Most people cannot fathom the thought of working every single day with their spouse because they think they need their “alone time.” While that is a fine setup for some couples, others don’t mind the idea of seeing each other all the time. My husband and I got our first jobs together in high school, and then we ended up starting our own business together three years ago. We spend 23 hours a day together on average, with the only time apart being moments when one of us goes to run an errand. We’ve done just fine, so I thought I may share some secrets about our success with you. Here are some tips that can help you start a successful business with your spouse.
Coming up with a Common Idea
Running a business with your spouse is only fun if you both like what you’re doing. I have seen a ton of episodes of Tabatha Takes Over where two people start a business just because one person liked it. You can’t run a successful hair salon if the wife is a hair stylist and the husband is just a guy that stands around looking stupid. Try to come up with a mutual plan that both of you can see yourselves working in. That way you will have the best possible chance at success.
Establishing Roles in the Business
Every successful couple that owns a business has some sort of role for each spouse to fill. In my business, I write the articles and my husband is in charge of posting them or marketing them. I’m more of a people person, so I am usually the one that talks to all of our clients. He is better with money, so he manages the work flow and the budget. Together we make the perfect team because we basically complete each other. You have to figure out what your roles are going to be in your own business.
Making a Business Plan
You need to come up with a plan for the money you will invest in the business and the money you hope to make in it. That will give you a set of goals to follow whenever you go through the business process, and those goals could lead to your success. It is a good idea to come up with a short term and long term plan to give you a full perspective of what you need to do with the business. The short term goal may be to launch a marketing campaign or find a new building, but the long term goal may be to make a certain amount of money by the end of five years. Think about all of this so you can execute your plans effectively as a couple.
Getting Along
Some couples just weren’t meant to work together, and there is nothing wrong with that. There is a big difference between what I like to call “work mode” and “married mode.” In some cases, your work mode may not mesh well with your spouse’s. You have to decide at that point if you want to stick with the plan or not. If so, try to make compromises that work best for the business, not necessarily for your marriage. You need to have a sense of separation between those two fields if you ever want to be happy and successful. If you can keep work life at work and married life at home, you should have no trouble starting a business with your spouse.