For many years, Mabel and Theo Harker operated Harker's Cafe (as partners) in a large city in the East. Theo was the chief cook, and Mabel waited on customers who sat at the counter. Although they hired several other cooks and waitresses, Mabel and Theo were the stable core of the business. The two worked long hours, and business seemed to go more smoothly when the owners were there. Realizing how important they were personally to the success of the cafe, the Harkers never took a vacation and never left the cafe in the hands of the hired staff. Instead, in late summer and around Christmas, the Harkers closed down the entire cafe for a week at a time. Customers agreed that the place would not be Harker's Cafe without Mabel and Theo.

1. Briefly discuss the legal implications for Mabel and Theo in terms of the type of organization they have created.

2. Why does it seem to be necessary for the owner(s) to be on the premises all the time?

3. How might the owner(s) go about reducing customers' dependency upon the presence and/or personality of the owner and leading customers to depend more on the business itself?