Just looking for a little advice. I've been working with a friend of mine to get the baking business going for the latter part of the year and at first, it seemed like we meshed well(we both desired baking and making money of our own, so we agreed to try to make a business together). Well, towards Christmastime, I've been thinking of nothing but eventually having my own bakery(b/c I have nothing else...unemployed SAHM) and my partner has a job, goes to school, and is involving herself with dating(BTW, she's 23 and I'm 33), so to me, she doesn't appear to be as focused as I am. My plans for this year is to learn as much as I possibly can to get closer to my goal of opening the bakery and I'm working out an arrangement with a local store owner to have a few cakes sold there. In addition, on several occassions I had to "save" her in making orders b/c she had some disasters when trying to create a few customers' orders - so she's not really a "natural baker"(my opinion). I have been debating for a long time now if I should tell her that I prefer to continue on my own for I feel that she no longer desires this as I do. Plus, I really need the money for at the moment, it's my only source of income(yeah, I'm struggling!, LOL)but I love it. So, my fellow CCr's...what should I do?

That's a tough one. I think you need to be honest with her about how you feel, and maybe give her a chance to step up and "prove" herself. Some people are much more mature at 23 than others, but I know when I was that age I would never have been able to really settle down. Does she have anything invested in this venture other than time? Maybe she would settle for being a part time employee instead of a partner.

Amber

Well DaCakeLady, I am not one to give advice, soooo... I won't! My observation from my own experience is that when something starts as a small seed and grows and grows, it will ultimately be acted on. Sounds like your seed is growing. You may want to sit down and write it out, the pros, the cons, what you need, when you want it by, etc. This will help you focus to make your decision.

By the way, welcome to cake central neighbor -- I'm in the suburbs!!!

I think if you are having second thoughts now, by the time this actually happens, you will still feel the same way. Going into business with someone has its own problems in itself without adding on the fact that you think she might only do, say 25% of the work. If you haven't made any actual agreements, especially on paper, I'd pursue this as an individual endeavor.

You never know, with the little focus she has on this project, she may not want to do it and is looking for a way to back out, but didn't know how to tell you.

I'm also trying to create my own home bakery. It's time consuming but I don't think a partner fits in with my needs. Sit down and look at the numbers, having a partner may mean splitting everything 50/50. That doesn't leave a whole lot of profit to start off with. Maybe once you get started and find you need the help, you can bring her in then.

I hope you find a good solution. I would opt to work alone, IMO.

In my experience, partners never work out and friends never take working for you seriously!

Using the same course you are on now with your partner, vision where you will be one year from now.....is that where you want to be? If not, change it.

I'm suspecting a statement made by a Philanthropist named David Mahoney, best applies to your situation.....

• "There comes a moment when you have to stop revving up the car and shove it into gear."

Edited to remove because of the Debug problem I double posted my messages.......

I think you already know the answer. Listen to that little voice.

Thanks everyone! I've read your replies over and over and I know what I need to do: I know we need to have a serious talk about what goals we want achieved, but I need to find out where her head is at in this b/c I'm not getting anything from her regarding business at all.

Let us know what happens!

I agree...when you listen to that little voice you can never go wrong!

I just wanted to say - being with a partner does have its benefits. My friend Sue and I run this business together. Yes there are bumps - BUT we have different talents and there is always someone to have your back. We both sweat it out when we do wedding cakes - and we constatly bounce ideas off each other. We can take on twice as many jobs together, and I can have a vacation/time off when needed. Also great to split the cost of expensive items - especially rent when we get a location.

Sounds like you and your partner don't fit togeher. So, yes, listen to that voice - but don't rule out a partner completely. There are great benefits when you have the right one!!!!! Honesty has to be there too!

Tried to post this earlier but when I hit submit I got the maintence page so here we go....

From experience in this.... I'd say be poliet and upfront with her and just let her know that you want to branch out on your own and see if you can make it

This time last year me and my best friend of 15 years decided since we were both SAHM we would take our dreams and try to make them come true so we decided we wanted to do Cake Decorating. She made a Harley Davidson cake, carved it from a sheet cake, and then by looking at a picture made it perfect! A perfect match. I was very shocked and very proud of her talent. She has a natural talent of artisim she is very wild and crazy and thinks way outside the box and is very creative. I on the other hand am not as creative or enthusiastic about things as she was. So when the time came to pick a name for the company to do up the flyers and business cards and such her and her husband wanted her name first and since I've been dreaming of this since I was 12 me and my husband wanted my name first. Well we finally decided on a name my daughter and husband created. My husband said Oh My! when he first tasted one of my cakes, my daughter always came home from school and said "mommy did you make me any goodies today?" so the name was born. She didn't like it but dealt with it.... after the name was done and the cards were printed up and we had started buying supplies and of course leaving them all at her home because I was living at mom's no room here so I thought.... she stopped calling, changed her phone number, and stopped coming over.... So basically May will be a year since I've heard from her and seen her.... it's hard knowing that a friend screws ya over like that but ya know stuff happens... I footed the bill for ALOT of stuff and gave her all my ideas and when it came time to making it happen she pushed me right out of the way. So when my TRUE best friend of now 10 years tells me "Becky you've got the skill you've got the talent and you've got the heart to do this! Don't stop keep going and to heck with her!" (not in such nice words lol) So I have listened to everyone and am slowly getting going by word of mouth. Just last night hubby was in the store buying a box for a last minute sheet cake needed for tonight and the girl that works the register we've known for about 5 - 8 years now was asking about it and he told her I've started my own business making cakes and such and explained it all to her about how I'm just getting going with friends and family and yadda yadda yadda and she said "Well bring me some business cards! I have tons of people asking me all the time where to get cakes from because _____ went out of business last year and we can't find a place as good as ____" So of course since he makes the icing and does the dishes and doesn't care what people think about him just saying "Hey ya need a good fresh cake call my wife" (in the middle of the store bakery!!! lmfao) his name now replaces my EXbest friends name on my cards.

If you have the heart to do it by yourself you can do it. All you need is the ambition to do it. My goal and plan was very simple start at the farmer's market and do some bake sales during the summer offering cakes, breads, muffins, cupcakes, candies, lollipops, etc. her game plan and goals were to open a shop by her birthday (Nov. 30th) well that would've cost a fortune!!! that neither of us had and is also a goal she has yet to reach