I currently work in apt maintenance and I'm just about fed up with the shadiness of the industry and the incompetence of my co workers. A buddy of mine that I do the occasional side job with has been bugging me to go full time with him and I'm considering it.

Here's the problem. He's an alcoholic and he wants to do everything off the books. Dude really does great work and is reliable but it irritates me when he drinks because I'm trying to think and plan a job while he's just being drunk and bitching about things. It takes a lot of effort to keep him focused on the planning and keep our notes clean and legible instead of just scribbles.

I want to get an LLC and insurance and do things legit, he wants to do everything cash. He has a lot of leads and active projects he wants to bring me in on. I don't have any leads but I'd imagine once I get going they'll just start pouring in through word of mouth.

I wanna work with this guy because he does good work and I'd like to have a partner in the business. Is there a way I can finangle this so at the very least I'm covered if something ever happens and he can just keep his off the books lifestyle? Or should I look for a new partner?