I co-built a skincare company over 4 years — branding, website, packaging, content, everything. No formal contract, just Messenger chats. Now that I’ve walked away, she’s offering me $10K to buy out all my work and wants to make me legally responsible for anything that could go wrong with the website or packaging info. All loans and the business are in her name.

Is this even enforceable? What are my rights as a so-called “contractor”?

More details :

Four years ago, my best friend (now ex-friend) and I came up with the idea to start a skincare business using white labeling. We found a lab with formulas we liked and had two anti-aging products made to work as a combo.

The original agreement was that she would invest the money and take on the financial risks. On my end, I was bringing in my time and expertise, handling all things branding, marketing, and communication. She was in charge of admin and logistics. Profits were supposed to be split 50/50 after she recovered her investment.

Until about 6–7 months ago, I still believed she was fully responsible for the debts and risks. Then she suddenly started saying it was supposed to be shared. I told her I was surprised, but I started feeling guilty and eventually agreed to share the debt. However, we never signed any contract — everything was done through Messenger chats. All loans are under her name, and the company is officially registered to her.

Our relationship got messy. Right after the official launch of the brand (last may), I decided to walk away. I wanted my decision to be independent of whether the business succeeded or failed. I told her, and she offered to buy me out.

I had never gone through this before, but I taught myself everything from scratch. I:

• Built an e-commerce website,
• Designed the boxes, bottles, and visual assets,
• Edited the photos in Photoshop,
• Handled all branding,
• Researched compliance rules for Health Canada and the FDA (to the best of my ability — I’m not an expert).

We had previously received a quote for a similar website at around $20,000 (without the research)— and I did all of it myself. She decided to offer me only $10,000 to buy out four years of work, treating me like a basic contractor. She wants to own all the intellectual property and remove any trace of my ownership.

Obviously, I’m bitter. But I want peace. She was my best friend, and I just want to move on. I don’t want anything more to do with the company.

The company currently has around $30,000 in debt, $20,000 of which came from her own money. She’s now taking full responsibility for the financial side.

But recently, she asked me this:

“If I ever get sued — for example, for false claims on the website or packaging — would it be your fault?”

According to her, since I’m being considered a contractor and did the research, I should be liable. I have a feeling she wants to include this as a condition in the contract before paying me the $10,000. But from my perspective, she reviewed and approved everything — the website, packaging, and all content — before it went public.

HELP!! I can’t afford a lawyer.. I would rather not going through that route, take the cash and never speak to her again.

Location: Canada