your ground, you are in the right.

I doubt that you will see the money at this point - sorry. What I would do, go collect 1/2 of the supplies that the 'partnership' has aquired and then take equivalent of the money she owes you. You can gracefully say that she can replace the supplies you are taking when she gets the money from your customer with your half of it. : )

I know what it's like dealing with family that you would really never want to see again if they weren't some how related. Just keep it civil when you are in contact with her in the future and don't get other family members involved.

It's all been said, but in the long run, the money is a drop in the bucket. Call it the cost of a Life Lesson. Cut your losses. "Sorry, sis, it's been a nice ride, but I don't think it's going to work out." Just walk away.

As a friend once told her soon-to-be-ex, "I can do BAD by myself!" You don't need a dead weight around your neck weighing you down and bringing down the company reputation. If you want to do a bad job, you can do that all by yourself and get 100% of the credit! (Substitute the word "She" for "You" in that previous statement and you get my drift!)

that really bites!!! you deserve half based on your agreement with her regardless of who did more work..that was the agreement! UGH!!!!! i hate when people get weasily!!!

you did do a wonderful job! Sorry to read about your experience. But for sake of the family, and I know this is hard, but you need to save face. Be the professional in this horrible ending, and let her look bad! Because you are family, you will have to deal with each other again, I hope you get your money, but it sounds like your out...cut your loss, save face and be the better baker, I mean, person.
HUGS!

Sorry this happend to you.
You absolutely deserve 1/2 of the money. It doesn't matter which did more or not. It is a matter of "word agreement". 1/2 of what was left is yours, and that should be.
That is good that now you are working on your own. Family and business....