Creating a home-based business is tough enough when going it alone, but working with family adds a new wrinkle. Is it good or bad for business?
Is working with family good or bad for home-based business? Being self employed may not always mean being alone when family members are there to help out and participate. In fact, it's often better to get a little help when starting out in self employment and home-based business. But doesn't involving family make everything a little bit more...personal?
Working with Family
According to the Family Business Review, family businesses comprise eighty to ninety percent of all North American business enterprises (Summer, 1996). There were 1.2 million husband-and-wife teams running companies in 2003 (NFIB). The odds of business in general seem in favor of working with family. In many cases, it's very natural that family members should get involved, especially those within the same home. In home-based business, everyone who lives at the place of business has a personal stake in the enterprise.
Yet, living together and working together are a world apart, even when the business is based in the home. Two people who have wonderful chemistry when it comes to marriage and romance may discover that they simply can't work together business-wise. No matter how strong a relationship, this does not ensure two people will work well together. The happiest families in the world might fall apart when it comes to sharing office space.
Family - Good or Bad for Business?
...And of course, they might not. There is no telling what might happen in any home-based business endeavor, but there are certain ways to keep things professional even when it comes to family. First of all, somebody's going to have to be "the boss." If that responsibility is to be shared, everyone involved in the business needs to know who the bosses are, and the two bosses need to have distinct duties and authority of their own. Everyone's responsibilities need to be clearly outlined to them, everyone must know what is expected of them, and everyone must know what is considered unacceptable - before everyone starts working together. Clearly-defined business roles are doubly important when it comes to working with family, who already have previously defined personal roles for each other.
There is no way to work together and pretend the family ties and heirarchy don't exist. Those relationships are preexisting, and they often preempt whatever the working relationship may be. Having clear roles and knowing the necessary duties can keep things smooth at the home office.
In the end, the successful home-based business is the one that lasts or pushes business to the next level. Every business has to be run like a business - even when family is involved. Family only hurts a business when it prevents that business from moving forward. Working with family can be great for business, but sometimes it can be bad when all members of the business don't pull their own weight and meet their own responsibilities. The key to success is to remember to put the business first. A good family will stay together no matter what, and everyone has to have money to live.
