Perhaps you could consider asking for a guaranteed first year salary that is acceptable to you, in exchange for a greater share of the profits in the future?

Say your old base salary is 50, and they're offering 30, but you could live on 40 for a year, for the chance that the profit share in certain number of years would be virtually guaranteed to be more than 5. After the first year, the salary goes down to the agreed upon one, and you make up the difference in profit share.

This would help you make the transition to lower salary, but with a chance for greater money down the road. This works best when you are paid on performance (sales), but it could work in your situation, too.

Good luck!

Karen