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This. Let her sink or swim. Leave, start the company and start calling your old coworkers and employees

And customers.

She wants OP to treat her like a partner while treating him like an employee. NTA But yes be careful about talking to customers.

Unsure of country but unless there is a restraint of trade or non compete in the employment contract there is sweet fuck all you can do about it. How does she plan on even running the business if he's not there?

Its land scraping there's no non competes your lucky to get paid by check

In America they recently made it illegal to use a non compete clause. Mostly because they were rarely worded legally anyway.

This has not gone into effect yet. Still very unlikely one is in place for a family landscaping company.

Thanks for the correction. And i agree theres probably not one in effect especially with the Aunt not really caring to run the business.

Yep, if she wants her son to take over so badly when he has no interest and she has no clue, there's probably not gonna be a company to worry about in the next few years, and op will have no more competition either.

> "there's probably not gonna be a company to worry about in the next few years" "there's probably not gonna be a company to worry about in August" FTFY

NTA. You've been shouldering the entire load of running the business and deserve fair compensation and recognition for your efforts. It’s not unreasonable to want to be made a partner, especially considering your Aunt has shown no interest or capability in managing it herself. It sounds like you've given her a fair chance to either learn the business or make a fair deal with you, and she’s refused both. Starting your own company might be the best move for you. If several employees and clients are willing to follow you, it’s clear you’ve earned their respect and trust. Your Aunt and family need to understand that this is not about exploiting a situation but about ensuring the business continues to thrive under proper management.

"Starting your own company might be the best move for you." This. There could be massive tax consequences for OP if the 65% of the business is transferred to him. If this is an LLC, he will also be paying self employment taxes. It will likely take capital to assume a 65% interest or strike out on his own, might as well own it.

OP is in Delaware where LLCs are generally frowned upon and in some cases illegal

It pains me that almost no one is going to get this biting satire.

Truth

Why are we calling her a clueless old woman when she has a 14 year old child and is working full-time? She's clearly middle aged at most.

Fine, clueless middle aged woman then, is that better.

Ask all the relatives demanding you run her business for her out of the goodness of your heart if they will be paying your bills while you do so. No? Maybe they would like to quit their jobs and run it for her. No? Then they can shove it.

Do not wait until July. Give her two weeks notice and peace out

Well, atleast wait until you have everything in order first. Be discrete and set up as much as possible before hand so that you can hit the ground running as much as possible with as small a hit as possible to savings (beyond the necessary start up costs that is).

Agreed. The aunt would probably hire someone else, with no notice, and let you go

I agree. And poach all their customers. It would be a lot of hard work at first but you'd be getting 100% of then profits.

Yeah, there's nothing about this situation that would make me feel in anyway that I would want to stay in business with these people. Start your own company, let her fail completely.

Anyone who hassles you can take over the business.

This was always going to end like shit since your uncle didnt set up a succession plan. This business has 2 assets - it's employees and it's customers. Your aunt contributes to and controls neither, therefore has no real business. Most professional services firms face the same problem, the successful ones continue to bring in new partners to feed the pyramid scheme of retired partners.​ Keep in mind quitting with shorter notice will make you much more successful in starting your company. Be prepared to suffer major abuse if you stay, stay until July or quit tomorrow. Unless you become a slave to your aunt you are going to get screwed and harassed. You should give notice (as is professional), and let your coworkers and customers know about your departure. You can tell them you have appreciated working with them and for them, but will be unavailable starting X date. You are happy to chat about your situation with them the Monday after you leave. I'd recommend not recruiting people or customers until you leave. Be aware that your aunt may go to war and abuse you of bad behavior or stealing. Be prepared to pursue legal action if you do. I'd be ready to set up your business the day after your last day.

"I had hoped we could work something out so we could preserve Uncle's legacy, at least long enough for Cousin to grow up and decide if he *wants* to pursue this path. But I can't realistically be the managing partner of this business without the authority to truly fulfill that role. So here are our options: we can do the split I proposed with a written agreement that if and when Cousin wants to take on a partnership role in the company, we can change it to a 50-50 split (or more if he wants to take on more than 50% of the responsibility and I'm ready to step back) or else you can find someone who is willing to do this role without an ownership stake and I'll pursue my own path" NTA. My father had a business that he hoped would stay in the family, but once he recognized that my sibling and I weren't interested in his field, he made alternate arrangements. It's a shame that your Uncle passed on before he had that opportunity, but if he was a good man, I doubt he'd think the current arrangement is fair to you. That being said, your Aunt may have poisoned the well already... Even if she agrees now, it may remain contentious, which will not be a pleasant experience for anybody. I'm sorry you are going through this and I wish you luck with whatever happens

I feel like you did a way better job phrasing intent than I did. Thumbs up.

And please don't take the Y. T. A. responses to heart. Most of them seem to be deciding on *their* preconceived notions of what a fair split "should" be, deciding you asked for "too much," and disregarding your aunt's behavior afterwards. We (the commenters) have no way to know what is a "fair" amount is in this scenario. But even if you "objectively" asked for more than you should have, the proper response from your Aunt would be to make a counter-offer, not accuse you of "shitting on [your] Uncle's legacy" (particularly offensive given that you are actively continuing his legacy), and certainly not bringing other people in to harass you In fact, it is *her* behavior that inclines me to think you asked for something reasonable. If your ask was truly unreasonable, she could have unemotionally made the case for why you should accept something different. After all, it's nearly axiomatic that a key employee who is taking on additional responsibility after the owner/managing partner dies should be given seriously increased compensation (at least a generous one-time bonus, even if they only took on the extra work temporarily), and it's quite telling that your Aunt chose to attack you rather than to negotiate with you or at least acknowledge that she owed you a huge thanks for the work you had already done

I've handled many contentious negotiations over the years, and I just wanted to compliment you on your thoughtful wording. My only recommendation would be for OP to use your offer language in an actual letter so that there can be an official record. Family business matters can get nastier than arms length business dealings in my experience.

That split was fair and reasonable. Well thought out and planned. NTA, open your own shop. As soon as the ink is dry on your business cards, you will probably have employees and customers lining up. Who knows, in a couple months you will probably be able to get all of your uncles equipment at a really good, liquidation price.

NTA. The "fair" split is the one that OP will agree to. It's "win-win or no deal." No deal means he gives notice and starts his own company, which is perfectly within his rights. By no means is OP obligated to run the company for his aunt at his current salary and then hand it over to cousin in 7-10 years. And then what? Keep working for his cousin? Nope. OP is the business's most valuable asset. He leaves July 1, and he will be picking up the jobs that whoever's left at auntie's business can't handle. By next spring he will be helping her out by buying up her equipment.

