How to Go Into Business With a Spouse

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By eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating:

(4 Ratings)

You and your spouse can be partners on the job as well as at home, as long as you set some ground rules - and never forget that you are a couple first.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Men's Suits
Business Books
Business Loans
Marriage Services
Small Business Credit Cards
Business loans

Step 1

Determine whether both of you want to and can afford to work together.
Step 2

Create a joint vision and mission statement.
Step 3

Prepare a plan that articulates the needs of both your business and your marriage.
Step 4

Separate work and family conflicts by establishing ground rules, such as, "No business discussions in the bedroom."
Step 5

Divide responsibilities and write job descriptions for each of you.
Step 6

Schedule weekly or daily business meetings, just like you would at a regular company.

Tips & Warnings

Respect your differences.
Take time out to be just a couple, and not business partners.
One of you may secure a steady job with benefits and work only part-time in the business.
The work must be pleasing to both of you.
If trouble arises, remember that you are a couple first and partners second.
If you have trouble in your marriage, teaming up in business could be difficult.
Expect to fight from time to time - it's natural.
Learn to forgive.
Be sure your financial stability is secure before you both quit your jobs.

Comments

lucyyy said

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on 5/5/2009 Some husband-wife business teams find it helps to let each partner have their own territory. If one is the marketing genius and the other the operations know-how, or there's some other division of roles, that helps reduce friction. It's much easier if each person gets to be the boss of something.