Most people think starting a business with a close friend or spouse means things will stay fair and honest. But the harsh truth? Once money starts rolling in, access becomes power. And whoever holds the passwords… controls everything.
At Liyana & Co., we’ve seen this again and again over the past 12 years — founders completely locked out of their own business. No access to Instagram. No access to email. No access to Stripe, website, or customer data…Even though they helped build it from Day 1.
Locked Out of Everything
I built this business from scratch – from 0 followers to RM100K in sales. But this morning, I tried to log in to our Instagram, Stripe, email… everything said: wrong password. My partner changed them all. I watched my own brand from the outside, helpless.
If this hits close to home, it might be time to revisit your business control structure.
My Name’s Not On Anything
We started the business together. But when I checked – every account, subscription, bank login – was under his name. Not mine. On paper, I wasn’t even a co-owner. Even after all the blood, sweat and weekends I gave to build this.
He Said I Had No More Rights
I asked him nicely for access. He replied, “You’re no longer contributing, so you’ve lost your rights.”
But I have proof: I invested money, the product was my idea, and the followers came from my content. Yet without legal documents, I was cut off like I never existed.
You deserve to know what legal rights you still have – even when it feels like you’ve lost everything.
Even the OTP Goes to Him
I tried to reset the login – but the OTP went to his number. Even the recovery email had been changed.
I was completely shut out. If I stayed quiet, he could delete data, rebrand everything, and keep going as if I never existed.
If you’re a co-founder with no access, that’s not a partnership – it’s a warning sign.
He’s Still Selling – But I Get Nothing
He’s still using our brand name, our website, our old content. But every single customer payment? Goes to his account.
No reports. No sharing. And when I asked? I got blocked.
If your work is still being used without your consent – that’s not just unfair. That’s legally questionable.
I Never Really Owned Anything
We always said “We’re 50-50 partners.” But looking back – no contract, no SSM records, no paperwork. When he pushed me out, I had nothing to prove I ever belonged. All I had were memories – not ownership.
Start protecting your position in the business before someone else takes it away from you.