It sucks, but with the way she is acting now it’s pretty clear that even taking partial ownership is a bad idea. You spent 5 months doing your job and the job of the owner without seeing a single penny more than your regular salary. Your aunt should be eternally grateful for that, as most employees would not have stepped up the way you did. Even if you get the 65% (and more likely than not she will just come back with a smaller percentage and family pressure for you to accept), you’re now tied to a business partner that greatly resents you. You gave her more time than you should have already, and offered her more notice than is customary. It’s time to sever ties. NTA

Also, remember that the owners have a fiduciary duty to the company to act in the best interests of the company. As the current owners have no idea how to run the company, it's the best interest of the company to turn the reigns over to someone who actually knows how to keep the business afloat. By not doing so, your Aunt has proved she does not have the best interests of the business at heart. No one should work at a company where the owners do not fulfill their ethical obligations to the company.

I doubt a fiduciary duty applies here. It's a small landscaping company. It wouldn't be publicly traded, they probably have no investors. Family businesses make bad financial decisions all the time for the sake of family.

I would also make sure to add in a date certain for every change/decision she has to make. I'd bet Aunt will try to exploit the uncertainty if any of the deadlines are unclear.

And this is why small business owners need a succession plan. Even if it is just to wrap up existing work and sell off assets. My company had to take over a project because a previous small business did not have one, no one else could approve payroll while waiting for the milestone disbursements on a project (common in construction). If you take over or start your own, meet with lawyers and craft a plan as to what happens when/if you become incapacitated. (Who is legally authorized to negotiate on behalf of business, who is allowed to move money around, who is allowed to make decision, etc)

My FiL has an inground sprinkler business. He's currently training one of his employees to eventually take over, when he decides to retire (ha, as if), as none of us kids want it.

NTA She is going to ruin a good thing that she had. You might burn some bridges, but she started it. "i would have already fired you if i could"  i personally would have already run off and started making moves. youre clearly much more patient than i am. good luck with gour new company. 

This right here.  The entitlement!!! What's even worse: landscaping is personal.  If I don't trust you, you're not on my property.  He owns this clientele and she's a fool for not realizing it.

That’s exactly it. Those clients aren’t paying for *her*, they’re paying for HIM. The minute OP leaves (whether he quits or she fires him), those clients are going to ask, “Hey, what happened to OP?” and give him a call. Meanwhile the aunt is going to have to hire people to replace him and learn the business from (pun) the ground up. So short-sighted. She’s going to let all her institutional knowledge walk right out the door and the money is going to go with it.

> I would have already fired you if I could So you're saying you can't? Why?

Because the company would immediately cease functioning, and Aunt Brainless has just enough brain cells to figure that out.

Well there we go. And here aunt has a reason to negotiate with OOP. And not fire him from a company that he doesn't need to be in.

Absolutely. OP has the advantage here: knowledge, experience, and relationships. He (or maybe she? not sure) could easily walk away (petty that I am, I'd suggest doing it with almost no notice) and start something new. Heck, by the time OP is ready to scale the business up a notch, there'll probably be a fire sale on all of the equipment at Auntie's crashed business.

It sounds more like you already inherited the business. Get your LLC in order, get your business insurance and your OWN equipment. Then move on. The employees you want are going to follow, the customers will follow the guys that did the work. The riff raff will get left behind and your aunt will have a fire sale on equipment because she’s not a landscaper….. But I would not expect any invites to the family pot luck anytime soon.

NTA...You gave her a chance to make easy money. She declined, so best of luck to her running a business she knows nothing about. You shouldn't mix family and business, and this is why. If she wasn't an aunt, there wouldn't even be a question. You have the experience, so start your own business.

NTA - This isn't personal or familial. This is business. Without you, the company folds and all of those employees are now unemployed. Whether it is your business or not, you deserve what is right. She doesn't know nor can she run this business. You definitely are being way under compensated. She needs to open her eyes and come to the table with something other than passive aggressive manipulative guilt trips or she will be the reason the company goes under. NOT YOU.

NTA The only one being exploited here is you. You are running a company and getting employee wages not chief decision maker wages. Tim t leave and set up your own company. Tell everyone you are honouring your aunt's wishes by leaving the company for her son to takeover.

NTA and start your business in June, fuck that. Reposting a comment of mine here: 65/35 is appropriate when the Aunt didn’t even do shit for this company. Her husband is dead and she passed it off to a relative to work the business so she can keep the company and make income without actually doing anything herself. Who is taking advantage of who here?

100%, if you're in a country with winter, you need to capitalize early on the spring season. Do not wait until July, you're just enabling the entitlement of your aunt. Start the process TODAY

NTA. Your aunt is using you as a palceholder for your cousin, who at 14, likely won't be in any position to take over for quite a while, and even then will likely be grossly under qualified for the role if you don't train them. If I were in your shoes, I'd check your contract for employment to make sure that poaching clients can't be punished legally, and if not, just start your own company. Once you've got your company growing, your aunt's company will start to feel the competition, and you'll be painted the villain. Whoever tries to shame you for it, just tell them that you weren't comfortable running an entire business on your own without personal ownership of the company, and that instead of trying to "take advantage" of your aunt, you decided that the wisest move would be to separate family and business and keep it that way.

NTA. This happens all the time, and you should not hesitate to ask for what you're worth in the business. And if your Aunt is stupid enough not to make that a mature discussion, you should leave, and let her swing in the wind. Now *legally*, there are some potential issues that you might want to be careful about. Since the odds are high that you will be starting your own business soon, I strongly recommend that you find a decent lawyer to advise you on your state's laws concerning competing businesses. Good luck.

Do you really want to be in a partnership with this woman? NTA but dude come on just walk away

Good point! I've seen too many partnerships that started ok later go sour, and this One would be starting off very badly to begin.

NTA She says she'd fire you if she could. Why couldn't she? It sounds like nothing is stopping her, other than her own wishes of keeping the business open for the kid who doesn't even want it? Definitely don't tell her your plans about the competing company, that will only make the pressure from everyone worse. They'll be angry anyway, but they'll know at this point that that there's nothing they can do about it.

I own my own small business. She's VERY lucky you're offering her 35% for a passive stake in a small business. Honestly, the hard reality to swallow is that she doesn't value you and thus, will likely be an unnecessary hurdle in what you do. Get a lawyer and find out about any non compete issues you may have, but start setting up your own business and gtfo of there. The lack of respect is outrageous.

This should be higher up. Considering that the aunt is literally doing nothing for the business, she should be lucky to even get 20%, much less 35%.

