How do I deal with an irritating boss and unorganized company?

Question

I have been working with my husband and his for father for the past 3 years. We will be taking over the home remodel business when he is ready to retire...he's 60 years old now. He doesn't have a retirement because he has worked for himself for a long time so I don't think he is leaving for a LONG TIME. Things were a huge mess when I started and since I have been here things have cleaned up a lot. Yet there are still some of the same things still going on:

-not getting receipts for all company purchases, therefore not being able to balance things out properly

-My boss will make many mistakes all the time, but when you do it's a horrible thing.

-He doesn't communicate properly and he doesn't know how to keep any paperwork in order. Everything is just thrown around his office and vehicle.

-He tells me one thing & the next day he says he said something different

-having me do things that are not my duty like personal **** and physical work...which I am not on Workers comp for...basically it's cheaper to have me do things then hiring someone else

-He makes a mess everywhere he goes, then he wonders why things are so dam unorganized

-expects me to juggle all office management, picking up & delivering material, his personal bills, his other personal things, helping with dirty physical work, keeping the office clean and organized, estimates....I can go on but it's just too much detail

-I feel like he expects so much from me, yet I don't get enough in return

-I haven't even been able to take my paid vacation this year cause the company can't pay me for it. If I worked somewhere else that did that I'd quit

-I am pretty much staying for my husband and our future in the company

I am in a bind, I really want to do this with my husband because we work great together and we can make a lot of money one day but I just can't deal with the boss. I am going crazy. Does anyone think it's worth staying? Am I making a mistake? I have a degree and I can definetly get a good job somewhere else, maybe even make more money. I just don't feel like the same person anymore. I am always in a bad mood and get so frustrated with this company that I am beginning to hate it. I feel that I should leave and come back when the boss is gone.

Answer 1

Only you can decide whether to stay.  And as to coming back when the boss is gone, like you say that could be a LONG time, and that's assuming that by that time there's anything to come back to.

Answer 2

There are many important things here to consider.

First and foremost - it is not your company now.  And as critical as you are of your boss - he made the business what it is today, and he did that without YOU.  Yes, it is difficult to accept someone else's disorganized methods, but the fact is, forget the fact that he is your father-in-law -  he IS the boss and the owner.  If you don't like it, and cannot focus on the future of the business with your husband, then leave.  As you say, you can get involved later.  Too bad though, that you will miss out on all of the experience you could have had.

Family businesses are difficult at the best of times.  Let me tell you though, that if you intend to run this with your husband, then you have to be prepared to do anything required, at any time, especially if it means getting your hands dirty, and so much will be expected from you and you won't get enough in return.  That is the nature of running your own business.  

If you do intend to stick it out, there are many things you can do to make life easier - first and foremost is a personal attitude adjustment.