Working with or running a business with your spouse may sound like a crazy idea, but for many field workers like landscapers (as well as many other field service industry businesses: plumbers, electricians, or carpenters), it’s their reality. Working with your spouse is not a problem if you work well together and have an understanding of each other’s needs, however, this can bring a whole different dynamic to your personal lives and professional lives.

Shannon Walsh, the president of the ezbz App, went on the Million Dollar Landscaper podcast, Episode 161, with her husband James Walsh to discuss how you should approach working with your spouse. The duo is currently operating a landscaping business together, Premier Home Services, LLC and has a lot of insight into the positives and negatives of working with your significant other. The podcast was hosted and co-hosted by Scott and Kati Molchan, who also operate a successful business together.

 

Advice for couples in business

Throughout the podcast, the two couples offered advice for what other couples need to know when working in the same business together.

 

Trust

This may seem like a no-brainer, yet trust in relationships takes time and consistent communication. You must spend time building that trust before you can begin working with your partner long-term. It should come naturally after some time has passed, but there are things you can do to help along the way so you feel comfortable being honest with one another. Be clear on what kind of relationship you want going into it, communicate openly about everything from finances to home life, and make sure you agree on who will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of both the business and the household. You should distinguish certain roles in both areas, but you also need to work together.

Some employees can be unreliable, but you can always trust your partner. You know they will put in all their energy and effort to benefit both of you.

 

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

It’s easy to assume all married people understand each other and share similar interests. However, if you’re running a business together, chances are you’ll have very different goals and ideas which need to be brought out in the open beforehand.

Being able to talk openly and honestly about these issues will create a stronger foundation moving forward. Even better, if you can talk to your partner in private, without the kids around, they won’t be scared off or embarrassed to express themselves. There might even be times where they don’t understand why you were upset/mad at them earlier or didn’t think this issue would happen again. Having a good basis of communication will go a long way to creating a better relationship.

 

Patience

If one member of a couple is more patient than the other, it can cause tension between the two. When dealing with your partner professionally, it helps to be aware of this fact and use the extra patience to manage the situation and keep everyone focused on the goal. Your partner may be upset about your behavior, but it isn’t personal. You need to understand what causes him or her to lash out at you. Try to identify whether any of these emotions are coming from love or fear. Working together forces you to learn about your partner a lot more than for spouses who don’t work together. Just remember to be honest and upfront regarding your feelings, thoughts, and opinions.

 

Surround Yourself with Other Couples

There are many benefits of having friends outside of your marriage when trying to work with your partner, especially if you are struggling to find common ground. Unless you actually have been in the field service industry, others have no idea exactly what it entails. So, surround yourself with other couples who know what you’re feeling. James and Shannon explained how talking to other couples who run field service businesses together can be like having a therapy session together. All of them can just debrief from the personal or professional stress and just rant with other like-minded people about your business, employees, equipment, or anything you so, please. This can help make your feelings more valid since others can understand.

 

Looking at the Relationship through Different Eyes

When working with your spouse, you have to look at the relationship through their eyes. You have to see the world through their point of view and realize that they are not looking at it the same way you are. They have different priorities, different expectations, and different ways of doing things. So, when you are frustrated with your partner, remember that they are also frustrated with you. And vice versa. You can both look at things differently, so you need to make sure you understand each other’s perspectives and have an open mind. Both ideas could work great, just have a conversation.

 

“He couldn’t do it without me, and I couldn’t do it without him. You have to be in it together.” – Shannon Walsh

 

How did James and Shannon begin running a business together? What did they learn working together as a couple? You can find out more in James and Shannon’s Million Dollar Landscaper interview on YouTube here, or below.