so, how do you do business with friends?

americanada · March 2011

i really don't like the idea one bit. i have a few friends wanting me to do their LO's party. i don't want to get into the amount of hours it takes (too many!) and the fact that i would have to take way too much time away from ds to do one. i don't feel right exchanging money with friends, but i can't be that generous and just do it for them either. i'm not willing to take that much time away from ds.

i've considered giving a general design and suggest things they could do and show them how to make things and perhaps set up their dessert table, but this is still very time consuming and tough to put boundaries on.

if you do business w/friends, how does it work for you?

Roxpup · March 2011

Did I miss the AW first birthday pics of your LO?!! I saw the dessert table teaser..

jlthompson19 · March 2011

Set boundaries from the beginning. DH is a floorlayer and he's let a few people "walk all over him" when he's letting them decide what to pay him.

Do what you feel comfortable doing, as far as how much time you can devote to it, and of course give your friends a deal $ wise, but don't let them unknowingly take advantage-it'll breed resentment.

stella_blu · March 2011

I'd say that unless you are wanting to build a business, I'd politely decline. You've laid out plenty of reasons not to do it, and no reasons that you want to. As far as doing business with friends, I'd set a rate that I'd charge anyone and let them know that rate and then discount from there.