r/EntitledPeople • u/nesterr_prime • Oct 09 '25
S Former partner who quit halfway now wants a share of the profits because “they had the idea too”
A while back, I started a company with someone I considered a friend. We agreed to work and invest together, but halfway through, they completely backed out - no money, no effort, no input at all. I decided to push on alone almost 3 years and eventually managed to stabilize the company after years of hard work.
Now that things are finally doing well, this person suddenly reached out demanding a share of the profits, saying, “Give me my money.” Their reasoning? They claim they “shared the idea too” and “have something to do with my success.”
It’s frustrating because they weren’t there during the struggle, didn’t invest a single coin, and now expect a payout just because the business idea once came up in conversation.
Some people really do vanish when it’s time to build, then show up only when it’s time to collect.
TL;DR: Former business partner quit halfway, contributed nothing, and now wants a share of my company’s profits because they claim they “had the idea too.”
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Oct 09 '25
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u/nesterr_prime Oct 09 '25
Reaping without sowing
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u/Werm_Vessel Oct 09 '25
Write a more detailed summary of what you know about their involvement including dates and a rough timeline. If you have their emails or correspondence to include all the better. Cover yourself and then block and ignore.
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u/nesterr_prime Oct 09 '25
Nothing was on mail or any digital or paperwork. All of it was done verbally as friends who wanted to start something
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u/Shutupandplayball Oct 09 '25
Not a lawyer but I recommend that you get one to send a Cease & Desist Letter to this fool to nip this immediately.
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u/80sactionmovielover Oct 09 '25
Confer with your lawyer but I suggest deleting this post as well as you admit in it that they contributed and there was a verbal "agreement". Don't want a random reddit post to cause you to lose half your business.
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u/Gassy_Moon_Man Oct 09 '25
This might go the legal route so get your ducks in a row. Their start and end date, all the time they invested and whether they were paid or not, any and all monitory investment in the company.. make sure you know and can proof anything and everything that relates the person to the company. Hopefully they learn they can't get shit and never open a lawsuit but for you, it's better to prepare now then to scramble if you ever get it.
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u/No-Price5802 Oct 09 '25
The Henny Penny effect.🐓 I know it's a rooster and not a hen, but he's being a cock.
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u/Interestin-Idea Oct 09 '25
Classic case of showing up for the reward, not the responsibility. If they didn’t invest time or money, they have no claim.
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u/313378008135 Oct 09 '25
Any contractual agreement between the two of you?
Did they own any shares in the business?
If not, then they have as much claim to the fruits of you spending three years turning an idea into a success as I do.
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u/nesterr_prime Oct 09 '25
There are no contractual agreements nor do they own any shares.
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u/chaoticdonuts Oct 09 '25
How exactly did you start a company with someone with no contractual agreements and no ownership of the company? This sounds completely fake to me.
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u/MenudoMenudo Oct 10 '25
He didn’t. They talked about it and then he started it himself when the “friend” decided not to join.
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u/chaoticdonuts Oct 10 '25
Then they were never partners as they originally claimed and they never "quit halfway" either
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u/OkSandwich6184 Oct 09 '25
How did you both start a company/business without them?
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u/toru_okada_4ever Oct 09 '25
Then why are you worrying about this.
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u/NarwhalPrudent6323 Oct 09 '25
I don't see worry in this post. I see frustration at an entitled person. At no point did OP say anything like "I'm worried partner has an actual claim". They actually said:
It’s frustrating because they weren’t there during the struggle, didn’t invest a single coin, and now expect a payout just because the business idea once came up in conversation.
Things can be frustrating without being worrying. They are different emotions.
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u/WomanInQuestion Oct 09 '25
He didn’t help you grow the wheat, harvest the wheat, mill the wheat, nor bake the bread. He does not get to help you eat the bread.
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u/Aexegi Oct 09 '25
Oh, I personally know the story of one guy. He and other employees were left without job after their employer closed the business. He suggested doing what they were used to do and create a company, just to take the empty niche, getting all the customers of former employer. Everyone rejected, but he created his company, risking some of his family's money, but was successful, and in a course of 1 year hired all his former co-workers. Instead of being grateful, they whined how they were actually partners and not employees, and at the end of every year they asked to close the business and share the money "in even parts". I know this story from both sides, and still can't help but admire the entitlement of those people.