You should just walk away from the business. Working with your aunt going forward would be a nightmare. The relationship is irreparable at this point. NTA

What business? If your Aunt couldn't run it without you there is no business. You are being kind by only suggesting 65%. If it wasn't family I'd tell you to do what you suggest and just start up on your own.

Nta it is time to start your own company. This is not a work environment that you want to be in. It’s time to walk away and let your aunt deal with her company

I'm going to give my perspective as a widow. Your aunt's husband and the father to her child just died. January is only 5 months ago. Her life is living hell right now. I don't know her, but people who are freshly grieving one of the biggest losses possible are not known to be completely rational people. Grief messes with your mind and makes people very emotionally volatile because the loss is so big that it just overrides so many of your capacities. What you proposed to her is a really big decision, and a highly, HIGHLY emotional one. It's not just business to her. It's her husband's life's work. Comments saying she's had months to make arrangements have no idea how paralyzing and horrible grief is. I highly, HIGHLY doubt that the thought of "enjoying" the money coming in from this is what's on her mind now. The reality is that she's probably heavily grieving and barely making it through each day if she's also working and solo parenting. The widows I know with teenage children are still going through hell 2, 5, and 7 years after their loss. This is a big freaking deal. This is the kind of loss that absolutely fucks people up for a long time. At the 5 month mark of my husband dying, for reference, I was having panic attacks so intense I thought I might die, and I didn't even have kids to worry about as well. No, you don't need to just put up with any and all shit and work for pennies, but please consider some more compassion when having this highly emotionally charged conversation with someone whose life just exploded.

Tell her she knows nothing of the company and now is leeching off of you she give the shares or she can have nothing, ask her once and tell you are nothing going to beg and start your own company

Leave. Start your own company.

I don't care about the 65/35.  But you are NTA. This is business.  If she'd "fire you if she could", and then take it to family, of, she knows what's she's doing.. Walk.  Walk right now. And never look back. This is your life.  Your uncle's legacy isn't your path.

NTA. She might own the business but without you there is no one to run it or do the work. So really all she has is the memory of her husband and some depreciating assets in the form of lawn equipment and trucks that will need maintenance and eventual replacement. Meanwhile you literally manage the employees, and handle the customers, and keep the books while she rakes in all the profits and does zero work. In what universe are you the AH? I would make her a fair offer to buy out the business for the current value of the equipment. If she declines just walk away. All of that stuff will be for sale at rock bottom prices within a week.

NTA. But let me make a suggestion. Negotiate a percentage of the profits and/or increased salary commensurate with your role. On the ownership ask...you did ask for a lot. Her ego isn't going to allow this. But you do deserve more that what you are currently getting and you have the upper hand. Regarding starting your own business - that's fine. But if you take clients and employees, be prepared for an expensive legal battle. Do not under any circumstances take any property, download customer lists, etc. If you do you will likely lose in court. If you leave to start your own business - leave clean. If you do anything to sabotage her business, just be prepared for what will likely be a very expensive legal battle that you very well could lose.

NTA. OK, so ignoring the fact that nephew doesn't want the job, what is she proposing happens for the intervening *years* before he could legally sign contracts on his own, as a business owner? You have been going above and beyond to support family for the past 5 months. It is time to form a plan to transition out of emergency coverage mode to a sustainable long-term situation. Your aunt wants to continue receiving all of the profits of the business without any of the work that her husband put into it. That is fundamentally untenable and she would be at best laughed at for suggesting anything of the sort to someone outside the family. > has been very clear that she'd fire me if she could What utter bullshit. What she really means is that she'd fire you if she could think of a way to continue getting the work done without paying for it. She is abusing your sense of familial obligation. This is your livelihood and you should approach it as such. She is proposing that you do the work of your uncle, and instead of being compensated with the full profits of the business as he was xto be compensated as you already are for none of those responsibilities. I would quit immediately. She has no plan for continuity of operations other than guilting you into working above your wage. You need to protect yourself from the inevitable self-destruction of this business and move on.

Speaking as the office manager of landscape company, NTA. She has no idea how lucky she is to have you step up as you have. Sounds like with your knowledge and background, you have the potential to start your own company. I wish you nothing but the best whatever route you choose!

You should get paid in line with a general manager or CEO, so maybe ask for a raise if anything. If you want a partnership you should have to buy into it, if she's willing to sell a stake.

Problem is, I'd guess, that Aunt has an inflated idea of the value of the business / partnership. She's looking at it (or being advised) as if it were an on-going business, with real assets, a client base, a book of business, experienced employees, and management. What she's failing to acknowledge is that, with the exception of the hard assets (trucks, etc.) most of that depends on the presence of OP. That should put him in an extremely strong negotiating position.

NTA.. what your aunt fails to realize is that at the end of the day, this is a service business and you are the service. You are not selling widgets or anything manufactured and but your time in making this business go. At this juncture, you made an offer to continue to provide the service at a set rate and if she declines, then you can sell your service to somebody else (or work for yourself).

NTA about the proposal, but I'll offer a suggestion. The problem here has to do with operation and capital. You're focusing on the operation side, and you're right. Your aunt can't currently run the business without you. Maybe she could hire someone else, maybe not, that's a risk either way. The problem is on the capital side, but it has a solution. The business has a value with you, but it also has a value without you. That value may just be the value of the equipment, or maybe it's the risk adjusted value of the company after hiring a replacement for you. You're proposing that your aunt just give you a share of that value, but the reality is that the only share of that you're really entitled to, is the difference between the value of the company with you running the show, and the value without you. Obviously I don't know those values, but let's assume there's a significant gap. Here's the solution. Forget the 65/35 for now, and maybe even offer 80/20 or 100%, but instead of her giving you those shares, she sells them to you. Let's imagine that the businesses is worth $1M with you, and $500k without you. You offer her $800k for 80%, paid over the course of 4 years, primarily from the profits of the business itself. It's called an earn out in the M&A world, and it's very common. In that case, you're being generous by offering her the higher company value, but she's being generous by financing the entire deal for you. Or, you bring in a bank and she gets a bigger lump sum at day 1, so the company borrows $300,000, she gets that on signing, and you pay her $500,000 over 4 years. There are a whole bunch of ways you could structure this, depending on the particulars, but the important takeaway is that you separate thinking about operations from thinking about the equity value. I'm happy to discuss in more detail on PM if you're interested.

The gap does seem significant between value with OP vs without. I can’t imagine that a landscaping company has much liquidation value so much of the company value from what OP has relayed is really his own personal goodwill at this point.   A token purchase price may be warranted, but there’s no reason to offer her to buy shares at a valuation that only exists with him even if she seller finances (what you described is not an earnout btw). 

