I (34M) have been operating alongside my uncle in a family business. I have been hands-on in it since its inception, such as coming up with the name, applying for the license, designing the brand, and building out the operations. I have been in the corporate world for 13 years. My uncle put in some money at the start ($100k and had my aunt find the rest), but for me, my experience at major companies had real value. I have spent the last two years focusing on building real business systems, marketing, community programs, vendor relationships, and events. Meanwhile, I had been sacrificing a lot as well, such as staying in a corporate career where I was earning close to 200k a year with the benefit of PTO, tuition reimbursement, 401k matching, and health insurance. I'm now in a position where I'm paying for my own MBA, my health insurance, and have a decreased financial level of security. Overall, I would estimate that I have lost well over 100k in income and benefits during the time frame that I joined my uncle. Eventually, my uncle came to me with a meager single digit equity stake in the company and a low salary offer to match. I couldn't agree to it and pushed back, offering to to make it worth my while to stay, I’d need at least adjusted, double digit equity. I don’t think it’s unreasonable considering all I’ve done. He only found the location of the company and he manages inventory. That’s it. No bill paying, strategy, nothing. My family thinks I should just be grateful. I don’t.