You’re thinking about this the right way.

If you don’t structure it early, future success can destroy friendships and business.

Let me break this down clearly and practically.

First: The Main Problem

Right now your structure is:

He gets jobs → He keeps the money

You get jobs → You pay him

Some workers → You pay salaries

Workshop expenses → From your pocket or unclear

This creates 3 big problems:

No clear business profit

Money leakage

Future conflict risk

You need to separate PERSONAL MONEY from BUSINESS MONEY.

The Best Structure (Recommended)

Step 1: All Money Must Enter One Account

Create:

Workshop Bank Account (or wallet)

All jobs must be paid into the workshop

This means:

Jobs from you → workshop account

Jobs from him → workshop account

Walk-in customers → workshop account

Now you can track income properly.

This is how real businesses operate.

Step 2: Decide How to Pay Him (3 Options)

Option 1: Salary (Safest & Cleanest)

You pay him like a skilled worker.

Example:

Monthly salary: ₦150,000

Or per job rate: ₦20,000 per vehicle

Advantages:

No confusion

You keep full ownership

Easy accounting

Disadvantages:

He may not feel fully motivated like an owner

👉 Best if you built everything yourself (which you did).

Option 2: Profit Sharing (Very Good Middle Ground)

You split profit AFTER expenses.

Example:

Monthly numbers:

Revenue = ₦1,000,000

Expenses:

Salaries = ₦300,000

Parts/tools = ₦100,000

Rent/electricity = ₦100,000

Total expenses = ₦500,000

Profit = ₦500,000

Then share:

You = 60% → ₦300,000

Him = 40% → ₦200,000

Advantages:

He feels like partner

Motivates him to grow business

You still keep control

Disadvantages:

Needs transparency and trust

👉 This is usually the best for your situation

Option 3: Ownership Partnership (Be Careful)

You give him ownership like:

You = 70%

Him = 30%

He now becomes co-owner.

Advantages:

Very strong commitment

Long-term growth mindset

Disadvantages:

Hard to reverse

Can create future power struggle

⚠️ Since:

You own land

You bought tools

You started business

Giving ownership too early is risky.

My Professional Recommendation

Start with Profit Sharing, NOT ownership.

Structure example:

All money enters workshop account

Remove expenses first

Share profit

Example structure:

You: 65%

Him: 35%

OR

You: 60%

Him: 40%

Important Rule (Very Important)

Before profit sharing:

Remove:

Salaries

Rent

Electricity

Tools

Business expenses

Then share profit only.

Bonus: Hybrid Structure (Very Powerful)

This is what many successful workshops use:

Small salary + profit share

Example:

Salary: ₦100,000

Profit share: 25%

This gives:

Stability

Motivation

Fairness

One More Important Question

Since you mentioned:

You own land

You bought tools

You built workshop

You’re already investor + owner

He is skill partner

So structure should reflect:

You = Higher share

Him = Lower share

Final Advice

Before implementing:

Sit down and discuss:

Money handling

Profit sharing

Growth plan

Roles

Also write a simple agreement (even one page).

This protects:

Friendship

Business

Future growth

You’re thinking like a real entrepreneur now.

You’re moving from working in business → to owning a business.

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