[pedoh]

Have you brought this concern up to him? I realize this is not an easy conversation to have, but given what you claim about your relationship ("we're practically like brothers"), you should be able to discuss it, weather the storm, and come out stronger in the end. If you can't, then your relationship with him isn't what you thought it was.

Explain to him how you feel. Don't accuse him; you're not trying to hurt him or screw him over. You're trying to work out what is right and fair.

Also, figure out for yourself what you think is right and fair. What struck me is this:

"I’ve tried working alone before and it is terribly boring and unproductive. So even though he doesn't do much for business I still like to have another person, let alone my best friend, hang out with me all day."

Based on that, you may realize that him getting 50% (at least in the past) has been perfectly justified; if it weren't for him, what would you have done?

However, the past doesn't have to dictate the future. Maybe you're at a point where having a co-founder who can actually do 50% of the "work" (beyond moral support that your current friend is doing) is important to you or to your business. Be honest about this with him, explain your struggles, desires, and motivations, and I'm confident you'll both be in a better place at the end.

[superasn]

Hi,

First of all thank you so much for your kind thoughtful response. I appreciate you taking the time to read about problem and offering helpful advice.

> Have you brought this concern up to him?

Yes, I have. I did tell him that if he doesn't add something measurable to our business by 8th Feb 2012 (this is four months from when I talked to him about this) I will have to go solo or find other people to work with. He didn't get upset, rather after this I did see him trying harder. Unfortunately, there have been no measurable results so far. Sometimes, I think it is because he lacks confidence to pull the trigger (like he is currently working on the API for our site, but will he ever complete it, announce it to our list or recruit companies to make this profitable? I don't think so at least until I step in and do it for him - judging from past). And I just don't know anymore if any amount of carrot or stick can fix this.

>Based on that, you may realize that him getting 50% (at >least in the past) has been perfectly justified; if it > weren't for him, what would you have done?

Yes, the fact is he's probably getting 50% of the cut not because he is earning it, but rather because I need someone to work with. Currently his presence in our business is more of moral support than actual business development. But you are right, it is probable, that had he not been working with me I may just have quit out of frustration and boredom (specifically during the first two years of our business when we didn't make any money). So I don’t regret giving him the 50% partnership. My struggle lies in the fact that we could have done so much more had he actually had a little interest or passion for furthering our business. And my dilemma lies in the fact that at the end of the day what if I wreck an invaluable friendship trying to make a few extra dollars.

>Be honest about this with him, explain your struggles, desires, and >motivations, and I'm confident you'll both be in a better place at the end.

Yes, thankfully we're able to communicate freely with each other. I just hope if the time comes and I have to do what I have to do, he understands it's just a business decision and nothing personal against him.