Here’s what he is doing.

1. He is declaring bankruptcy due to financial mismanagement. What should happen now is that the equipment/equity in the business is sold to pay the debts.
2. But he isn’t going to do that. Somehow he is going to steal that equity from his current creditors and set you up as the “business owner” because likely he can’t because he is shady AF.
3. Then when you’re in it he will use your credit for loans, which he will mismanage while you are out ikn the field working your butt off. Any money the place makes he will take rather than reinvest as thats what he has done already.
4. Then he will have you declare bankruptcy with some excuse.’
5. Then he will find another chump and do it again.

Tell her that you can’t have her doing this anymore. There are a variety of issues with it but for the sake of your friendship you won’t go into the “why” …she just needs to not count in you for this in future.

If she is still friends with you then she is your friend. Be prepared for her not to be though.

Never discuss it again and never tell her why.

BTW the “why” is you never should have let her do it the first time so it’s on you.

Why don’t you offer to work for with her now with zero investment, gaining a flat commission on all sales.

This will give you a sense of if you can drive sales up.

After a year discuss an option to buy.

1. You document everything Lisa has done in case you need to refer to it. 1A. You change all of Lisa’s passwords and terminate her access to everything.

2. You tell Lisa, without an apology that she is immediately terminated and her benefits (if any) will be paid out.

3. You do not tell her why not do you apologize.

4. You thank you staff for their candor and let them know you have an open position. 4A. You get them each a Starbucks card or something to thank them for looking out for you.

Have you thought of hiring a new person and allowing people to go part time or reduced hours in winter, as well as identifying winter as the time to take time off? Depending on how you do it you can get better efficiency and you might find your employees appreciate the flexibility.