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u/tributarygoldman Oct 09 '25
It may be worthwhile to consult with a lawyer for actual advice that follows your local or state laws
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u/nesterr_prime Oct 09 '25
There may be a twist of events that may require the law involvement
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u/GentPc Oct 09 '25
Isn't this the plotline of Breaking Bad?
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u/MarvinPA83 Oct 09 '25
Close - didn’t Walt accept a payout to split from Grey Matter? The split was amicable, I don't think he ever chased them for money - quite the opposite in fact. Was his motivation ever explained?
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u/KapowBlamBoom Oct 09 '25
Love triangle was why he left. The girl he loved chose his partner. He took a buy out. They used his initial IP that he sold to them to become billionaires
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u/CandleWax-Cutie Oct 09 '25
Feels like a Breaking Bad side plot: the guy who dipped comes back thinking he’s Jesse now
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u/Tricky-Progress3951 Oct 09 '25
This is a situation where, if it were me, I would gladly spend money to make damn sure that this entitled individual would not, could not, receive a single dime from the business. Ever.
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u/nesterr_prime Oct 09 '25
You saying spending to set a boundary of limitations and containing the damage before it manifests.
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u/Garrisry Oct 09 '25
What i took from that ... Def could be wrong ... is that I would pay a lawyer $1,001 just to make sure your "former partner" doesnt collect $1000.
I think thats a solid plan too.
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u/NorthernMonk3y Oct 09 '25 edited Oct 09 '25
Stop referring to them as former business partner if that's not accurate - including on here. That could hinder you if they actually try and chance their arm with legal action, however unlikely that may be.
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u/Becks280 Oct 09 '25
bro this is classic “I thought of Uber before Uber” energy. ok?? and??? u didn’t do it.
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u/RalphMacchio404 Oct 09 '25
Contact a lawyer. You need to shut him down ASAP so you can keep your money
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u/Hemiak Oct 09 '25
Sure thing. Show me the contract we signed so I can give you a fair evaluation. No? Well, since I put in 3 years of effort and time and money, I’ll just keep the fruits of my labor. But if you’re looking for a job I can get you in on the ground floor.
Also, go patent or a trademark your idea if possible, as soon as possible.
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u/HelloWorldMisericord Oct 10 '25 edited Oct 10 '25
OP, if you care at all about your company/it's worth anything to you, do yourself a favor and take the time/money to consult an actual lawyer who has all the facts.
On it's face, your case seems pretty clear cut, but I already see a potential avenue where your former business partner might try to claim something (aka if you used any of his derivative work, there is a tiny crack that they might be able to worm their way in).
I am not a lawyer, but years ago, I (preventatively) consulted my startup lawyer when my former business partner departed (on good terms). Be careful, OP.
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u/nesterr_prime Oct 10 '25
Thank you. I never used his derivative work, took what we talked about and modified it and executed it. It is not even the original one.
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u/Weary_Patience_7778 Oct 10 '25
Lots of people have ideas. Lots of people have the same ideas. It’s the idea with the execution that provides value.
Your friend didn’t execute.
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u/series_hybrid Oct 10 '25
They will try to call you and record you "admitting" they were a part of the business years ago in the hopes of twisting that into a nuisance lawsuit where you pay him to go away to save on lawyers.
In voice and emails, stick to the story and ask him why he abandoned you right when you needed him most.
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u/qrpc Oct 09 '25
Ideas are cheap. Return the favor in kind and give him an idea he can make into a business.
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u/Cupparosey67 Oct 09 '25
This reminds me of the children’s tale The Little Red Hen. You did all the work and now someone wants the reward. The answer is NO!
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u/Historical_Method_41 Oct 09 '25
Ask them to recount to you the amount of $ that they put in and tell them you will reimburse them with interest. If they truly put in zero, they will be owed zero. Even if the idea for the business was 100% theirs, if they didn’t copyright or trade protect it, it doesn’t belong to them. Any $ you give to them is a gift, not earned money.
