Spouses as Business Partners - Harder than Marriage?

by Joan Trinka

As many people look at buying a franchise or bringing a partner into an existing business, they naturally turn to friends and family they already know well and trust—especially spouses. In theory, carrying out your life’s work in tandem with someone you love and whose company you enjoy may seem like a good idea. And for the right people, it can work! But before going into business with a spouse, there are many things to consider that may make executing a successful and enjoyable business partnership even harder than making a marriage work.

An important part of assessing if you and a spouse can work together in business is to objectively recognize both the strengths and weaknesses of each person. Your projected division of tasks based on your personal relationship may not be the optimal use of each person’s current skills, not to mention hidden talents. Sometimes the “quiet-as-a-mouse” spouse at home could be the mouse that roars (in a good way!) in a sales presentation or when negotiating with suppliers.

In effect, each business partner should interview the other as you would a new hire, removing any preconceived notions and assumptions based on past personal history and instead allowing each person’s full potential to be able to manifest.

That consideration of current abilities and also future self-growth goals may help you both feel you are respected and valued as professionals better than acting out the roles in your marriage. When spouses are partners in the business, laying the groundwork for equality or a clear division of power is paramount, more so than if a spouse is only going to be in an employee role.

Ask yourself this: If your employees or co-workers saw you through the eyes of your spouse, what would that look like? Most likely, some of those personal perspectives your spouse would have you would never want your business associates to see. By understanding that, you can better relate to your spouse in the workplace in a professional manner.

Another consideration in being partners with your spouse is to set any boundaries you both feel may be necessary to separate work from encroaching on too much personal time. Sure, when spouses are in business together, shoptalk becomes somewhat a part of home time, but it is good to remember to have that “sacred space” for just the two of you to be together without any work involved.

Couples seem to recognize the need for this more easily when they each are working separately, but when in business together, they sometimes forget to set aside that time as they become used to discussing business matters at any/all times because their business partner (spouse) is so accessible.

On the non-personal side, spouses in business together need to address what would happen should they break up as a couple, or should one just want to leave the business. It may be difficult to project those futures, but you need to ask yourself: If I was going into business with anyone else, wouldn’t I want a clear agreement on what would happen should the business relationship dissolve?

Addressing these issues in advance can help keep your marriage happy and strong even if the business needs to go in a new direction. And, of course, if combining business with marriage is right for you, it can be the very best of all worlds: having your best friend and life partner by your side and growing your financial future together.

Joan Trinka
Director of Development
Bark Busters USA

Learn more about Bark Busters at topfranchises.franchisebusinessreview.com.

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