Comments on: Working With Friends and Family — Can It Ever Work?

By: adri

adri — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:59:54 +0000

My husband and I do web design/graphic desing/video editing. We have done so many projects for family who are in ministry. At first my husband use to do it for free, after we got married, we had a talk with them and mentioned it was not fair to us so they agree to start paying us a discounted price for the many things we did for them, it worked fine for a year. Then they didn;t have any money but REALLLY NEEDED to get this or that done, since we knew they really didn’t have any money we helped them with a couple of websites/video editig projects for free. What frustrates me? Now that they might be able to afford to pay for something they still expect us to work for free, when we put a price to the project they just ask they get offended. Then they go and pay somebody else to the job. Seriously? So if we don’t do it for free they’ll rather pay somebody else than pay me? I don’t think I’ll ever be doing any free work for them even if they are in REAL need. I’m sorry but it’s just not worth it.

…and yes, this happend recently, I guess I haven’t gotten over it yet! Sorry!

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:13:35 +0000

I prefer not doing work for friends because it’s really hard to treat them like clients. It’s just too hard for me anyways. I feel bad sending them bills and such. I once sent a bill to a friend for some programming work and he thought it was too high. I thought I gave him a deal. 4 hours at 30 an hour. So, since then he seemed to try not to ask for more requests. I would have wanted to do it for free but he also said he wanted to treat him like a client. So, overall, I prefer not to do work for friends.

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:55:36 +0000

I recently finished a web project for my aunt and uncle’s business. I approached the project just like any other project. I required them to sign my standard contract and the estimate. This made them realize that they were dealing with me in a professional capacity. The project went off without a hitch and they were happy with the results.

It helps to set the ground rules early and explain your process. If they won’t allow you to work as you would normally, don’t take the project.

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:32:05 +0000

My husband and I were both working full time jobs when we started making money online in our spare time. When we were making enough we decided to quit our full time jobs and work exclusively for ourselves.

We are coming up on three years of full time self employment and things could not be better. We work very well together and have the trust and respect for each other that goes beyond any other co-worker relationships either of us have ever had.

Many years ago while vacationing we decided we wanted to spend everyday together and made that a long term goal. We didn’t know that it would be an online business but that wasn’t the important part, it was just being together and working together day after day.

I recommend working with your spouse if you like spending every minute together and have the same long term expectations in your careers, it really is amazing.

By: How Far In Advance Do You Plan Your Work?

How Far In Advance Do You Plan Your Work? — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:12:40 +0000

[...] I’m on with this article, but important nonetheless, is Laura’s article titled – Working For Friend And Family: Can It Ever Work? – which is a must read for self employed people. Though I haven’t had much of a problem in [...]

By: Kevin Blaikie

Kevin Blaikie — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:34:16 +0000

Some really great content and advice here!
When I decided to “go it alone” due to my health (M.S.), my friends and family all laughed at the possibility of a disabled person being successful in any way.
They now see what is happening in my life and they want a piece of the pie.
My problem is that I do not know if I should help them after their initial attitudes.
I have a real ethical dilemma :o(

By: Vic

Vic — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:47:44 +0000

Hi Laura,

Thanks for sharing and opening this topic. It’s really pretty hard when you are the situation of a workplace where your friends and families are working with you. Aligning two different relationships, that is co-workers or family relationship is not an easy task. Although we can achieve harmony sometime, the fact is there will always be a conflict on it.

By: Rhi Bowman

Rhi Bowman — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:22:17 +0000

Thank you, Laura.

My hope is time will do what it’s famous cliche promises: Offer healing.

Right now I’m pushing forward, staying busy and hoping my old friend reads any one of the writing books I gave her and feels the stir of possibility.

Still don’t think I’ll ever try to include a friend or family member in my business again. Helping them start their own? That’s different.

By: Grace

Grace — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:57:36 +0000

One of the classic fears is doing a free job for a close friend or family member and they return for more free jobs until you tell them off (which hurts their feelings). I think it depends on who you’re doing it for; would they ask for ridiculous hours or prices, etc.

Thanks for sharing; keep it up! :)

By: Jonathan, Virtual Assistant

Jonathan, Virtual Assistant — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:33:54 +0000

It’s good to have family members and friends assisting in business endeavours. But they must take their efforts seriously so that the business will not face difficulties.