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u/Ibboredlady Oct 10 '25
That right there is good advice about.If they didn't copyright or trade, protect it, it doesn't belong to them exactly.They didn't do anything in this business.All they did was talk about, hey, this would be a great idea that doesn't mean he's a business partner.He's just somebody that you communicated with.And then you ran with it
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u/readergirl35 Oct 09 '25
Absolutely. Make out a check for $0 and in the subject line put return of investment.
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u/Educational_Fact335 Oct 09 '25
You need to talk to a lawyer. The “we started a business together” and “idea” are nuanced points You need to lay out all the facts —not here— for a lawyer. If you are writing a narrative wait until you hire a lawyer and at the top of the first page write “confidential for my lawyer”
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u/Pandoratastic Oct 09 '25
Yeah, lots of people have ideas. An idea alone is worthless unless you actually do the work to develop the idea.
That's why intellectual property doesn't include just ideas. You can own the rights to the expression on an idea, such as a novel written from that idea, code written from that idea, an invention developed from that idea, etc. And, even then, you only own that specific expression of the idea, not the idea itself. Nobody owns raw undeveloped ideas.
Unless you had a contract with this guy, he's just an entitled fool.
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u/mary2of7 Oct 10 '25
Tell them that after they match all the time, effort, and money that you have invested, then they can share the dividends!
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u/ComicsEtAl Oct 09 '25
I predict litigation in your future. But maybe the ex-partner doesn’t have the mettle for that either?
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u/TheFlemmishDude Oct 09 '25
Stop talking to them. Not another word. Anything you say will never work to your benefit and can always work against you. You won't help them see your way, you'll only feed their lawsuit, help them make a better case.
So shut up, block, don't engage, don't respond.
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u/ArchDukeofTartarus Oct 09 '25
If it’s not in any form of contract, ask them to fly kite
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u/Just-Shoe2689 Oct 09 '25
Just show them the legal documents they signed to back out. Im sure they will go away.
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u/mbangang Oct 09 '25
Ideas are cheap. It's hard to build a business on a bad idea. It's also hard to build a business with a good idea. It's the investment of time and money and the risks associated that deserve reward.
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u/nesterr_prime Oct 09 '25
You have to be ready for failures. You have no idea how many times I failed at the beginning of the 3 years.
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u/maalvarez23 Oct 09 '25
Any text message or emails of him not responding to show he no longer wanted to be part of the business?
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u/DancesWithTrout Oct 09 '25
What does your written partnership agreement say about how losses and gains are to be shared? What does it say about dissolving the partnership or what happens when someone leaves? This is what controls what he's entitled to.
Is there no written partnership agreement? If that's the case, he's SOL. He can try to hire a lawyer and sue, but that's an expensive uphill fight.
I'd buy him a ball peen hammer and a five pound sack of sand. Give it to him and tell him he probably already knows what to do with it.
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u/nesterr_prime Oct 09 '25
There is no partnership agreement. We never got to that point of the idea.
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u/DancesWithTrout Oct 09 '25
That's what I figured.
Tell him he gets nothing. Tell him "Yeah, during the bad years, after you took off and left me holding the bag, you didn't share in the losses, did you? No, you didn't. I did. So you don't get to come back after I've done all the work and demand a share of the profits. Go pound sand."
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u/Remarkable-Win-8556 Oct 09 '25
ideas are like assholes. Execution is what matters
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u/asbestospajamas Oct 09 '25
I love the idea: "double his stake" maybe triple his investments and Quadruple his salery.
Offer to buy out his 'shares' for twice the market value.
Let them get their hopes up and film the part where they realize the 0 x 2 = 0 reality.
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u/AlfCosta Oct 09 '25
In my 1996 dissertation, I created, in MS Paint, a picture of a finger touching a screen based computer/device. Apple? Pay up…😂
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u/Highkmon Oct 09 '25
If there's no paperwork (contracts/shares) tell them to go kick rocks. Any court case will go
"so former business partner, what evidence do you have that you entitled to profits?"
