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I`m looking for anybody`s opinion on this. Your first take on it or an actual real scenario. I`d love to hear from the Sloan Bros. on this.

My brother and I established and formed the basic structure of the company. We are totally equal in that we don`t make a move without coming to a consensus.. but for matters of running the business should we assign individual titles to our names? Our business cards?  Right now we are both simply "owners". We haven`t given a "CEO" title or "President" or "VP" etc. 

We want structure but we don`t want a situation where we have a lopsided credibility as judged by our titles.

Has anybody had to consider this situation?  What are the options here?

Thanks,    Eric

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~Eric
JE Design Group, LLC
If all you do is what you`ve done, then all you`ll get is what you`ve got.
www.jedesigngroup.com

Are you incorporated or are you a partnership? If you are not incorporated, why not just be co founders/co owners and keep it simple. :) First take on it is all...unless you are a corp and need to name officers...


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lisa@theideaanalyst.com

Lisa,

Thanks for the response.

We are an LLC. We do....we really do want to keep it simple but we wonder about the perception of structure/ the outward appearance.  Co founders and Co Owners is our actual status currently.

Let me ask further, what do you think of using Co Founder/ Co Owner on a business card? What is your first impression. Do you feel that it carries less weight than the appearance of a straightforward Owner, CEO, or President.

I`m not trying to be wishy washy. What I`m trying to avoid is the impression that our company is divided (of course they always are in some way). I could be splitting hairs here.

~Eric

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~Eric
JE Design Group, LLC
If all you do is what you`ve done, then all you`ll get is what you`ve got.
www.jedesigngroup.com

 

   I do not have any title on my cards and prefer it that way, One of my good friends own a public stock company and also has only his name on his card. There are times, I have more power and less Ego this way........... Start up nation is a business network site or I would not have my title listed.

That is a great idea Ginny. It competely removes a boatload of presumptions. I think I`ll actually try it both ways and see how different the response is.

This is going to take awhile. I hope to remember to get back here and post my results.

Thanks!

The door isn`t closed on suggestions or examples here. Please keep `em coming!

~Eric

 

 

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~Eric
JE Design Group, LLC
If all you do is what you`ve done, then all you`ll get is what you`ve got.
www.jedesigngroup.com

At various times in my business life, I have carried 3 cards. One with no title and one with a "high" level title while the other had a more mid-level one.

This is because, in my travels I had occasion to meet and deal with many different people at different levels and I found that their "reaction" to my title offen influenced their communication.

 

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Business Growth Masters, LLC -
Capital Catalysts for Entrepreneurs
Home of the Scalable Business Plan and QuikStart Capital Programs
http://www.bizgrowthmasters.com
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If you and your brother are responsible for different areas of business how about both being Managing Director or Managing Partner of what area you are responsible for. For example Managing Director of Sales or Managing Partner -Finance. Hope this helps. 

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<A HREF="http://www.AuditAuctions.com">Get ISO Certified</A>

Eric,

I`m glad you brought this up. My partner and I have merged our companies into one and we handle all business exactly the way you do, in that we consult on everything.

Right now, we are using the titles of co-owner/co-founder, as well. It seems a little `too much`, in my opinion, to put that all on a biz card. I would like to decide on somthing simple and yet lets others know that there is two of us invovled. But I`ve come to realization that it`s not really necessary to think like that. Once a client begins to inquire about your business, i.e. goes to your Web site, speaks with you on the phone, whatever, they will find out soon enough that there are two of you anyway. So I think that it`s not really necessary to list co-owner/co-founder. I like the idea of using Owner or CEO or even President.

On a final note, I really do like RobertJ`s idea, though; he makes a good point, and having different cards might be the way to go. Thanks -- I`ll have to try that myself.

Good Luck!
Rebecca


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Elite Virtual Assistants, "Combining Today`s Technology with Yesterday`s Professionalism," Elite VAs

Thanks Rebecca,

Our first business cards are done and they are a simple

Eric [My Last Name ]

Owner/Inventor

The owner part states that we are in some level of controlling position and the Inventor part reduces any presumption that may accompany the "owner" title. At heart we are inventors. We`re proud to note that.

We`ll see how that goes for awhile and change it if we feel so inclined.

~Eric

 

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~Eric
JE Design Group, LLC
If all you do is what you`ve done, then all you`ll get is what you`ve got.
www.jedesigngroup.com