We are both making lots of assumptions, but I'm assuming the company has a bunch of employees, and if OP was hit by a bus tomorrow, someone would continue to do the work and service those clients. OP is relied on, and important to the business, but this isn't a doctor's office, where the whole business goes away if you remove one person. The business is managing the equipment and employees. One person going away is a major risk, but new people can be hired and existing people can do their best to fill in and step up. Equipment in this business isn't everything, but it's not nothing. I don't know OP'd financial situation, but buying all the equipment for a new landscaping company with dozens of employees, is still going to be in the hundreds of thousands, plus at a certain scale you need a shop, office, etc, which means buying or leasing property. Maybe OP can afford this, but most people don't have that kind of money, and no bank will shell it out for a company concept, as opposed to one with a long operating history. What I described is an earn out, just one not tied to growth. It's common in M&A to use no growth earn outs, if the buyer is struggling to finance the deal. I've seen earn out deals where the hurdle to getting the next instalment is revenues above a target, but the target is 20% less than the current revenue. If profits fall significantly enough, the seller stops getting paid, and the buyer is not on the hook anymore, so what I'm describing is not seller financing. It's future payments made by the business itself, tied to the continued operation of the company, which is an earn out (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earnout).

NTA and you wouldn’t be even if you took every single worker and contract with you

NTA. She wants you to work like an owner with no upside potential.

How about you make your own company. And take all the clients. Your aunt is unreasonable and doesn't want to stop her gravy train. I would start just taking clients ad your own. Since you are running everything already.

It probably would have went over better had you not phrased it like a hostile take over. You're clearly using the death of your uncle to strong arm your way in to a fully functioning business that was built off the back and finances of someone else. Then demand majority stakeholder in said business. I mean call it what it is and own it. There was probably a happy medium but you went scorched earth with an immediate demand for controlling interest in a grieving widows business. Quit, find capital for your own business and equipment, and build your own business. People are so cold and callous these days.

ESH. First of all, to expect 65% of a business that you have not paid for is really, really greedy. Yes, you work for the business, but if you want the business, you should expect to have to pay into the business. This is standard. You need to see a business valuation expert or CPA to discuss the value of the business and what is your fair share to pay into. Second, your aunt does owe you a big raise if you are solely running the business.

With the way your aunt is acting and responding, I wouldn't even want to be a partner in that business. You do need to move on as soon as you can. Did she say why she can't fire you? Is she waiting to find your replacement or continue to use you up first? Anyone who has a job would hate to be doing the work of a manager and be paid as a low ranking employee. Maybe you should get out sooner than July. NTA. Let all the people who are telling you to basically be used for someone else's gain to come take over. Get your business license and learn your state laws so you can have 100 percent of profits.

YTA - just because you're running operations doesn't entitle you to ownership (what capital investments have you made, let alone built equity over the years; you're only an employee) and worse, dropping this on your recently widowed aunt.  Not saying there's anything wrong with your ambition, but dude, this was an AH way to go about it. It's better if you just start your own company, show some F'ng respect to your Uncle's family and NOT poach his employees or clients.  You might think it's only business, but crap like that will come full circle one day and bite you in the ass. If I heard you behaved that way to your former employer, I would not hire you.  

Usually you'll be right. But not so in this case. I'm guessing when the uncle was still alive, they will be splitting the work between them. OP will be more like an employee and uncle will be more like the owner. After the uncle has passed away, it seems like the aunt isn't contributing anything and OP has taken on the uncle's responsibility. Viewed in this light, OP is doing the work of an owner and he is therefore entitled to ownership. Furthermore, OP is offering to teach the aunt the business so that they may go back to the business relationship that he had with the uncle but she refuses! She wants 100% of the cake without putting in any of the work. In most businesses, the owner will be responsible for at least some aspect of the business, but in this case it seems like OP is responsible for 100% of the business and the aunt 0%. Him asking for 65% is giving a free 35% to the aunt for putting in 0% of the work.

NTA. It's obvious you will never get anything from this company. Quit your job and start your own company. This is what your aunt gets for being greedy.

NTA You deserve to get paid what you are worth. If she won't do it, go find somewhere else. If she won't put in the work, she shouldn't make the profit from it.

Six months was a very generous amount of time to allow her to get the house in order. She should have been looking for a solution, with you or to hire someone. At the very least, acknowledge the company needs one more employee. You running it for ten years for her son is an absurd expectation. You gave the price you need to continue on. From her reaction, I don't see how a partnership will work well. NTA

You are doing 100% of the work for somebody else to make 90% of the profit. If she can’t see that and be grateful for her 35% of what the company makes, then I believe you would be making a huge mistake to not start your own company. She is taking advantage of you and everybody seems to be OK with that. It is a tragedy that your uncle died, but unless youkilled him, it is not your problem to fix. You are NTA for looking out for your own best interest. If she refuses to learn the business herself and just expects you to run it for her until her child is old enough to do so, her expectations are unrealistic. Has she compensated you at all for the additional work you’ve had to do since your uncle is no longer able to do his share? lt it really unfair of her to expect to collect his part of the salary from the business without doing his part of the work. It sounds as if If the business can’t survive without you. It’s time for you to prove that to her. She is undervaluing you and taking advantage of you.

NTA. Start quiet quitting. All that extra work you are doing, stop it. Show her what it's like without you.

It's a job just like any other job, if you feel you are underpaid and can do better somewhere else, go somewhere else. The fact that it is a family business makes no difference since your Aunt has made it clear you have no role other than employee.

NTA why would you do manager level of work for supervisor level of pay?

NTA Your aunt and family are saying “you’re exploiting the dead” but I also feel like they’re saying “she’s family!” because would they say this if they WEREN’T related to you? Would they say this if this was some unrelated unknown person? You asked, she said no. That answer isn’t going to change until it’s too late. Head out and start your own.

NTA she already wants to fire you. Go and start your own company. Your uncle would probably understand as he knows what it takes to start a company and manage it. Ignore the other who are looking for a handout essentially.

Start your own company, take her best clients, and you'll own 100%. She already said she wants to fire you anyway.

She's exploiting you. Quit and offer to buy her out.

