Running a business with your spouse can sound like a dream — or a disaster waiting to happen. For some entrepreneurs, it’s the best decision they’ve ever made. For others, it’s a hard-earned lesson in boundaries, patience, and personality differences.
Related – Spouse as Business Partner? How to Make It Work Without Breaking Your Marriage
A recent LinkedIn thread hosted by Ramon Ray sparked honest stories from business owners who’ve tried it. From those who made it work to those who vowed “never again,” their experiences offer real-world lessons for any entrepreneur thinking of bringing their significant other on board. Don’t miss out – subscribe to our YouTube channel
Key Takeaways
- Clear roles and responsibilities are essential — love doesn’t replace structure.
- It matters less who’s the boss and more whether both partners can respect boundaries.
- Many couples find success when their strengths complement each other.
- Others say keeping marriage and business separate saved their relationship.
- Hiring your spouse works best when you treat it like a true partnership, not a favor.
The “Hired My Spouse, Best Decision Ever” Club
For some couples, working together brought them closer and made their businesses stronger.
Daniel Linares joked that he “hired his girlfriend and promoted her to wife,” and now their business is thriving. Dr. Will Moreland admitted it was rough at first, but once he and his wife defined their roles and learned from other successful couples, things clicked: “Going on three years now,” he said.
Renee C. Bauer, who brought her husband in as operations manager, said it’s one of her smartest moves. “He’s helped scale our business and is more committed to its success than anyone else ever could be.”
Glenn Lundy proudly shared that after eight years of growth together, he “retired his wife from the business.” It was a journey that paid off for both their marriage and company.
And Susan Isaac summed up the best version of this story in one line: “My husband says it’s the best decision he’s ever made — right after asking me to marry him.”
The “Never Again” Camp
Not every story has a happy ending.
Rachel Michaelov was direct: “I did — will never do it again.”
Pam Gilchrist Corson explained why she decided not to bring her brilliant, business-savvy husband into her consulting firm. “I’d rather have a great marriage,” she said. Keeping space between work and love protected their relationship — and made him her best advisor, not her employee.
Shermaine Perry-Knights kept it simple: “Nope… I’d hate to have to fire him.”
Even among those who tried it, some discovered that personal dynamics can make collaboration tricky. Tracey Matney wanted her husband to join her agency, but both turned out to be “CEO types.” Instead, he launched his own board-game business, now projected to hit $2 million this year. “I’m glad he didn’t come work for me,” she admitted.
Finding the Right Balance
Some couples have made it work for decades by defining clear boundaries — both at home and at the office.
Meredith Schuster-Gansrow, who’s worked with her husband for 30 years, believes success depends on personality, not gender. “He’s the boss of his area, and I’m the boss of mine.”
Pegine Echevarria shared one of the most creative systems: she and her husband use code names to separate business from marriage. “When I say ‘Seymore,’ it’s business — contracts, accounting, no emotion. When I say ‘Vito,’ it’s grunt work. When I say ‘David,’ we’re back to love and friendship.”
This playful clarity, she says, has made both their work and marriage thrive for over 30 years.
Meanwhile, Tom and Ariana Sylvester took a strategic approach. Before challenges could take over, they wrote a book and launched a podcast series called Couples and Entrepreneurship. Tom says the secret is “clarity, cadence, separation, and support.”
When It’s “Not Quite Hiring”
A few entrepreneurs work with their spouses — not for or under them.
Christopher P. Ramey noted that calling it “hiring” misses the point: “My wife works with me. The first negative is you can’t make a spouse do something they don’t want to do. But working together often dampens any burden of desire — so you’ll get more sleep.”
Carolyn DeWolf Crummey merged companies with her husband. “It definitely has its challenges, but for us it’s working out really well. His weaknesses are my strengths and vice versa. We’re like a dynamic duo.”
And sometimes, couples collaborate on specific projects instead of joining forces full-time. Ayana M. Webb let her boyfriend direct one of her content videos. “He did a 10x better job than me,” she said — proof that sometimes creative partnerships work best in small doses.
Lessons for Entrepreneurs Considering It
If you’re thinking of hiring your spouse, the stories share some clear patterns:
- Define roles early. Don’t assume love equals alignment. Decide who does what — and who makes final decisions.
- Set boundaries. Create “no business talk” hours or spaces. Marriage first, business second.
- Play to strengths. If one’s great at sales and the other at systems, stay in those lanes.
- Treat it professionally. Accountability matters more when love is involved.
- Remember why you started. The goal is to build together, not compete.
As Justin Konikow put it: “You need to establish who’s responsible for what and stay in sync — but with the right partner, it can be incredible.”
Final Thought
Whether you hire your spouse or just collaborate occasionally, the key lesson is respect — for each other’s skills, boundaries, and ambitions. As several entrepreneurs in Ramon Ray’s thread shared, working with your spouse can either deepen your connection or test it in new ways.
It’s not about who hired who. It’s about whether you can grow — together.