Your health history is pointless in this discussion. You just need the facts.

• also recommend you look up your states’s law on audio recordings. You don’t want this guy to walk free and sue YOU for unlawful recording audio. Also throw up a sign near a visible camera that says “audio video recording in progress”. I almost lost a case because I didnt have that displayed in the building. Thankfully it was mounted outside in the parking lot.

Step 1) get lined paper. Start from the beginning for when you have losses. Time and date it, and the dollar amount. Should look like this:

01/01/23 approx 235pm Cash stolen register. $20.00. Employee was John Doe. 01/02/23 approx 110pm Cash stolen register. $60.00. Employee was John Doe.

Next you want to find the proof. A) time punch. B) Camera footage and add that to each theft.

01/01/23 approx 235pm Cash stolen register. $20.00. Employee was John Doe. Time punch in 10am out 5pm. No video. 01/02/23 approx 110pm Cash stolen register. $60.00. Employee was John Doe. Time punch in 10am out 5pm. Video saved.

Save the footage. If you cant export it then use a phone. Make sure you show the date and time on the screen. Dont pause it, start it, pause it again. It all needs to be one full shot of each theft. If the video is edited the defense lawyer will have it dismissed.

2. Add up the total $ loss.

Each incident is an added charge so the goal is to stack it all nice with a bow. Just to warn you, the parts without video may not stick for charges but that’s up to the investigator to handle.

3. Call your local PD and tell them you are an employer needing to file charges against an employee for theft.

4. do not mention audio recordings if your state makes it illegal to record audio without the other person’s permission. It will backfire

There is no “reasonable”…there is a law regarding what you need to pay them. Note that skipping mileage reimbursement can lead to labor lawyers frothing at the mouth to come at you. So it’s best to just pay the standard.

Reference for a better understanding: https://www.paylocity.com/resources/resource-library/blog-post/employee-mileage-reimbursement/

I honestly avoid letting an employee use a personal vehicle on the clock because if something happens to them, or a bystander, on the clock you are liable for everything.

If the client referral came from your dad then the clients would speak with your dad. It would be different if you sourced them yourself and they somehow decided to reach out to your dad. Instead of being flamed over it, be proactive. Reach out to them to make it right. Take that time to give them your contact info and tell them to contact you directly if there are any issues with future orders.

What? You haven’t seen enough mobster movies to see how terrible of an idea that is? When the feds come after the business for taxes, money laundering, fraud or any other white collar crime; it’s YOU they will come after. Your name Is on the paperwork. If it’s not the feds it will be civil suits, lawsuits that name you. Yeah, they may be able to add your friend to the suit…but which one of you is a millionaire who can afford a lawyer…and which one of you can’t??? Also. The people at the top of ponzi scheme scams are the untouchable millionaires while the ones below them take the fall.
If it’s a real deal have them put together a proposal and take it to a business/contract lawyer to review. If it’s legit then you’ll want a lawyer regardless. Better to start with one than need one later. Look for one with knowledge for LLCs too.

Every small business owner has some mental instability one way or another. It’s what drives us to not take the safe route and work for someone else.

Are there any code enforcement issues that could be reported? You could either call code enforcement to remove her if she doesn’t have a permit. Let the city move her. Or the passive aggressive way of doing it is call her before she arrives and tell her some jerk reported your business to the cops for allowing people to setup outside your shop and you’ve been warned that you will get a fine the next time it happens.

Now if there are other shops with people in front then that will negate that bluff. At that point you just need to tell the person before they arrive that you need your “shop space opened up this season because sales were slow, unfortunately you wont be able to setup in front this year…”