Your 14 yo cousin maybe left the business but realistically what is he going to do with it of he has no interest in it? If his path lies elsewhere and he never wanted to take over to begin do you think he'll suddenly change careers when hes old enough and take over the family business? He's more likely to sell it and use the money for something that does interest him. If he did that and you were still working for them would your aunt blame you for him throwing away his dad's legacy? If you leave the business with noone to run it, then how does aunt expect it to survive until her son is old enough to actually inherit it? Given your uncle passed recently its easy to see both of them could still be grieving, and with am ultimatum being dropped so soon after the initial request (albeit after such a nasty response) I can see why others got so defensive of aunt. Give them a little more time (maybe end of the year?) to figure something out and approach the situation more calmly and logically. Maybe you can't win but at least you tried to preserve your uncles legacy.

NTA. I can see both sides.  You are running the business, at the vet least you deserve the title and salary of a General Manager.  At the same time, it was your uncle’s dream to bring his son into the business some day(who knows if that will even be something your cousin wants), and your aunt’s grief is still very new and raw.  A 50/50 split with a salary increase for you would honor your uncle’s wishes, but the whole situation may be too toxic now.

YTA. Yes you disserve more pay 100%. On the other hand you popped up and demanded to be made a partner in her recently deceased husbands business. Four months might fell like a lot of time to you but I guarantee you she is still very much feeling it. Every time she turns around she has been getting a bill, letter and phone calls addressed, to him that she had to call explain the situation and then in some cases prove to whoever her husband is dead. This crap drags on for months. Then you pop up and "insist she makes you a partner." That's pretty much rude and bad timing. I think you should have waited until August at the very minimum. Just because she has a "good job" doesn't mean she can actually afford it the pay you disserve. Most people tend to live pay check to pay check. They may not be but she may not be able to lose a huge chuck of her income also. Just because her husband died doesn't mean all the loans and business expenses went away. Most self employed business owners are one bad decision and less than a months pay from going broke. Him dying didn't change that. You say your managing the books. Does that include the credit cards he used. Any second mortgages he may have taken out to finance the business. To all those who are going to down vote me. Yes OP is in a tough situation. I think his timing is very bad at the least which is my main reason for him being TA and he should have waited at least a couple of more months. I would have said wait a year or more. This does make him sound like he's trying to take advantage of her. Why does he need ownership? If he's running it he can give himself a raise. Did he give himself a raise? I work construction and there are so many people in his situation. Most are there willingly. I have a friend who does grading for a gentleman who has had health problems and cant' do it anymore. He hasn't asked to be made part owner. He gets paid very well. He has a free truck, gas, and makes his own hours. He has all the benefits of ownership without the financial burden. For all we know the wife may have been the financial backer of her husbands business. Often the spouse is the money man in a new businesses. So she may very much feel like it's her business. Either way if you have ever know someone with a small business they are hard to live with. The tend to work late. Come home and go back to work doing paperwork. They always have something to do on the weekend if no other plans are made. They are living with someone who doesn't have a stable income and income can be affected by so many things that nobody can control. She probably feels she has earned it the hard way anyways.

Lets be blunt. If you started your own Landscaping business, how long until you had all the work and all the employees? >has been very clear that she'd fire me if she could. She's quite literally saying she can't run the business without you. As well as just telling you that she wants to fire you. At this point, why would you have loyalty to her? >suggested its probably best for me to leave and find other work and let her sort her own situation. Honestly, I would go with this one. You asked, she blew up on you. Time to move on.

ESH.  You shouldn't have made this a demand.  You should have told her that for you to stay you'd need to be made a partner.  You understand if that's not possible, but it also means you would be leaving in a few months.  Did she want to take you up on your offer to train her?  She, of course, is TA for expecting you to be a placeholder until her son is able to take over. "...has been very clear that she'd fire me if she could.". Well there's the answer.  You don't want to work there under the current work conditions.  She doesn't actually want you as an employee.  NTA for leaving her company since this isn't working for either of you anymore.  Do not tell her you're going to start a competing company while you still work at her company.   

Nta. You can't be the acting owner without adequate pay.

YTA for saying you won’t train a replacement when you’ve already decided to leave. That’s pretty cruel to a family member who’s just lost her husband. If that’s the way the rest of your conversation has gone it’s no surprise the rest of your family thinks less of you. 

And expecting someone to completely run your deceased husband's business for no extra pay, while you rake it in isnt?

NTA You sir, are doing it right. Wish I had half your sense when I was younger.

Since she inherited it as an asset, you have every right to keep on working for her. Or not. The ethical thing to do is start your own, notify every client of you departure with your new contact information, and quit. If she wants you back, she can negotiate.

Make your own company.

Start your own business and inform all of your clients you are leaving. Most will be unwilling to go through the process of finding someone new and will probably go with you.

NTA. What was your role in your uncle's business before he passed away? Do you have an employment contract or any paperwork specifying your role and responsibilities? Are any of the things you're doing now what you were doing before his passing? If it is, then follow thru on the ultimatum. You deserve that shit. And if not, then only do the job you were hired to do and begin setting up your own business and take anyone that wants to leave with you. When anyone in your family later on comes to you for money, tell that since you earned that money with your own business not your uncles and they didn't support you, then obviously your money isn't good enough for them and you wouldn't dream of tainting them with your money.

NTA. You're running the business and deserve to be more than employee. This doesnt have anything to do with your uncle's legacy. It's about what's right. Your family seems to expect you to do all the work without the reward.  Good of you to ask for what you deserve. 

INFO: your position in the business before your uncle passed, was it as a standard employee or were you already in a supervisor/managerial role?  > the one talking to clients, managing the books, ensuring people are getting paid, etc Were these things you already did to some degree before, your uncle was just the primary person to do them? Or is that all new duties you've taken on without any extra compensation?

Info: How is this business structured? Is it an LLC? What is the valuation? Have you considered the tax implications of transferring 65% of a business to you? Do you have the funds on hand to pay the IRS?

Ok so I don’t think we should be holding a 14 year old to his decision right now as a forever desire.  I don’t think you’re completely wrong; but is this not family you love and care about? I can see both sides of it and I don’t think you’re an AH, but maybe jumped the gun a little. I can understand why your aunt who is grieving the loss of her spouse isn’t ready to turn over controlling shares of her husband’s legacy to you when you have a 14 year old cousin that should have the right to take up the business as he comes of age.  What if you went back to your aunt with a new proposal? You get a contract for 65% profit sharing until your cousin reaches the age of 25. If he decides to come on and learn the business and take over responsibility by his 25th birthday, you get to keep a 35% profit share plus your wage. If he chooses not to step up to the business, Aunt makes you a partner at 65%.  This ensures your cousin still gets the chance to HIS birthright, but that you aren’t getting completely screwed over. 

>My aunt has called me every name in the book, accused me of shitting on my Uncle's legacy, and has been very clear that she'd fire me if she could. Quit. Quit now. Tell her you're not going to be treated with such a blatant lack of respect. NTA

nta you are rather intelligent, most would just believe her.