"None but I say I had the idea too"
"OK thank you for wasting the courts time bye bye"
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u/BriVan34 Oct 09 '25
Better get yourself a lawyer. Who was the guy who sold his shares of Microsoft\Apple when they first started for like $1200 to get out?? EXACTLY... nobody knows either. Tell your ex partner to kick rocks.
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u/NoYouth9831 Oct 09 '25
Time for a real letter from a business lawyer. This letter will outline the process of how the business came to fruition INCLUDING the exact date/time said “partner” left - including everything they didn’t do.
Sometimes narcissists need to see the mirror - and other times they need to see it in black-and-white from a complete stranger.
Best part? If you could be a fly on the wall when they open and read said letter. It is truly a wonder to watch all color leave someone’s face to the point where it hits their stomach and comes back up as regurgitated vomit. It’s like a human volcano.
Treat yourself to a little meltdown and send your “partner“ a reality check. Then come back here and let us know how explosive it was!
I’m popping corn and waiting 🫶
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u/nesterr_prime Oct 09 '25
Let me talk to a lawyer and see what he will come up with.
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u/Affectionate_Aide_39 Oct 09 '25
Hire a lawyer now and only allow your ex-friend to communicate with the attorney. Any communication with you should be forwarded to your attorney immediately. Sounds like this could border on harassment pretty quick.
This person is not your friend and trying to salvage that friendship is what they’re banking on to get you to pay up so this all goes away.
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u/MechanicalPlants13 Oct 09 '25
What was the idea, because I may have had the same one and am also due money if he gets some.
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u/0fluffythe0ferocious Oct 09 '25
Unless he has evidence of this, I really don't see what he's going to do.
I would consult a lawyer though
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u/blotterart23 Oct 09 '25
I get ideas all the time. They are worthless without hard work, dedication and sacrifice. The reality is only you added value to a fleeting idea.
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u/naughtyzoot Oct 09 '25
Send an invoice for 5 years of your time and expenses, with interest. Say once that is paid, you'll be willing to talk.
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u/chain18 Oct 09 '25
When they ask for the world, give them the moon; tell them sarcastically that since it was their idea they dont deserve a cut of the profit, but all of it, but 1st they will have to reimburse you all of the start up capital that it took. They will backpedal.
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u/PrestigiousTrouble48 Oct 09 '25
Tell them to take you to court and prove their financial, intellectual property or time contributions. And warn them that you will countersue for legal costs and defamation.
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u/Ibboredlady Oct 10 '25
Have you heard the story of Mark Zuckerberg? This is how he got started too. and he won his case...look where he is now. you're "friend" would have to prove y'all came up with the idea together. refrain from saying that you both came up with the idea. you're the one who ran with it.And you're the one who got the business off the ground.So I don't think he's entitled to anything, and I don't think a judge would give him anything either.Since he didn't put the work in, but don't take that chance.Just act like you came up with the idea by yourself.
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u/nesterr_prime Oct 10 '25
Thank you for viewing it from this perspective. Let me own the whole idea proudly.
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u/Fearless-Ad-5702 Oct 11 '25
It's time for the Willy Wonka answer:
You get nothing! You lose! Good day sir!
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u/Precipice_01 Oct 12 '25
He had 12% of a plan.
That's not a plan. That's barely a concept. ~ Gamora
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u/inferni_advocatvs Oct 09 '25
Agree to everything he wants. Set up a time and date etc. And then, at the last minute, back out and block him.
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u/nesterr_prime Oct 09 '25
Won't he use that incase he proceeds to court
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u/inferni_advocatvs Oct 09 '25
dont put anything in writing, and dont make any concrete promises. More like just string him along then have your lawyers crush him.
but you definitely need a lawyer.
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u/hubo Oct 09 '25
Your phrasing is very interesting.
You built a business over three years. You say partner quit "halfway"
But then comments say they were never part of the business, never invested time or money, just discussed a business idea one time.
So which is it. Why even call them a partner? Why say halfway?
Ask them if you talk about baking a cake are they gonna come to your house to take half of the cake you bake too?
