When you want to start a new business or you achieve a new success and you told your friend about it and maybe later the business was not successful my brother ask that your friend because the person has used his heart to bewitched you that’s why you didn’t succeed
A good friend for business is not the one who hails you the most, it's the one whose character stays the same when money enters. When your brother says "your friend bewitched you," what he is really trying to say is "that failure was not normal." But in business, 90% of failures are not spiritual, tRead more
A good friend for business is not the one who hails you the most, it’s the one whose character stays the same when money enters.
When your brother says “your friend bewitched you,” what he is really trying to say is “that failure was not normal.” But in business, 90% of failures are not spiritual, they are from the wrong partner.
Let me give a easy way on how to know:
1. Separate Friendship Test from Business Test.
A friend can be good for gists, party, church – but bad for business. Business needs different qualities.
Don’t choose because “he’s my guy from childhood.” Choose based on these 4 C’s:
C1 – Character in money:- Has he borrowed ₦5k, ₦20k from you before and paid back on time without you begging ? If he cannot handle small money, he will mess up big money.
C2 – Competence:- What skill does he bring ? If you bring capital and idea, what does he bring – customers, marketing, accounting, technical skill ? If it’s just “I will support you with prayer,” that’s not a business partner, that’s a well-wisher.
C3 – Commitment:- Does he reply messages fast ? Does he come early when you have meeting ? A person who is always late for normal hangout will be late to open shop.
C4 – Communication when things spoil:- Good business friend can tell you “Guy, this thing you did is wrong” to your face. Bad one will be gossiping you behind or keeping malice.
2. How to test him before you put big money – Nigerian method:-
Don’t start with ₦500k shop. Start small:–
– Give him ₦20k task: “Help me buy this thing and deliver to customer, account for balance.” See how he handles it.
– Do 1 week trial. Sell together. Does he press phone all day or does he call customers?
– Ask about profit sharing on paper BEFORE you start. If he says “anything you give me, I will take” – run. That person will fight you later. Good partner negotiates.
3. About the “bewitched” part:-
In Nigeria, when business fails, families will say village people. Sometimes we need to check natural reasons first:
– Did you do market research ? Is there demand ?
– Did you separate business money from personal money ?
– Did you have bookkeeping ?
If your friend was always asking for inside info about your suppliers, your profit, trying to copy your customer list, or getting angry that you are progressing – that is not bewitching, that is jealousy and bad belle, which is enough to spoil business physically by him badmouthing you to customers.
Spiritual protection is prayer, but physical protection is structure:- Have agreement written, even if it’s just for the family to sign. Don’t tell everybody your next move until it is done.
See lessA friend can be good for your business without necessarily becoming your business partner. In Nigeria, where many businesses operate heavily on trust and personal relationships, it is important to separate friendship from business judgment. Here are practical ways to assess them: 1. Look at their chRead more
A friend can be good for your business without necessarily becoming your business partner. In Nigeria, where many businesses operate heavily on trust and personal relationships, it is important to separate friendship from business judgment.
See lessHere are practical ways to assess them:
1. Look at their character, not just their friendship
Ask yourself:
Do they keep promises?
Are they honest even when nobody is watching?
Do they respect other people’s money?
Do they admit mistakes?
Do they gossip about other people’s businesses or secrets?
Have they cheated or disappointed people financially before?
How someone treats other people is often a better predictor of how they will eventually treat your business.
2. Check whether your values are compatible
You don’t have to agree on everything, but you should agree on important business principles:
Honesty
Customer satisfaction
Financial discipline
Accountability
Respect
Long-term thinking
Willingness to work
For example, if you want to build a business for 10 years but your friend wants to make quick money and disappear, you may have a serious problem.
3. Test them with something small
Don’t start with ₦10 million.
Give them a small responsibility first.
For example:
“Help me purchase these goods worth ₦100,000 and give me the receipts.”
Then observe:
Did they account for every naira?
Did they provide receipts?
Did they return the balance?
Did they report problems honestly?
Did they complete the job on time?
A small test can reveal more than years of friendship.
4. Watch how they handle money
This is extremely important.
If your friend frequently:
Borrows money and doesn’t repay,
Spends recklessly,
Hides financial information,
Mixes personal and business money,
Pressures you to invest quickly,
Promises unrealistic returns,
be very careful about involving them in your business.