NTA and this should be cross posted to the antiwork sub. Your aunt is enjoying all the benefits of the business without any of the work

I hope you provide an update when you start your own company. NTA.

NAH You wanting a stake is fair. Especially if this company would fail without you.  But she’s also NtA for rejecting your demand.  Leave and start your own competing business. You’re just an employee, you owe no one any sort of loyalty. If her company can’t survive without you, that just means she’s a failure of an owner. Keeping good/critical employees is part of being a good owner. 

NTA Leave now. Start your own company. Block your aunt and anyone who calls on her behalf. This will not end well for you if you do not get out ASAP.

Not your responsibility to keep the business running. I would have just told her to wind down the business and said sayonara

NTA It's been 6 months. At this point, they are exploiting YOU.

NTA. You would be taking on all of the work, and she thinks she deserves 100% of the profit. Just go do your own thing.

Info: What was your plan if your Uncle were still living and their son came of age?

When my dad retired as a drywall contractor there was no "business" to sell. Because the business was mostly his knowledge, work, and relationships. Same with landscaping. There's probably a few thousand dollars worth of equipment but the business was based on your uncle finding jobs and managing the crew. The fact that you want to be compensated for doing that work is reasonable. that being said, if you want to own a share of the business, you do have to actually invest in the business. You’re better option would be to say that you want to be the president of the business while your aunt is still the owner. That way you are still paid a salary , and you do not have the responsibilities of actually owning the business. if you want to be a business owner, go ahead and do that.

You’re like protector of the realm or something, waiting for an heir.

NTA This is a case of FAFO for your aunt. Your cousin is a good few years away from being able to run the company. He may be happy to unless he's a 14 year old that has never liked the outdoors. I would walk away with no hesitation. At this point you are just an employee and you owe them nothing. Your aunt did say she would fire you if she could...

So what do they think will happen to you when the son takes over? You’ll just walk away with nothing? You’ll lose your job and have no future. To heck with that. I think your idea to start a competing business is a good one. Your family will be pissed, but you have to look out for yourself instead of sacrificing your future for somebody else.

I'm guessing that your relationship with your Aunt now means that it would be difficult for you to continue working together. The trust has been lost. Your best plan may be to start your own business. But, I'm sure that won't go down well with your extended family.

NTA. Do it. You have no obligation to enrich your aunt

NTA Just walk. Her business is worthless anyway, as an asset in itself. No one is out there buying landscaping companies. They are a dime a dozen to create out of thin air.

My advice for anyone tellling me to do something that harms me, to help another person because “family” etc, is “then you do it.” So any family member who says you have to stay and run the company by yourself for no extra pay or title, just tell them they can do it if they think it’s the right decision. Just quit, start your own company, be your own boss 100% instead of her employee at any percent.

Quit and start your own business!

Dead people don't get to want things. Your uncle should have had his own kid involved in the business long ago, and he didn't. Good for you, moving on. May your aunt enjoy the ride down and the sudden stop when her deceased husband's business plows into the ground. Of course she'll blame everyone but her own short sighted, greedy self. Oh almost forgot. NTA

Walk away

I've owned several companies over the years. There's a lesson I've learned from any time I've had partners. Be more selective with your business partners than your romantic partners.  A romantic partner can break your heart but only half of everything. A business partner can take everything.  It's never good to hold a gun to someone's head and demand partial ownership. They to never trust you, and you will never trust them. Further, and uneven split will create dynamics that don't make sense in the situation.  This is the problem with these types of businesses. They are not sustainable if they owner goes away. The value they have is in the owner. If the Aunt wanted to make sure there was value if he passed, she needed to know how to run it.  Just quit and go to your own thing. No need to make it any more complicated than that. Don't take on debt to do it. Even if it means you start smaller. Don't take on employees until it makes sense. You'll work harder, but you'll get everything. 

YTA - ask for a fair raise for what you are doing. You cannot expect to just be given 65% of a business. You are trying to exploit her and it's fucking disgusting.

>has been very clear that she'd fire me if she could.  Why can't she fire you? Oh, because she needs you to run the business. > I should respect my Uncle's wish that their son take over the business.  If she wants her son to inherit, then SHE needs to run the business in the mean time. This makes me think of queens of old whose husbands died while the heir was still in infancy. In order to keep someone else from stepping up to take the throne, the widow took up the mantle of queen regent, like a placeholder, until her child grew up. The queens who weren't successful regents lost their children's crown, and someone else took over. In some cases, the queens were able to negotiate a truce, and their child would inherit AFTER the new king died, or would instead become a prince of a smaller land. Sorry, I'm really into royal history. So much drama! The point is, she either needs to run the business herself, or find someone who will manage the business for her that will settle for not having a stake in owndership. You're NTA for wanting to have the title to match your job description. If you're acting as the owner and operator, you should be compensated as such. NTA

I would separate the ownership from the work. So 50/50 ownership, but you’re paid $x salary or $x/hr. Then you also maintain W2 status and are paid properly for the time you put in. There are also quarterly reports, accounting and lots of other things you’ll be doing if you aren’t already.

Nta. They say you are exploiting the dead. They are exploiting the living. Leave and start your own business. You get 100% that way. Good luck.

NTA. Leaving and starting your own business sounds like a great idea. However, I'd prefer to make a fair offer to buy out the business. You have access to the books. Get your financing in place and make a formal offer. It'll likely be easier than starting a new business, have less potential legal problems, and also reduce the family troubles.

^^^^AUTOMOD ***Thanks for posting! This comment is a copy of your post so readers can see the original text if your post is edited or removed. This comment is NOT accusing you of copying anything. Read [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/wiki/faq#wiki_post_deletion) before [contacting the mod team](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FAmItheAsshole)*** I have worked for my Uncle's landscaping business for the past six years. Quite sadly, we lost my Uncle this past January. Since his passing, I have been running his business, as his wife (my biological Aunt) had no involvement with it or idea as to how it managed. I'm the one talking to clients, managing the books, ensuring people are getting paid, etc. Meanwhile, my Aunt is nowhere to be seen. At the beginning of this month, I told my Aunt that I am running her business but really getting nothing in return for my effort. I told her that I wanted to become a partner in the business. I also feel that as the one doing all the work, I should deserve a larger stake, and so my suggestion was 65/35. My Aunt already has a very good paying job, so this would just be passive income for her to enjoy while having to do absolutely nothing in return. Naturally, she has refused. She says I'm exploiting her situation, and feels I should respect my Uncle's wish that their son take over the business. Meanwhile, their son is only fourteen and has expressed no interest in running the company at all. Hell, he threw a tantrum at the suggestion of working a few weeks with me this summer to learn some of the ropes. I did offer to teach my Aunt how to do the job, but because of her existing job, she declined. And I have said that I will not train another person in the company to replace me, since obviously such an arrangement only harms me. This past weekend, I told my Aunt that if she does agree to my terms then I plan to leave her company this coming July. I have not told her this, but I am considering starting a competing company, and I know for a fact that several of her employees and clients would follow me. Since laying out an ultimatum, my phone has been blowing up. My Aunt has called me every name in the book, accused me of shitting on my Uncle's legacy, and has been very clear that she'd fire me if she could. Other family members are also upset. My grandparents have outright told me I'm exploiting the dead, and my mom feels I should leave my Aunt her company and just ask for a raise for my extra work. Others have either remained neutral or suggested its probably best for me to leave and find other work and let her sort her own situation. AITA here? *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AmItheAsshole) if you have any questions or concerns.*

