I have always understood that it is not the Capital costs that must be shared, but the Operating costs - demonstrated, should it be required, by meticulous record keeping of cost allocations. I checked this by phone with the CAA a few years ago and confirmed that was the position.
My experience is that 'democratic' groups (ie equal capital, equal voice) can in certain circumstances be a nightmare (guess who speaks from bitter experience...!
), but benign dictatorship works extremely well - emphasise 'benign'! No squabbling, have a discussion by all means, and then what the owner says, goes! And if you don't like it, go - having given the previously agreed notice of leaving, put in place to protect all the remaining members from sudden hikes in their costs.
But definitely, no question of profit or hire, or unequal contributions such as reduced hourly rate for the owner.
This is a question that has been asked a couple of times. It must be possible to get a clear statement from the CAA.....