When people leave careers to build a business, they often cite reasons like spending more time with their family or having greater flexibility in their hours as reasons to pursue less traditional means of work. It makes perfect sense, therefore, that as the business builds and begins to need more support, they choose to hire their spouse as their first employee. But should you do it?
When you and your spouse face challenging situations, how do you feel? Does it seem like difficulties are going to tear you apart, or do they invigorate you and deepen your partnership? Does your spouse feel the same way?
There isn't a universal right or wrong answer as to whether or not a person should go into business with their spouse. For some partnerships, it's the perfect answer to all sorts of problems, and they can't imagine anything differently. Unfortunately, when a business partnership doesn't work, the unpleasantness often spills into the marriage itself, and many couples don't survive the turmoil.
If you and your spouse go into business together, you may end up discovering a whole new side of each other, working together to create something amazing. But if you aren't prepared for the difficulties that may arise, it may harm your relationship, your business idea, and your long term health. Proceed carefully, and make the best choice for yourself and your spouse.
There are real pros and cons to hiring working with your spouse. Let's talk about what you should look for, and what you should avoid.
Do You Share The Same Vision?
You and your spouse might agree that your neighborhood would hugely benefit from a specific company. But if you envision the business as a mom-and-pop shop that caters to the kids hanging out on the corner, and your spouse imagines a multi-national corporation operating out of your garage, there's going to be conflict.
If you and your spouse can't agree on what the end goal of your business idea will be, it's probably better not to go into business together.
Can You Work Together?
When you and your spouse work on a large project around the house together, how do you operate? Do you sit down together and create a master to-do list, then figure out who's doing what, and stay out of each other's way? Do you move through the task list together, assisting as needed, to get each job done twice as fast? Or do you each have your completely separate chore list, and you complete it without talking about it?
Any one of these strategies could be successfully transitioned into operating a business, but if one of you wants to take option A while the other prefers option C, you're going to see conflicts arise. These frustrations are difficult when you're a business leader working with an employee, and out-and-out damaging when you're working with your spouse.
Can You Put Down Work Together?
How much do you and your spouse talk about your days at work? If you were suddenly in the same place for the entire work day, what would you talk about over dinner? How much would it add to your stress to have your dinner conversation be about the business you spent all day trying to run?
Some people love the closeness that results from feeling like they're taking on the world of business with their partner, and that it's them against the world. Others mourn the loss of the decompression that results when they tell their spouse all about their difficult day or problem client.
Conflicts can also become much more personal when your spouse's screw-up is the source of your bad day. Can you address these issues as they arise without them bleeding over into your personal life? Can your spouse?
Are You Both Suited For The Roles You Will Take On?
If you want your spouse to be part of the business because they're the best marketing specialist you know, and no one else understands your passion at the same level, having them take over the company marketing hacks might be a great idea. If they're not good at what you need them to do, however, you'll have a difficult decision to make as the business grows.
Does your spouse continue to fulfill their role, even though they're not great at it, or do they step back? How will they feel if you ask them to step back for the good of the business?
In the best situation, you and your spouse want to go into business together because you complement each other so well. If that's the case, things will probably work out, as your new partner picks up whatever skills they need to succeed.