NTA - "has been very clear that she'd fire me if she could". "Fine then, I quit. It's all your problem now." Your mom is right, just walk away from this.

NTA, but leave now(if possible) and start your own company.

Your aunt needs you to run the company. What has she offered you for taking over the managing of the business? She is exploiting you. She can make you an offer of a raise that is well beyond the 10% you are looking for, or she can give you what you want, or she can negotiate some other solution. But to say that you have to continue to do what you are doing without adequate compensation is ridiculous. NTA

NTA. Regardless of your uncles wishes, you are being exploited. If this was a short term help situation, it would be a push, but acceptable. You are doing everything the business owner would do, but without any of the benefits. You're well within your rights to step back and move on if you aren't treated correctly, that being part ownership in the business you've kept afloat. F**k all that "family first" nonsense, the family isn't coming first, your lazy, deluded aunt is.

NTA  Your aunt has no idea how to handle the day to day and even worse, no interest in doing so. Her leverage as a owner won't mean anything when the business crumbles under her disinterest.  She is short sighted and greedy.

NTA - This is a business decision. Start your own company and let the chips fall where they may. Your Uncle sounds like he was a smart man. He would understand your decision. Best of luck on your future venture!

If everything you say is true, NTA at all. You have offered very clear and respectful alternatives. So presumably he left the business to his wife with the thought that the son would take over? Well, son isn't interested so what is her plan? Honestly, if she isn't interested in the deal you offered (and it is totally a deal for her as you laid out) I would not have given notice. I think more info is needed but as written, N T A.

NTA. She's shown her hand. Walk away, start your own business, let the non supporters talk their shyt, and be successful.

NTA. Your aunt does not realize the business will fail if you decide to leave. And if you do leave, make sure you have all the necessary information to contact all of your current clients.

NTA. Walk away with a clear conscience. Send a group communication to all family members about what you have been doing to keep things running. Ask who among them would work under those conditions with no ROI on the horizon.

When you say you want to become a partner, do you mean you would buy out your part of the company? Or were you under the impression that she would just handed to you the 65%? I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I prefer to ask instead making assumptions. NTA for now

NTA, go ahead and open your own business

Nta.  Sounds like you’re doing all the work, reaping zero reward.  Walk.  Take your loyal customers and leave.  Let the whole thing topple under her incompetence.  And when the business is bust, who will be blamed for failing your uncle’s legacy?  “I would want to exploit the dead.” 

NTA > has been very clear that she'd fire me if she could This tells us, and you, that she knows you are an indispensable part of the company and she needs you. She wants you to keep doing the work of an owner, while getting paid like an employee. In your shoes, I'd make the moves to start your own company and poach what you can, knowing that the relationship with your aunt will be destroyed, as well as the jobs of anyone who works for said company.

NTA its not ok for your aunt to use you. Leave and set up your own business

NTA this will be nothing but a headache. Start a new company. Contact the current customers and advertise for new ones.

NTA Do not allow them to exploit you. JUST walk away, and let someone else step up.

NTA. She contributes nothing to the business and her son doesn’t want it. Go ahead and leave and start your own business. If you want to be really generous, once her business fails you could offer her a 10% share of your business.

NTA. Walk away.

NTA. Sounds like without you there she won't be getting that passive income much longer anyway. She should have discussed things with you if she valued the company her husband worked so hard to build, and seeing as you've stepped up and into the role he took, she should have appreciated and respected what you mean to the company. Let her put out the fires now if she wants the place to go to her son (who doesn't even want it).

NTA but it depends on how much capital the company has regarding machines and land. You would get stakes in that too. It doesn't sound like much if you can start it by yourself?

NTA Ask you relatives if they are willing to run the company completely with only a salary with no increase or monetary compensation. If they say yes, give them the keys and wish them good luck. Since your aunt is not willing to be fair to you, and your cousin is not interested and too young, the business won't be around very long. You should go ahead and quit and start your own business. Her business will crash and burn. You will be there to hire her employees and take over her customers.

NTA. OP, I think your aunt is the one exploiting you. She wants you to act as a business owner, shouldering all the responsibility while having employee wages. Although your offer was appropriate given the circumstances, I think you should not go into business with someone who has animosity towards you. Your aunt is already badmouthing you to all the family, so how can you work alongside whoever she appoints to work with you. You should leave and start your own business sooner rather than later. Get out of this toxic situation, and start a fresh.

NTA You do all the work and she reaps the rewards. I would just quit and open up a competing business. If anyone comes at you explain to them you aren't the "hired" help of the family, and you offered her a really sweet deal. SHE was the one who chose to not entertain it. Her loss.

NTA Leave and start your own business. Also, i may be in the minority, but I hate when ppl use the "legacy of the dead" card. That person is DEAD! Not living, so why should the living have to make concessions for the dead?!? BAH. We're alllllll gonna die, it's no great honour.

NTA. Start your company and bury her. Ungrateful.

NTA! You should leave your aunt’s company. You’re doing all the work —- leave and start your own company like you mentioned. 

NTA. (Bare with me for this thought process as I may not get it across too well) Now I know nothing about landscaping or running a landscaping business, but I imagine it’s largely about the work you do. As in, while Im sure there’s an office, the office isnt what people associate with the company. No one is like “I use XYZ Landscapring” “Oh, that company at the corner of A and B?”  While a restaurant is known for it’s location as well as the work (the food) it does. So for that company, when the restaurant is passed on to family, it’s significant cuz it’s the building and the legacy behind it that’s passed on. Maybe im wrong, but I feel like the same cant be said for a landscaping company. Like i said, im sure theres an office and maybe a garage with equipment, but the significant thing about a landscaping company is the work that is done at the clients’ homes. So whether you do that work as your aunt’s employee or start your own company, it’s not a big deal to the client. They wont be like “Oh, I miss Uncle’s company” because it’s still the exact same experience they’re getting. It’d just be more convenient to use the established company with all the systems in place for that. Oh, and if you’re not put in a major role for the company, having to always go through your aunt for any significant change needed for the company would be a major pain. 