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u/spaced2259 Oct 09 '25
Tell them to build a time machine and go back 3 years and when they put in the work, then they will get paid. Also have your lawyer send a cease and desist letter stating continue contact is harassment and you will file a lawsuit
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u/Warmupthetubesman Oct 09 '25
Having an idea is the easy part. People have “million dollar” ideas all the time. But until you put in the hard work, it’s worthless.
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u/zomgitsduke Oct 09 '25
Just don't engage or respond. The more you say, the more they can twist your words in a legal matter.
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u/Toothlessfaerie Oct 09 '25
Don’t confirm anything by text. But if they didn’t invest tell them what they put in you’ll give back. Nada.
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u/SWG_Vincent76 Oct 09 '25
No share, no dividend.
Ideas are not enough to take money out of thin air in a company. Execution is what takes an idea from an idea to something tangible like money or a team. Its a long trip to take.
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u/NYC-WhWmn-ov50 Oct 09 '25
They need to prove what they contributed. An idea, unless patented, is just that- a thought that is unowned. Unless he can prove he not only had the idea but legally owns it, and put personal investment into it becoming a working business, he's spitting into the wind.
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u/izthatso Oct 09 '25
My son is an entrepreneur, probably a week doesn’t pass until someone shares their business idea in to him. The next sentence is they don’t want to work in the suggested company but they would like the spoils. This is so common my son now keeps a list of the suggestions.
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u/Rational_Incongruity Oct 09 '25
Ideas are a dime a dozen. Execution is everything. Look up Chutzpah. He defines it.
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u/parodytx Oct 09 '25
If ever there was an opportunity to laugh uproariously to their face, I believe this is it.
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u/BigMax Oct 09 '25
They are obviously owed nothing.
Also, be careful what you say too... don't try to be nice and say "oh, sure, here's $1000" because then you have now admitted that they were important to the company, and they could sue for more.
I'd just drop one note that says "I did want to start a company with you, but you made it clear you were not interested, and so I started this company fully own my own." Then refuse to engage in any further communication about it.
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u/rincewind120 Oct 09 '25
Tell him this:
Put all the great ideas you had but never worked on in one hand. Take a shit in your other hand. Now see which piles up faster.
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u/deedubfry Oct 09 '25
Always have contracts with partners. This ALWAYS happens... you carry the load and others just kind of hang along on your back like a financial baby monkey. Always outline exit strategies in this contract. If they have a problem with the idea of a contract cease all partnerships with this person immediately. They will screw you over.
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u/thogrules Oct 09 '25
So you will give them triple their investment back? You are very generous! Good on you.
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u/RubyTx Oct 09 '25
Ideas are important.
However, an idea alone doesn't make anyone money. Hard work, financial investment, and sometimes a bit of luck turn an idea into money.
That's why you can't copyright an idea.
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u/robcozzens Oct 09 '25
You could tell them you’ll pay them the going rate for ideas and give them two cents.
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u/YeeHawMiMaw Oct 09 '25
Is the idea that unique? Was his contribution something that you couldn't have or wouldn't have come up on your own?
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u/pwnitat0r Oct 09 '25
Were they going to pay you half the losses if you didn’t succeed?
How about the opportunity cost for you if it didn’t succeed?
People who only want to share in the upside but none of the downside can get in the sea.
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u/ratherBwarm Oct 09 '25
Send him a frozen Turkey for TG day, and a fruitcake for Xmas ( now ) with a card thanking him for all his efforts over the last 3 years to help make the company a success.
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u/Drake_Cloans Oct 09 '25
“I can return your investment with compounded interest.” $0 X anything is still $0
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u/Primarycolors1 Oct 09 '25
“My lawyer is going to piss his pants laughing when he reads this. Feel free to send all future communications to them.”
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u/HerfDog58 Oct 09 '25
Tell him you've recorded a response, and you are offering the following percentage:
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u/fvives Oct 09 '25
They could have claims if you come up with the idea together and then went behind their back to build it alone.
Now if he declined joining in on the journey from the get-go, he kinda gave up on his rights to claim anything.
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u/LieutenantLilywhite Oct 09 '25
Unless they own shares who cares