Quantcast
RELATED

Let's take it to an infamous line in Jay-z and Beyonce classic '03 Bonnie & Clyde:


"Cause mami's a rider and I'm a roller

Put us together – how they gon' stop both us?

Whatever she lacks, I'm right over her shoulder

When I'm off track, mami is keepin' me focused"

What does it take to put the power in the term "power couple"? How do you build an empire with the one you love?

We chatted with eight couples to learn the secrets to successfully running a business with a partner. While there may be technical logistics that should be considered before entering a relationship with your significant other, not every arrangement is a recipe for disaster. These couples share how they manage their business while working together, strategies for overcoming common challenges, and the best (and often underappreciated) aspects of working with the one you love.

Note: responses have been condensed for brevity and clarity.

Prioritize Work/Life Balance

Courtesy of Kahran & Regis Bethencourt

Kahran & Regis Bethencourt, Owners of Creative Soul Photography, Married 7 years (together for 15 years)

"The biggest part of having a successful business partnership has been having our own individual strengths and responsibilities. It allows each person to have their own separate 'lane' and individual sense of responsibility and ownership. We also try to do regular check-ins every few months to figure out which things we're doing that do not make us happy. If one person is unhappy, it makes running our business that much more difficult, so we try to constantly revise and re-evaluate to make sure we address any issues in our business and relationship.

"The biggest challenge, however, is work/life balance, as it seems there's never enough of that to go around. When working together, work automatically becomes a major part of our home life so we try to do little things to make sure we are still connecting as a couple. Luckily, both of us are pretty simple when it comes to that, so just having a quick date night after a shoot or taking a few hours to Netflix and chill gives us the time we need to take a break from work life.

"Our relationship started as a year and a half cross-country long distance relationship. We genuinely enjoy each other's company and have always wanted to work together. The idea of one of us going back to the desk keeps us working harder to make our business work when things get tough."

Recommended Reading:A Creative Professional's Guide to Money by Ilise Benum; Make Your Mark: The Creative's Guide to Building a Business by Jocelyn K. Glei

Featured image courtesy of Kevin & Melissa Fredericks

 

RELATED

 
ALSO ON XONECOLE
Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney & Jill Marie Jones On 'Games Women Play' & Dating Over 40

What do you get when you mix unfiltered truths, high-stakes romance, and a few well-timed one-liners? You get Games Women Play—the sizzling new stage play by Je’Caryous Johnson that’s part relationship rollercoaster, part grown-woman group chat.

KEEP READINGShow less
Ms. Pat Is Having Her Moment And We’re Just Living In It

Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams has always marched to the beat of her own brutally honest drum — and that’s exactly what makes her so magnetic to watch. Whether she’s making us laugh until we cry on The Ms. Pat Show or now laying down the law on her courtroom series Ms. Pat Settles It, the comedian-turned-judge proves time and again that there’s nobody quite like her. Unfiltered, hilarious, and real to the core, she’s made a name for herself by turning her life’s journey — including the pain — into purpose.

KEEP READINGShow less
LATEST POSTS