5. Check their skills
A good friend isn’t automatically a good business partner.
Ask:
“What exactly does this person bring to my business?”
It could be:
Marketing
Accounting
Sales
Technical knowledge
Connections
Management
Industry experience
Capital
Logistics
Customer relationships
If they don’t bring a meaningful skill, capital, or strategic advantage, you may be better off keeping them as a friend rather than a partner.
6. See how they react when you say NO
This is one of the best tests.
Tell your friend:
“I don’t think this is a good investment for the business.”
If they respect your decision, that’s positive.
If they become angry, insult you, pressure you, threaten to leave, or say things like “Don’t you trust me?”, that’s a major warning sign.
Business decisions should not depend on emotional pressure.
7. Never rely on verbal agreements
Even if the person is your childhood friend.
If you are going to:
Invest together
Share profits
Own property together
Borrow money
Contribute capital
Share business assets
Employ the person
Form a company
put the agreement in writing.
Clearly state:
Who contributes what → who owns what → who does what → how profits are shared → how losses are handled → who can withdraw money → what happens if someone leaves.
For significant amounts, have a Nigerian lawyer review the agreement.
8. Check their reputation
Before giving someone substantial control over your business, quietly find out how they have handled previous business relationships.
Speak to people who have:
Worked with them
Bought from them
Sold to them
Lent them money
Previously partnered with them
Don’t rely solely on what the friend tells you.
9. Look for these RED FLAGS 🚩
Be extremely careful if your friend says:
“Just trust me.”
“We don’t need an agreement; we’re friends.”
“Give me the money and I’ll sort everything out.”
“Don’t worry about receipts.”
“This investment is guaranteed.”
“You don’t need to know all the details.”
“If you really trust me, you will invest.”
These are not necessarily proof of dishonesty, but they are reasons to slow down and verify everything.
10. Use the “friendship test”
Ask yourself:
If this person were not my friend, but a stranger proposing this business deal, would I still accept it?
If the answer is NO, don’t enter the deal simply because you are friends.
A simple scoring system
Before making someone a business partner, score them from 1–5:
Area
Score
Honesty
/5
Financial discipline
/5
Relevant skills
/5
Work ethic
/5
Accountability
/5
Respect for agreements
/5
Communication
/5
Business experience
/5
Problem-solving
/5
Ability to handle disagreement
/5
Total
/50
40–50: Strong candidate, but still do proper due diligence.
30–39: Proceed cautiously and test them first.
20–29: Probably better as a friend than a partner.
Below 20: Don’t give them significant control over your business.
Most important principle
Don’t ask only, “Is my friend a good person?”
Ask:
“Has this person demonstrated the character, competence, financial discipline and accountability required to protect and grow my business?”
Friendship is based on trust. Business should be based on trust + evidence + clear agreements + accountability.
That is not accurate; such beliefs are akin to African folklore. Failing in business does not imply that someone is a witch. I understand that life has spiritual aspects, but please do not misunderstand me. I am a Christian but you should learn to own up your mistakes and failures and learn from theRead more
That is not accurate; such beliefs are akin to African folklore. Failing in business does not imply that someone is a witch. I understand that life has spiritual aspects, but please do not misunderstand me. I am a Christian but you should learn to own up your mistakes and failures and learn from them.
See lessCheck where the problem lies in before pointing finger to someone.
The question should be "How good is your friend in handling his own business that is if he have any? How faithful is he at his work place? How does he handle things when it's not working? How does he handles/spend money? How does he see money? Does he see it as a daily reward to be spent as you earnRead more
The question should be “How good is your friend in handling his own business that is if he have any? How faithful is he at his work place? How does he handle things when it’s not working? How does he handles/spend money? How does he see money? Does he see it as a daily reward to be spent as you earn or as a tool/backup plan in building something meaningful in the long run? Is he accountable? How does he handles responsibilities? If you are able to tick all this answers positively then you can bring him into your business with a written agreement because you can’t do business with a friend blindly, they may dissapoint you tomorrow. But just incase you are not sure then don’t try it. Because sometimes, it’s best you dont do business with friends or family who dosen’t understand the vision of your business. For where there is no clarity people tend to handle things recklessly without intentionality. Just like the Igbo brothers would say: “there is no friend/family in business”. And that is why they thrive in what they do. I believe I’ve answered your question Sir.
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