Owning and operating a business with your life partner is no easy task.
On the bright side, there are upsides to working and living with your business partner. For one thing, you trust them. Another big plus for working together is that it will save your business money. Hiring your spouse for a role they are well equipped to do — they have the education, skills and training — is cheaper than hiring someone else. Not only will there be no recruiting fees, but your spouse, like you, may also accept a salary below market rate.
However, there’s no way to avoid disagreements that will arise from work and personal interaction. Many couples just don’t navigate the obstacles of working and living together very well, so if you are in business with your life partner, the following tips may help keep you out of the family court going through a divorce.
1. Set boundaries between personal and business life
While working with your spouse offers lots of merits, there’s one great challenge you need to deal with — separating your personal and business life. If your business office is also located in your home, it might blur the lines.
Keep a healthy balance between work and life by designating business hours. Ensure you commit to these hours and refrain from tackling business issues when the workday has ended. You need to agree on the rules around when to take the business hat off and put on the spouse/family hat.
Some couples find it hard to draw the line. Your relationship and well‑being may suffer, so it’s best to talk openly about your strategies to make things work in your personal and business relationships. Couples tend to talk to each other about their day, and you can still do the same despite sharing the same day at work. Discuss your feelings about job‑related events and focus on expressing how you felt about your busy day.
Another thing to keep in mind is to make time for the entire family. No matter how busy your business can get, family time is vital. As it should be with all couples, family is more important than work or any other area in your life.
2. Plan your goals together
Consider the pros and cons of starting a business with your spouse. Take the rose‑tinted glasses off and run some scenarios in which you are without work for a period. Can the household finances withstand that, and what is Plan B? When you’re both aware of the arrangement’s good and bad sides, you won’t have to blame each other or regret your decisions later on.
Ensure both of you are on the same page. Determine and anticipate how business activities can affect your personal life and build your business plan together. When you set your goals together, you’ll focus on them and work together as a team.
3. Protect your family finances
You won’t have to worry much about money when your business is a success. However, before reaching this stage, you should expect financial challenges, especially in the beginning. There may also be instances when you’ll have to make investments and even borrow a large amount of money.
All these are normal in a construction business. But this doesn’t mean you should completely risk all your family finances. Before getting involved in a business together, you need to separate personal and business money. You can protect your finances by having a budget contingency plan, a family trust, and a clear understanding of your budget and financial boundaries.
Also, it’s best to talk about what to do if the business fails. You and your spouse should set a limit on how long
4. Decide on who’s in charge of what
Defining your roles and responsibilities in advance will help. By dividing labour, your business will be organised and structured. Moreover, you’ll both be on the same page, thus preventing inconvenient situations from arising.
Roles can be decided based on both your strengths and skills. Whoever between you and your spouse is good at marketing and sales should be assigned to that role. Make sure to keep an open mind to what your spouse has to say, but respect each other regarding the job roles you have.
5. Organise a regular business meeting
Goals and targets should be regularly checked and assessed. This allows you to monitor your business progress. To do this, it’s best to schedule a regular business meeting together. Every month, you should take the time to review your goals and accomplishments, discuss any issues and concerns with your team, and make any necessary adjustments.
As you examine your business, try to remain professional and focus on topics related to your business. Keep personal comments out of the discussion.
6. Communicate to resolve disputes
To maintain a strong relationship, you need to communicate well. Avoiding the matter will only make things worse. Stay honest with each other and be receptive to opinions, feedback, ideas, and suggestions. It’s also vital to acknowledge each other’s efforts.
Give praise when your spouse has done an excellent job, but be honest and open to speak out about criticisms, too. Business partnerships with spouses will be successful if mutual honesty is maintained. Remember that you’re always in the situation together.
7. Learn to trust each other
If it doesn’t already exist, you’ll need to work on trusting each other. One way to do so effectively is to agree to the rules and assigned roles.
There may be times you’d both have different views, but it’s always best to practice trust, especially if the other person is doing their best to fulfil your joint goals.
Conclusion
Working with your life partner will reveal many opportunities to connect, share entrepreneurial ideas, and grow as partners. Review and commit to the necessary steps outlined in this article to ensure your life‑and‑work partnership gets off on the right path, or gets back on the path if you have strayed. Plus, don’t shy away from seeking external professional assistance from a mediator or coach who works with couples who run their own businesses.
Adapted from an article originally appearing on Businessblogshub.com – January 2023
Sometimes, it’s hard to step back from the pit face, look dispassionately at what you have been doing and make changes. If you need help, email me at andy@tradescoach.co.nz, and we can schedule a time to talk.