Hi everyone.

I opened a store front about 3 months ago, specializing in cupcakes and handmade chocolate.

During the sumemr in this area is slow for all businesses, but my husband is saying we should close.

I feel like I have worked so hard, and that it will get better in the fall. He says its now a waste of time and money.

What am I supposed to do? I have to go work some crappy job now?

I know there isnt much you all can do or say, I just felt like you would understand more then anyone. Its like telling me to give up my baby, and I am devisated and feel like a total failure.

Three months of business is such a short time and it's far too soon to call your business a failure. I can't advise you to stay or go, as you have to consider what your husband wants, but is there some kind of middle ground the two of you can reach? Can you set a deadline somewhere in the future for you all to make the call as to whether or no to close?

Remember, most food businesses don't turn a profit for at least a full year and often times longer. I really hope you can convince him to hang in there....

AThis is the perfect time to show your husband your business plan that details how the business will be profitable even after accounting for slow periods.

Tell your husband he is not a waste of time and money and I'm assuming you have been married longer than 3 months...

Most businesses aren't profitable off the bat.  It can take years.  Summer is slow for me as well, people go on vacation and get ice cream!

A3 months isn't really long enough to be able to tell. I live in a tourist area. A lot of businesses around here are only open in the summer. (Sucks for us locals!) It seems like where you live it may be the opposite. It sounds like he may not have been on board with the idea from the beginning if he is ready to throw in the towel already.

ATo be fair, the build out and startup expenses are sunk costs so they should not figure in to a decision of whether or not to stay open.

Unless you exclusively handle all the budgeting and financials for your household, this conversation with your husband probably should have happened when you were in the initial planning stages of the business, with the understanding that income from the business will probably drop during slow times so you can increase the initial startup fund to handle that shortfall.

I have a husband just like that, quick to bail. It's VERY hard emotionally, I know!!! Remind him of your business plan. Have you already worked every possible income avenue possible for your business in 3 months? Are you selling online as well as retail? How much advertising have you done?

I know for certain 3 months isn't enough time to know anything!!! I don't think 3 years is enough to predict success. He needs to see a much bigger picture of how business works. You don't judge profitability by one quarter!!! That's so incredibly short sited. Think about your business as an investment, you earn some years and loose other years, but over all you grow and make money.

How about the hundreds of thousands of businesses that live for black Friday? All year long they are in the red until that magical date, where they now make all their profits for the year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Perhaps I've simplified things a little, but the concept is correct! Perhaps you should do a little research on the topic and explain it to your husband.

Food businesses are most profitable around holidays. As such you should gear your inventory and product line to capitalize on those peak times.

So sorry...opening a business that both partners are not emotionally vested in can be very hard on a relationship. 3 months is definitely not long enough. Did he seriously think customers would be beating down the door when you opened. My daughter's restaurant was very slow (as expected) at first. They offered a Groupon and sold 700 the first day. A good portion of those people never used them. A business cannot realistically expect to turn a profit the first year. They did not even draw a salary for over 2 years....they lived off savings and a line of credit. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart... Best of luck to you!

Thank you all.

Unfortunatly it is out of my hands. I KNOW that this is all normal. He does not, and he is the one with the money. I am mostly disappointed that he doesnt have the faith that I do in it. And that his heart wasnt in it from the start.

We are going to move up where my parents are, and my NEW plan is to work and get the start up money myself. 

All I can do is try to keep positive and move on to plan B, C, D all the way to Z if I have to.

I'm sorry for you, big hugs!

You've got the right attitude, go to plan B and keep trying.

So sorry your husband doesn't support your dreams.  Good luck to you!  Stay strong and save to do it yourself. 

AI want to hug you. That just sucks. It's only been 3 months! Did he not realize that very few businesses turn a profit until their third year? All I can say is your new plan sounds good, if you make the money yourself this won't happen again. Yet another reason I'm not getting married.

I hope it works out for you (((HUGS)))

AI'm assuming your husband is cash-strapped and afraid of losing too much, as many are in this economy. If not, it makes me sad he won't share. I just hope you have a strong marriage outside of this one issue.

So sad for you.

Please save your money for your next go-round, so you can be in charge of making the decisions. :)

I live in a small town, and new businesses here experience the opposite effect:  they are crazy busy for the first 3 months, and then things average out to how much business they will realistically get over time.  The first year many businesses don't have a handle on their labor and food costs, and usually overspend in these areas, and that is where there profit is being eaten up.

Next time plan to open during what would be considered the "busy" time for your area, and really try to create some anticipation and excitement to draw traffic.

I wish you the best of luck.

Liz

All things are possible.....my mom use to say this to me all the time.  I now find myself saying this to my children.  Don't give up, you sound like a strong woman and you will do this even if you need plan B,C & D.  You will get there, it is in your heart.  Wishing you well.

thanks.

Its a bit of both, he is a bit cash strapped, but he wasnt sold on it to start.

I think it will be better for everyone to keep it seprate :)

OK, I'm offended by the way you said.. Get a Crappy Job??? That's nice..

Yes , I have a crappy job and would give my right leg to even have the chance to have my own store front.. I'm sorry, but I don't feel bad for you.. You have a awesome opportunity here and you are not fighting for it.... Don't let anything stand in your way.. Fight for this shop.. Don't come on to CC and make everyone feel sorry for you, talk to your husband and fight for this shop.. Better or worse, richer or poorer..  ..

AI'm confused...did you show him your business plan with income and profit projections?

AJeez Louise Frosting. Her comments weren't directed at you. What may be a crappy job to one may be a dream job to another. This isnt about YOU.

AFight for the shop and end up losing both the shop and her marriage? How is "fighting" going to solve anything? OP has a good plan to save up without forcing an unwilling husband to spend HIS money. For some couples his and her money being separate is how they get along financially and it looks like that's what OP's dealing with. At least he can't call it a waste and yank the carpet from under her if it's not his money. Who knows, watching her save up for her dream could inspire faith and support from him.

I'm not saying the post is about me, she has a great opportunity here, she already has a store front, she is not seeing what is right in front of her and sometimes instead of sugar coating things and sending big hugs to someone, you need to tell them what they have and if the tone seems mean and if that is what kicks her into high gear to say "you know, I'm keeping this store even if I have to have PB&Jelly sandwiches for the rest of my life to make end meet, I am doing it..

Well frosting just so you know. I have been putting everything I can into it. Including sleeping there to make more product.

You dont know me. And I also find it funny that your only 2 posts on CC are on this post.

Yes we keep things seprate and this was supposed to be something that we did together. It wasnt planned out great to be honest. So all I can do it rework, try again and learn from my mistakes. And mistake one for me was mixing business and family.

And yes every job seems crappy after doing this.

Why does it matter how many posts I have made? It shouldn't matter if I made 2 comments or 500 comments, I am just stating my option.. I'm not being rude or using

profanity, I am just stating what my advise to you would be to you.. 3 Months is not a long time, you aren't giving it enough time..I can say what I want.

A

There's nothing wrong with mixing business and family as long as you treat family members who are investing in your business as if they were independent investors, which includes coming up with an airtight business plan with a clear estimate of costs, revenues, and profitability on a full year basis. (Not to mention a production schedule that makes sense, sleeping at your business to make more product is not normal.) If you didn't do this ground work, closing the business may be for the best so you can cut your losses and try again with more preparation.