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In
Sickness and in Wealth
BOUND BROOK, NJ -- Today many franchise companies
are run by husband-and-wife teams. Some say it’s
a great experience; most say there are things that need to be
considered to make it work.
Franchising is one of the fastest paths to
small business success. Over 900 new business opportunities were
introduced by the International Franchise Association in 2007,
and many of these concepts are small mom-and-pop shops run by
couples. But how does a husband-and-wife team successfully
operate a business without destroying their relationship – or
the business?
Kathleen Austin Kuhn has been married for
20 years, and for 18 of those years she has been working with
her husband, Mike, at HouseMaster, the first company to franchise
in the home inspection industry. According to Kuhn almost
30 percent of HouseMaster’s 375 franchises are run by husband-and-wife
teams.
Kuhn warns, “Some couples really need
some regular time apart, working separately, during the weekdays.”
However, for those who don’t need such space, there are
bonuses to team work. “My husband knows when things are
hectic at work because we work together,” Kuhn adds. “He
understands when to pitch in more at home or with the kids.”
It’s also important to remember that
it’s unrealistic to think you can avoid taking work home
with you, particularly since many small businesses operate out
of the home.
That’s why it’s critical that couples set aside time
that is free from work-related issues.
Some successful HouseMaster husband-and-wife
franchisees shared some tips:
· You
won’t love working with all your co-workers all the time,
and the same rule applies to your spouse.
· Communicate
and don’t let issues build up. Don’t expect
your spouse to know what you’re thinking.
· Make
sure you each have well-defined roles -- one does computers,
the other does marketing; one performs inspections, the other
runs the office. Then decide on joint responsibilities like hiring/firing
employees. This not only helps you match skills and talents appropriately,
it can aid in time management.
· Do
not have disagreements in front of the employees.
Do
not make the business so central to your lives, that you do
nothing else.
www.housemaster.com
Media Contact: Eson Kim
Communications Manager, HMA Franchise Systems
800.526.3939; ekim@housemaster.com |
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