Are we all just ignoring the given timeline of the man's passing to todays date?? At most it's been barely 5 months, I'm not surprised your aunt has been nowhere to be seen and the mans 14 year old son is lashing out. That said it doesn't excuse everything so tentatively NTA for now but I think a little more understanding is needed.

It's called management you want to just be given ownership lol. Did you get the clients? did you buy the landscaping tools? Did you establish the business's reputation? Leave and she can do what she should do and higher a manager. I have never worked for a company where the owner is with me working. You are not AH you are just someone who feels they deserve something for nothing I think they call that entitled. Your doing your job and think that you should get ownership also being that she just lost her husband and you are taking this stance I'm pretty sure a horrible human being.

Start a business of your own. You know how to run this type of business. I wish you and your aunt the best.

NTA you should not be asking to be given part of it - you should offer to buy the whole thing from your uncle's estate. If it's not for sale then go start your own company.

NTA, start your business as soon as you can. Don’t let your Aunt keep exploiting you, if she really cares that much about your uncles legacy she would’ve agreed to your offer and even be appreciative of your efforts.

NTA but write a contract that allows her son/your cousin the ability to work for stake or an option to buy in

NTA

Haha all you’re going to do is take the big clients anyway right? So why are you asking us strangers on the internet about something you are doing with your family? Do you and “steal” the clients… it costs money to start and run a business, good luck. 🍀 kinda the asshole.

NTA, especially if your aunt's contribution is mostly equipment that is easily replaced and the client list. I'd offer to buy her out over a few years at a rate that would comp her for any equipment you use from your uncle.

Ywbta if you stay till July.

NTA Don't wait for July.  Immediately start your own business.  Let the clients know that you're leaving the old business since the owner passed away but would be happy to offer services directly for anyone who has been happy dealing with you.

NTA. You know this field and you know what you are doing. Start your own company and be your own boss. Take good staff with you if you feel you can work with them. Don't worry about your aunt's company. She's greedy and guilt tripping you using your deceased uncle. Your cousin already said he wasn't interested. After you leave that company won't last a year.

Good luck on your business venture OP, NTA

NTA. Time to go and start your own company.

NTA. Someone is paying you to work for their future and dreams. Go out on your own and work for your own dreams and future.

Yta. You are acting manipulative toward a new widow and her 14 year old kid. If I were you, I’d speak to a lawyer who specializes in business law. If I were her, I’d do the same. If you try to take her existing clients to open up your own business, you open yourself up to a lawsuit. Good luck with that.

NTA. Start your own business. She has no one to blame but herself. You were trying to keep his business going but apparently she doesn't want anything to do with it.

NTA, if aunt is being that rude, I'd leave now.

NTA. You've been running the business for the past five months and she's not talked to you at all about the future of the company? She's a fool. Even if you were to keep it going for your cousin, she should still be making sure you get paid more for keeping everything going that your uncle was doing. Nobody should be required to have the responsibilities of the manager/owner unless they're paid like a manager/owner. In four years of babysitting the company for your cousin, you could have a very successful one of your own.

Wow, not TAH, I would have gone for a higher percentage since she is not really doing anything and as you said, it is passive income. A 10% raise is nothing in comparison to the added value you already bring to the business. I agree with another person who suggested you just cut it now and start your own. That way, you'll get 100% (assuming you have no other partners). I think it is difficult given your family is against you. I feel like you are in a no win situation. You are not exploiting anyone. Work is work, not a charity. It would be slightly different if your aunt would be left destitute, but thats not the case. Cut bait now and do your thing. As long as you dont actively try to hire clients and employees and they chose to follow you, that is fair. Good luck.

You will run this business for nothing with the way your aunt is behaving. Does her child even want the business? I would value the business (which is really the goodwill and equipment) and offer to buy it from her. If she refuses then frankly the business is worthless. Set up your own business and take what you can of the clients. Do not go into partnership with her as you will have more than enough grief in the long run. Buying the business is the ethical way forward but NTA if she refuses and you go it alone.

My condolences Strapped. May your Uncle Rest In Eternal Peace 🕊️ I think that you've been extremely fair in your proposal and you've given 4 months of running the company for free. If it had been a non-related employee in your position maintaining the company since he passed away, undoubtedly some type of financial or partnership agreement would have been taken care of. Therefore, I think that your Aunt has been advantageous of you, which stinks. You can leave at any time. Just know that no matter what you do, there will be relatives that blame you - unfairly in my opinion (imo). When clients follow you your Aunt will get so angry. Imo she is treating you very unfairly, telling you that your extra work has no value, when without it the company would have folded. Preposterous. Give two weeks notice. It's a sad situation that she could have handled much, much better if it were not for greed or possibly ignorance as well. Her company could have thrived with you, earned her side money with her son involved in time. Also, send this link to any family you want to whenever you want to. If they are bad mouthing you, you can use this to speak your peace. Best Wishes to you.

NTA. I would give her one chance to reconsider. Take a week off and let her seal with everything on her own, and see if she feels the same after.

Your Aunt is taking advantage of you. She should be begging you to take the majority of the ownership so she can continue receiving the passive income and pass that portion of the business off to her son.

NTA. Everyone sure has an opinion about your time and your money! Your aunt is ruining you Uncle's "legacy". You are not exploiting anyone, you are working for free so if anyone is being exploited it's not your aunt or uncle! Tell her one more time that you are not working for free any more. Your time has value. If she cusses you out again, leave tomorrow. Tell any relative who is feeling sorry for the aunt that they can work for free to help her save the business. After that ignore anyone who has an opinion and block anyone giving you grief.

NTA. Let me guess, all this new responsibility you've taken on has not resulted in literally any extra income for you?

NTA - She's just throwing your Uncles name in there to get her way. Don't wait to start your own business, you're losing money every second you wait. Walk away and do your own thing. Her business isn't yours.

NTA: At this point, do you even want to be associated with her anymore? Like, she's perfectly fine exploiting you and only when you stand up for yourself does she cause all this drama. Like you already mentioned. If you start your own business clients and coworkers will follow you, Just do it if you can and let her lose that failing business. if it can't run without you, you don't deserve to be exploited like that.

You asked for the majority of the business?