Partnering with Friend

[erigby]

Hi -

I'm new to this group and getting ready to join PC and have a question I'm hoping someone here can give me some sage advice on.

A friend of mine and I both want to join PC and make a success of it, however, we both have full time jobs, kids, etc. and have been talking about partnering up and working it together. In many ways it would work great, but I'm a little concerened about some of the logistics of doing this. Like..

1) If I sign up as the consultant then PC 1099's me, how do I pass on to her her half of the 1099?

2) Is this "against" the PC rules?

3) If we both have to join, how do we work it together? Do we just split the shows up between us or?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. And if we are totally off base tell me that too. :)

Thanks in advance.

Erin

[Sheila]

For insurance purposes you would both have to sign. If she's doing shows under your name & someone gets hurt, insurance would not cover it. Sorry!

But you two could both buy your own kit and work hand in hand sharing leads & helping out with who does the show. ;)

[Sheila]

One of you could even by the big kit & the other one buy the mini kit. Then share the products as you need them. But whoever does a show needs to be the one to submit it. Otherwise you could cause all kinds of confusion when a guest needs to do a warranty return & is adamant that YOU were not her consultant but the show is under your name. Does that make sense?

And yes, you would certainly have tax issues as well if one of you is working & the other is getting paid. It's so much better for each of you to do your own business. You could use the other for support, to be a sounding board when if you get frustrated, make your own little competition on sales with one another to help keep you motivated, etc. :D

[Sheila]

And of course, if you don't have a recruiter, I'd be more than happy to help! :D

I'd suggest whoever bought the big kit sign up first & then that person recruit the other one!! ;)

[chefsteph07]

Yes, it is against the rules. If you both want to do it, one of you signs up and then the other one can sign under you/her.

[NooraK]

1. You would not be able to pass half of your 1099 to your friend, since the 1099 information is also sent to the IRS.
2. No, it would not be allowed by Pampered Chef for the reasons mentioned above.
3. You're both at a great advantage. When both of you sign (one under the other, as suggested), you have a built in support group. Nothing makes this business easier or more fun than having a friend beside you who knows exactly what you're going through. The beauty of the business is the flexibility. You can work the hours around your full-time schedule. If you only have time to do one show a week, or even one show every other week, that's perfectly fine.

I don't know how you were planning to "split" the shows. If you were planning to support each other by coming to the shows together, you might as well take that time to do your own shows. By taking every other night that you're available to do a show to support your friend at hers, while great for your friend, halves your potential for building your own business. If both of you are out doing a show on the same night, you take full advantage of your time in the most productive way, and you can then support each other by talking after the show.

[kreaser]

From experience, I'd say don't try to do it together...I have a gal that started and thought her and her friend could "work it" together..she ended up doing all the work, and it was a big headache...she has since "dissolved" their business partnership but remain friends...not sure the "friends part" would still be there if they tried to keep business together

[AJPratt]

I think its a great idea! I would def. say to both sign up! Yes, for taxes and insurance, but my first thought was "What about recognition"? PC does a great job at rewarding us, and surely if your friend got recognized for something, you would want her to get the credit and vice versa. You could certainly work together. My director and I do events together frequently and split leads. I would be happy to answer any questions as to how we work it out!

[AJPratt]

Oh, yes, and WELCOME TO CHEF SUCCESS!

[erigby]

Thank you guys for all of the sage advice.

So then if we both join, how do would you suggest that we split the leads, etc? How have you guys done this before?

Thanks
Erin

[AJPratt]

We split leads by who we feel we connected with the most. Then the rest 50/50.