Fraud, fraud by check, hostile work environment, physical and emotional damages - the customer is an unfortunate victim of your former bosses' actions, but you've stated it: As you've not been paid for it, they have no right to it. Possession of stolen property is about as close as I can define it.
Glad you're finally going into business for yourself, although I like mine better: I never have to worry about (literal!) bleeding eyeballs. ;-)

A (fictional, doesn't keep him from being right) Vulcan friend of mine used to say "There are always... possibilities."
My question, what's it going to take before you realize that your best boss and your best employee are the same person you see in the mirror every morning?

Thank you, you too...

TY 4 the reminder!

n/t

Thank you. It does help. "Tha Intarweb" may be a fiction "made of tubes", but the connections are most definitely real.

I have recently been reminded of a favorite quote from a beloved author's work ("Glory Road" by R.A. Heinlein) - "Dum vivimus, VIVAMUS!" (While we live, let us LIVE!) - I kinda think that's the way she'd want it...

You're welcome. The ideal, of course, is to find an opportunity wrapped around a product you'd buy and use regardless (I've done that part) and start part-time *while maintaining* what small security might be available in the conventional employment - to use a baseball metaphor, take second, third, and even home with your foot still on first.

There are several people who love what they do in their primary career so much that, despite radically out-earning it in their part-time business, they continue to do their jobs...

I dunno - to me, punching a clock and accepting what someone else thinks my time is worth is a lot more difficult than showing off a trimmer me, talking to some people, sharing samples and taking orders.

That's what matters - I still don't understand why so many people prefer the angst of hourly job insecurity to the idea of building their own business, but, each to our own, eh?

Once again, congratulations.

Exactly. Properly done, sponsoring contests is one of the most cost-effective marketing methods there is.

*Sponsored* Contests. 'nuffsaid!