A tattoo artist asked me to help him open his shop. (I do consulting)
So I wrote up a contract for our partnership and asked for 15%(to be paid monthly) plus $5000 when we opened (which he agreed to) and waived the fees for the video.
He had an investor for $20k that said he’d invest once the LLC and basics were up and running.
I need to mention, I have a service dog. She’s always with me and he knew that. She stays attached to a waist harness even when I’m working or filming. I love it!
He started our endeavor by telling me “You can have your dog until we are open but once we are open I don’t want the dog in here” I explained that he can’t do that due to law. I also showed him health code that I would be in an office so I wouldn’t be near the tattoo surgical area. (I have all the texts) He said “I don’t care. I don’t want a dog in my business or people to think somethings wrong with you”
I said “Well…We will have to talk about that when we get there” and he just said “👍” via text.
SO:
Here’s a list of what I did for him over the period of the first 30 days before the open
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I registered an LLC and EIN/TAX # with all of his info. Set up a bank acct
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Affadavit to the tattoo board (because he’s a felon)
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Set up his local and state health inspections. ALL passed.
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Did all of his website design and 3d design as well as got him a sponsorship for $5k in free tattoo gear.
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In the middle of all this I did his wedding photos for him and his wife for free.
The investor came through with the $20k so I said “Ok well its time to pay” and he comes back with “Ah man with the new baby and all the bills I’ve got this money has to go straight to the business”
I explained “I AM one of your bills and I’m the only reason the business is operating”
So I sent him invoices and a legal lawsuit warning saying he had 30 days to pay me HALF of what he owned and I wouldn’t sue. I offered a payment plan and everything.
His WIFE responded "Fuck you he ripped the contract so its not valid. 😅 That’s not how that works.
I continued to send legal letters for almost 90 days as my lawyer said the more I try peacefully the better it will be in court.
He literally blocked me on everything and also told me “to go fuck myself” and how I was trying to “scam him” which is absurd. 6 months later: I got all the audio and text messages about the service dog. I reported him to the ADA and the tattoo board. He was also cutting corners health wise and within his first month of being open had no help and had no idea how to run a business. I sent it all off to the proper authorities and now he’s getting shut down.
Also he was just hit with a $25,000 lawsuit + fees
Just wondering if that’s too harsh. Plus I needed to get this off my chest. AITA?
It isn’t too harsh. You likely saved his potential victims, as he’s just as likely to pull this on customers as other vendors, the landlord, etc.
This being mister nice guy isn’t really helpful in business. There are far too many posts on every dimension of this bad idea to argue otherwise. The huge number of “no contract, got screwed” posts should serve as a warning to everybody.
Mike Montiero has a video, “Fuck You, Pay Me” to put this in context. You aren’t friends with these people. There are no brownie points to be awarded. People are looking for signals they can screw you – and plenty here practically give bottom-feeders instructions.
Wantrepreneurs want the ‘easy capitalism’ the ‘nice’ kind of business success. Bless their heart. You get more accomplished with a few kind words and a head on a pike than the kind words alone.
Mike Monteiro: F*ck You, Pay Me if you can’t bring yourself to say the words, you may not be cut out to be in business.
The Vendor Client relationship - in real world situations people are bullshitters and if you fall for the bullshit you will fail in a wide variety of situations.
Excellent post and those clips serve as brutal reminders that you absolutely cannot slip into casual mode when doing business. Get your fucking money, deliver the value agreed upon, and get the fuck out. Rinse and repeat.