Advice on investment
Title: Looking for advice / partnership: Seeking Shopify partner for long-term store oversight + 5% incentive (Staging a $500 setup fee after a $600 scam)
Hey everyone,
I’m working on building a curated online beauty and grooming store on Shopify, and I'm trying to figure out if my proposed partnership structure is realistic or if I'm way off base.
To be completely transparent, I am starting from scratch and dealing with some tight financial constraints. I recently got scammed out of $600, which put me in a tough hole. Because of that, I don't have a large amount of capital to drop upfront on heavy setup fees or agency rates.
However, I want to make sure any partner is fairly compensated for their work over the long term, both during the initial setup and once the business starts making money. Here is how I am structuring the proposal:
Staged Total Setup Fee ($500): Instead of paying a massive upfront lump sum, I want to pay a total setup fee of $500 broken down into smaller, manageable increments as I can afford them while climbing out of debt.
Long-Term Oversight & Monthly Pay ($500/month): For long-term oversight and ongoing help, I want to pay $500 per month once the store starts generating net profit.
Performance Incentive (5% Net Sales): In addition to the monthly oversight pay, I am offering 5% of net sales as an ongoing incentive for helping build and grow the business. As sales scale up (for example, hitting $10,000 or $20,000 a month), this payout grows right alongside the business.
Shared Expenses: I will handle the business operating expenses on my end, including Shopify, apps, subscriptions, marketing, advertising, and product costs.
My Questions for You:
Is breaking a $500 setup fee into smaller increments realistic for a Shopify partner when someone is starting fresh and recovering from a financial loss?
How can I structure the ongoing $500/month plus 5% net sales incentive so it feels secure, transparent, and fair for someone partnering with a brand-new store owner?
Any advice or feedback from people who have built stores or formed partnerships in e-commerce would be hugely appreciated!