A friend and I started a small internet company in 2019, aimed to help people in rural areas get connected with usable internet. He didn't have the knowledge of networking or anything, but he is handy and was willing to be our lead installer. We started this right before COVID hit, and that was a big part in our quick growth in our area.
In late 2019 we brought in our other friend (let's call him friend 2) to provide a cash injection when we needed it. We brought him on as a co-owner. Each of us owns 33.3% of the company.
Fast forward to now. All of us still work our full time jobs and do this on the side. I work a typical M-F 8-5, where as the other two work 2 24 hour shifts per week. Rest of the week they have time dedicated to internet sales. I handle all of the finances/sales/tech support/marketing, and they do installs. But Friend 1 is lazy, and prioritizes his personal life over his internet work. Might get one day of work a week out of him. He very frequently ignores my calls/texts for sales appointments, and I honestly think he just wants a job where he can make money without any effort. Friend 2 has the work ethic, but has terrible business moves, and acts recklessly. He orders supply without the need for it, which causes us to sit on an excess of product. He prioritizes his friends needing internet over customers who navigate through the proper channels, gives me a very limited schedule, and disregards my advice on sales/marketing. Overall it's just a mess. I've made attempts to expand (adding additional services, installing cell boosters in homes, etc) and have been rejected since they simply do not want to do it.
A few months back I was between jobs, and pitched the idea of me going to do this full time. I said I would handle all of my current work plus installs, until the company increased to a point that they could come on "full time" too. They both disagreed, on the sole premise that I would be making more than they would (I asked to make a livable salary while I did this)
I know I could do this on my own, much better, and without the other two holding the company back. They would fail without me keeping it afloat. So I'm contemplating selling my part of the company and moving on. But how do I know how much my third is worth?
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