Should couples go into business together? It’s not exactly an age old question, but it’s definitely a new question that’s gaining in popularity. Credited as being coined by Frank and Sharon Barnett, the term ‘copreneur’ is defined as a couple, (married or unmarried) that shares ownership, commitment, and responsibility for a business. Its predecessor, the phrase “mom-and-pop store” dates back to around 1951 (www.webster.com). They were the staple of the community and even today, evoke a certain level of comfort and familiarity at their mention. Now that more and more people are taking the leap of faith into entrepreneurship (sources say at least a quarter million), they are looking to their mates as potential business partners. Sure, there are plenty of downsides to couple-owned businesses: long hours, limited personal time, fuzzy boundaries, and neglected romantic relationships, but there are many rewards as well. You are your own boss, you can to spend time with your mate you otherwise couldn’t have (thanks to Corporate America), and you can transcend into a deeper level of trust, intimacy, and dependency on each other. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Bizzyness, Copreneur, copreneurs, Couple Questions, couple-owned-business, couplepreneurship
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