So I have been doing contract work for one of my friends, working full time for them getting paid per gig for 2 years. I was making really good money @ 50% of each invoice. It was me and their brother in law who were their first ever contract employees outside of the founders. We were still 1099.
His brother in law and I started out slow but with our presence on the team we were able to cover more jobs and help expand the company in the local area. My amount of jobs completed doubled from my first year to my second year.
2 years pass and 5 more employees are added at the same percentage. Then February 2026 they hit us with a 10% paycut . To them it was 50% to 40% but our paychecks reflected a 20% difference. What they said to me is "Hey man, its just business and we need to keep the company going strong" "Our editing costs are getting more expensive".
On top of that, every biweekly meeting started out with "month after month we are hitting new records with how many jobs we are doing".
Back track to November 2025 a client I met through them was trying to poach me and sent me a generous job offer and I denied it because I truly enjoyed where I am. Then January they sent me a 2nd offer because they could not find anyone that fit what they are looking for and I denied it a second time.
Finally my friend dropped the news about the pay cut and with divine timing the other client asked if we could negotiate something and we came to an agreement so I left my friends company for a client that I met through contract work with them.
Reasons I left, I know my value and what is the going rate for what I provide.
20% pay cut
new college kid getting hired at 40% less than what I made 2025 calendar year
random facts to add to this situation
I found out how much they were actually paying for editing vs what they were charging and I was barely getting a fraction of it
one of the owners just bought a new 85k SUV
Obviously I dont know the full details of their overhead but it is a fully digital company no brick and mortar and no consumables
soooo AITA?
EDIT: I never signed a non compete or any contract with my friend during our operations together
when I left I gave them 2 weeks notice and also provided someone who had the equipment and base knowledge to do the job.
NTA, unfortunately for your friend they aren’t able to pay you as much as the other company. That’s business. When it comes to taking a job your own financial wellbeing always comes first. It will be sad if your friend takes it personally, but times are tough for a lot of people right now so if you can get a better job you owe it to yourself to take it.
NTA they cut your pay so you took a better paying job. Employers have to treat you well if they want loyalty.
NTA. Enjoy your new job and increased salary.
Very clearly NTA for the reasons they said: “Hey man, it’s just business”
Never feel guilty for advancing your career with a job hop. NTA
Nta, just as your friend said “it’s just business”. Friendship does not pay your bills and he did not prioritize your friendship when he cut your pay, and you should not prioritize it over a better job opportunity.
NTA. Not even a little bit. I tell my friends who’ve worked for me (there have been a few), that I’m happy for them to get a better offer, even if it makes my work harder. If your friend can’t say the same, they’re not a friend, they’re just a boss.
NTA. They can call it “just business,” but that cuts both ways. If they can unilaterally drop your rate after you helped grow the workload, you can unilaterally take a better offer.
What makes it especially not on you is the combo of “record months” plus a pay cut that effectively hits you hard, plus hiring new people at a lower rate. That’s them resetting the market in their favor. You didn’t sabotage them, you didn’t steal clients behind their back, you just accepted a job that valued you more after they changed the deal.
The only caveat is how you handled the exit. If you gave reasonable notice, didn’t take proprietary stuff, and didn’t violate any contract or non-compete, then it’s clean. Feeling guilty is normal because they’re friends, but the minute they said “it’s just business,” they set the tone.
Nta.
Loyalty is rarely rewarded and is usually taken advantage of.
Money talks
NTA but why would you even think you are? Is your friend upset that you left their company? Because that whole “its just business” line goes both ways. If they cant afford you and someone else can then it sucks for your friend but you have to do what is best for you and your career, not what is best for your friends business.
Don’t even think about it again. NTA
You would be an AH if you didn’t leave. Best of luck In your new job!
NTA, as they so eloquently told you, it’s just business.
No one is going to look out for your best interests except you.
A friend saying, “It’s just business,” when they lower your income by 20% isn’t much of a friend.
I hope your new company is a great fit and you have fun and make money 🙂
NTA