I am curious to know everybody's experiences with working with family.

My sister who runs her own tutoring and consulting business wants to buy a business promotions package. I fear late payments, attitude, being taken for granted, and general dificulties. This however is based off of horror stories from friends.

What about you guys? What have you run into...before i sign a contract..... Ive already been asked to wave a deposit and about a sisterly discounts smh.

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Alisa A. Beatty ~Assistance You Can Count On~ www.virtual-jane.com

Hmmm...I would consider that last statement where you've already been asked for concessions to be a red flag.

The fact is that working with family can be awesome - or can be horrendous. The thing is that when you are working with family you have to take off the "family hat" and put on your "strictly business hat."

I worked with my daughters for a time, and we tried to work through this, but they never quite got it. When they work with other people they take it seriously. When they worked with me they did not. They always wanted me to still be "mom" and couldn't see me as boss.

Now they are still fairly young at 19...but it showed me - along with things I've read and heard over time - that both sides need to have that mindset that business is business.

I also have an older daughter in her 30's that I tried to work with as well. Was kind of the same issue. She would not ever deliver on time. I had to fire her. I personally just never could seem to get them to accept those boundaries.

HTH - at least a little bit.

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Pam Blackman - The Process Coach
Get more done in less time by streamlining!

Alisa,

Well she is already expecting discounts so that says it all. I would never work for family. However my reasoning would be because then you never get away from work. My sister, her husband, my niece and I all worked at the same company. When we got together we talked shop all the time.

We all moved on to other paths (2 stayed in corporate and 2 opened businesses) and now we will inquire how each other are doing but it stops there.

If she is serious about wanting the help then explain to her you just do not want to mix family and business and that you will help her to find someone who can fit her bill. If she insists and you agree, get a contract signed and work on a trial basis until you get all the kinks worked out.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

No, no, no!

I still do work for my Dad, which is fine. We agreed from the beginning that I was just another vendor, not his child.

Mom tried the whole 'family discount' thing, and working with her was a NIGHTMARE! I ended up setting up her QB file, giving her a copy of my book, and telling her she was on her own from then on without ever receiving a dime in return.

I also refuse to work with friends - the quickest way to END a friendship!

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

I agree, I'd stay away from it.

I find that it's easier to just keep things apart, especially if she's already doing things that would make you uncomfortable with a PC. And like Lily, I think that applies for many friendships as well. Personally I've had a few friends who have helped out with the development of my business but we went in knowing the ground rules, which were a friend helping a friend not a client situation. Knowing the ground rules seems to be key to so many client relationship issues.

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Stacey Harris
On Demand Virtual Assistant

All good points. I have worked with her on special random projects before and it took her forever to pay me. But at least I wasnt tied down to her and being unable to sign a client that would do whats right. Business is business...ill be looking for another client to fill her spot. And just help her out on random projects. If in the future i see that she has "changed" maybe ill give a contract a second thought. Thanks Guys!!!

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Alisa A. Beatty ~Assistance You Can Count On~ www.virtual-jane.com

I agree with all of the above comments. I have an aunt that owns her own business as well and she did approach me to do some work for her. Which at first I agreed to, however once rates were discussed she was expecting a break. I didn't mind giving her a little bit of a discount at first but she was expecting an extremely low rate which I didn't think was fair. So the idea of working for her kind of fizzled out.
As much as you would like to help out another family member you have to realize business is business and it shouldn't mix with family stuff.

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Malaika Nallawangsa
Quick Works | Virtual Office Assistant

I can see where the negatives come from, but I must say I have only positive experience. My sister works for me. I adore my sister and look up to her (she´s 2 years younger), so I thought it was going to be very difficult, but it´s fine. She takes direction easily and takes me seriously. She doesn´t expect higher rates than others.
Of course I help her out, so she is grateful in a way, but still it is much less difficult than I expected.

But, if I would have friends or family who would expect a discount just because they are friends or family, I agree, I wouldn´t want to work with them. Too difficult.

I

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Hilde
www.vbbassociates.com