"Honey, will you get that?" Or, The Challenges of Working at Home with Your Spouse

While on the surface, working at home with your spouse may seem like a good idea, it could be a decision that you’ll eventually regret. Sure, it can be a great savings in the family’s budget by cutting down on everything from gasoline for the old commute to dress clothes for the traditional office; however, being married can be tough enough without spending all day, everyday and night together.

Understand, I had a much easier adjustment than my wife, Beth. After being on the road six days a week for eight years, working at home felt like a never-ending summer vacation. Beth, on the other hand, had spent the last seven years on her job telecommuting from home, so she was used to being “home alone.” She had now gone from the tranquility of being able to concentrate all day – without interruption - to having me in her office eating my cereal over her shoulder and presenting her with a list of tasks on which I needed her help for our home-based business. No matter how lovingly I tried to explain to her that I was now her “coach” and she could think of me as her “sensei”, she just couldn’t accept it.

All the little “adjustments” can be endured as long as both of you have a clear understanding of your business goals. You may learn that your idea of what to expect from the business may be way off base from your partner’s expectations. By sitting down, clearly defining and agreeing on your goals, writing them down, and posting them where they are visible and a constant reminder to both of you will help smooth out the rough edges of your partnership. Unfortunately, if your goals and those of your spouse are not aligned, your business will fail and most likely take your marriage with it.

Along with your agreed goals, it’s most important when running a home business with your spouse, to have clearly defined roles. Who is the CEO (sales and marketing) and who is the CFO (accountant and bookkeeper). The CEO is responsible for deciding where to invest the company’s capital to grow the business and generate profit. The CFO pays the company’s bills and is responsible for best practice accounting and tax procedures and for watching the bottom line. Although these are independently managed positions, they are also extremely dependent on each other. Don’t make the mistake of operating in a vacuum – discuss all of your decisions with each other to ensure the CEO and CFO activities are in sync and support the goals of the business.

It’s best to look at each other’s skills and plan individual roles that best compliment the strengths of each partner. By all means, stay away from the “I’m the boss” mentality. I’ve tried it and failed miserably!

Try to avoid mixing work and family issues when on the job. It can be a great thief of time and focus. It’s best to set a schedule for work with time to relax and play. Go on a date every now and then. It will do both of you some good - the business and your relationship.

While all this may sound somewhat like a tirade, I surely don’t mean it to be. These are just a few things to think about before jumping overboard and trying to tread water in a new environment. I absolutely love working from home with my wife (besides - she’s the smart one) and would never want to go back on the cold lonely road again.