Startup Tips for Couples 101: What We Learned the Hard Way

When Brad and I started our business, we basically went by the seat of our pants! He was laid off from his commercial plumbing job, and I was working as a personal trainer. My friends and clients started hiring him for odd jobs, just so we could keep the lights on and food on the table. At the time, our son was only eight months old, and while we had *thought* about starting a business, this was the push we needed.

Brad quickly realized he couldn’t always rely on a steady job in commercial plumbing. He started taking on work he’d never done before—because, well, when you’ve got bills to pay and a family to feed, you do *whatever it takes*. After a little while, I saw how hard it was for him to do everything alone. So, I jumped in, promoting him, networking, and running his social media.

Fast forward a year of Brad juggling his full-time job *and* working with customers he’d built relationships with, and we knew—it was **go time**. He quit his job, and we went all in. And let me tell you, we made *a lot* of mistakes along the way. So, if you and your spouse are thinking of starting a business, here’s what we did (and what we *wish* we had known earlier)!

1. **Get Your Finances in Order** 

Before Brad quit his full-time job, we made sure we weren’t drowning in debt. We paid off everything except our house, built up an emergency fund, and lived a *very* tight (read: boring) life for a while.

**Lesson learned:** If you’re going into business, you *don’t* want debt weighing you down. It’s hard enough trying to grow a business without worrying about making monthly payments on stuff you don’t even care about anymore.

2. **Be Willing to Sacrifice (Yes, Even the Fun Stuff!)**

Brad sold his Harley to buy his first drain machine. *I repeat: he sold his Harley!* That should tell you how serious we were about making this work.

**Lesson learned:** You have to be *all in*. Starting a business requires sacrifice, whether that’s selling a beloved motorcycle or giving up Friday night takeout for a while.

3. **Get the Right Certifications & Insurance** 

We did our homework. Brad got his master plumbing license, we researched insurance providers, and we made sure we were *legit*.

**Lesson learned:** Don’t try to “wing it.” If your industry requires licenses or certifications, get them *before* you start taking on big jobs. The last thing you want is a legal headache because you skipped a step.

4. **Network Like Your Business Depends on It (Because It Does!)** 

I wasn’t afraid to put myself out there and promote our business. I asked other business owners *tons* of questions, made connections, and handed out our DIY VistaPrint business cards *everywhere*.

**Lesson learned:** You can be the best at what you do, but if no one knows about your business, it doesn’t matter. Get out there and talk to people!

5. **Find a Good Lawyer & CPA—Like, Now** 

We made sure to have a solid legal and financial team from the start. Most of the time, when something goes wrong in business, it’s *not* because of the work itself—it’s because of bad money management or legal trouble.

**Lesson learned:** Protect your business from the get-go. A good CPA and lawyer might seem expensive, but they can save you from way bigger (and costlier) problems down the road.

6. **Know Your Roles (and Respect Them)** 

At first, Brad did *all* the work while I handled the marketing, networking, and social media. Eventually, I took on more behind-the-scenes business management, and we learned to stay in our lanes.

**Lesson learned:** If you’re running a business with your spouse, figure out *who does what*. Otherwise, you’ll drive each other *crazy* (and not in a cute, rom-com way).

7. **Prepare for the Crazy (But Enjoy the Ride!)** 

Running a business together means *lots* of late nights, financial stress, and moments where you wonder, “What the heck were we thinking?!” But it also means celebrating wins *together* and knowing you’re building something *as a team*.

**Lesson learned:** It’s not always easy, but it’s so worth it.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about starting a business with your spouse—*go for it!* Just know it won’t always be pretty, you *will* make mistakes, and sometimes you’ll want to throw a wrench at each other (not that I’ve ever thought about it. But with patience, teamwork, and a whole lot of faith, you can build something amazing together.

Thinking about jumping into business with your spouse? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your story!