How not to lose friends because of business

Question

Business Informatics

Many people know from life experience that you can’t do any business with friends that relate to money, but still you often have to do business.
And 50/50 some difficulties, resentments and losses emerge.
How to conduct business relations with friends if they cannot be avoided?
UPD: Thanks everyone, a lot of helpful answers and stories. I will be grateful to your stories of how they got involved and how they “resolved”

Answer 1

In my opinion, difficulties in dealing with friends in business matters arise due to the fact that these issues are resolved amicably. Those. with business partners in business relations there are no problems and with friends in friendly matters, isn't it.
The fact is that when friends enter into a business relationship, they both hope for a friendly relationship. For example, the party that must fulfill certain obligations relies on the fact that they will be paid more (for example) and that if there is a slight delay in the deadlines, then there will be nothing terrible - “after all, we are friends.” At the same time, the other side is counting on the opposite - that the obligations would be fulfilled on time and that it would be possible to pay less - "after all, we are friends."
Therefore, I think that the most important thing in such matters is to speak. Speak and stipulate all the nuances. Vyd with business partners, we discuss all the details to the smallest detail? Why not do this with friends?
When I lend money to an unfamiliar person, I do not forget to clarify all the nuances: why does he need this money and when will he give it back to me, and when a friend borrows it, it’s as if it’s ugly to ask such questions - it naturally turns out later that someone - I misunderstood something!
That. in order not to lose friends in business, all the questions you are interested in should be discussed out loud and not rely on telepathy from a friend, as well as draw his attention to the fact that you are not a telepath either. Those. in business with friends you need to communicate in a businesslike way :).

Answer 2

Of course, it is better to avoid such options, but if not, then separate business from life. In the pub you are friends, but in the office everyone has their own position. Although I do not believe in such options.

Answer 3

hmm, you just have to be a normal responsible person and demand the same from your friends.
So I went to work with my friend. During the trial period, I was not very effective - I can see for myself. We talked to him and I left after the probationary period. No one is offended, we perfectly understood each other.

Answer 4

>How to do business with friends if they can't be avoided? Works
As for me, you should always keep in mind that something will have to sacrifice either friendship or money. I have had such cases and such.
1. Donate money - friendship is always more expensive. And in this case, you see that the person is also going to meet you in some way and you are trying to find common ground in order to resolve the conflict. Then it’s a friend, and it’s more expensive
(I don’t consider here the case when you turn over millions and are ready for anything for that kind of money. As a rule, such relationships in money are no longer based on friendship and words, but everything is documented)
2. To sacrifice friendship means that it was not a friend at all, but he just always needed something from you. You will see this for yourself, if only simply because a person takes a tough stance towards you, does not see his shortcomings, but only yours, and always talks about a “feeling of friendship” (in the first case, there are no words of pathos, but you feel it, and here the word friend pops up through every sentence)

Answer 5

Not 50/50 but 51/49

Answer 6

Sign contracts - there will be no problems.

Answer 7

If we are talking about starting a joint venture with a friend, then there is one way, you must initially be 100% sure, or even more, that the business will be successful. Otherwise, you will lose friends, find offended / embittered partners. And you can never be 100% sure in business. The conclusion is obvious.

Answer 8

The most important thing is to immediately understand that friendship can come to an end. That's it, no more and no less. A friend comes to you and asks to take you to share and whether to work, or vice versa, immediately tell this friend directly:
- Joint work can destroy our friendship. Are you ready for this?

Answer 9

Unfortunately, I am one of those developers who find it easier to learn and do than to explain why this is impossible and show that “this was not in the TK” (for example, recently it was - “how is it - you can’t use any are there triggers? Do it, you are a programmer! "- and no explanations and suggestions to switch from hosting to VPS or Dedicated help, even though the project is extremely profitable). For this reason (although not the only one), I prefer not to work for relatives or acquaintances. The contract also usually specifies the period of free product support - for example, I provide full support for my products for a month on non-critical issues and permanent support for critical ones (my mistakes, for example). With relatives, this will not work in most cases ...

Answer 10

Sailing conditions are agreed on the shore. Moreover, in writing. However, friends are not inclined to stick to the contract, and where they break it and there should be sanctions, there is usually snot chewing.
Therefore, with friends, and especially (!) With relatives, it is better not to have business relations at all, because. it is easier to bring a stranger to responsibility, as well as to bear responsibility to him.

Answer 11

You can do business with friends, only after that you need to clearly separate friendships and money. 2 rubles are divided for two, but 2 million is gone. The main thing is to control everything. Even if you are not directly involved in management, but, say, in creative work, then you should always understand what and how is happening in your accounting department, where and why the money goes. This is especially true for cash. To do this, it is better to keep an economist in the company who would keep records of how much was spent on which project and from what funds, and provide you with reports in a digestible form.
In any case, resentment and misunderstandings will appear. At the initial stage, especially, until you have an established team and a clear division of responsibilities. The main thing here is not to break loose and not quarrel in the trash, but to sit down and figure everything out, and ask your own if it turns out that you have been stabbed somewhere. More hardness.

Answer 12

You can do business with friends, but not with everyone.
In fact, there are both disadvantages and advantages of cooperation with friends, especially when it comes to business - for example, you can speak honestly with a friend and not strain in communication. Of course, responsibility and attitude to work affect success, but it depends on the person - and it doesn’t matter whether he is a friend or not.
In general, friends are different :)