Marriage and Entrepreneurship: Communication is Key

When I first began my entrepreneurial journey, my husband and I made a financial agreement: we would live on his 9-to-5 salary, and anything I earned would be considered extra. My income would go toward paying off debt, taking vacations, and covering the occasional family expense.

The Benefits of Treating the Business as Extra Income

This approach helped us in several important ways:

•  It relieved the pressure for my company to make money right away.
• It allowed us to view the company as a side hustle at first, rather than something that had to support our household immediately.
• ·It taught us to live within our means, so when the company did begin making money, we could truly enjoy the rewards.

Granted, it took 10 years for my company to provide for us. But once it did, it felt amazing.

The Challenges of That Mindset

At the same time, this mindset created a few challenges for us:

• Because it took years for the business to turn a profit, a lot of financial responsibility stayed on my husband’s shoulders. Thankfully, he loved his job, so that pressure was manageable for him.
•  Once the business was earning good money, it was difficult for us to recognize that we were no longer struggling financially.

We treated my income as if it could disappear at any moment, so instead of using it freely, we hoarded it. Even when our roof was leaking, it was hard for us to accept that we could actually afford the $30,000 repair.

Final Thoughts

For me, the biggest lesson in all of this was the importance of honest communication. Being married to an entrepreneur is not always easy. The income can be unpredictable, but the bills still show up every month. Looking back, I’m grateful we had a plan, even if we had to learn and adjust along the way. Having a clear financial roadmap helped us stay on the same team, even when my business, and our mindset around money, was ever evolving.

If you are not paying yourself, here is a great worksheet I’ve used for myself. It will help you to analyze what you need to make, what you want to make, and what is keeping you from doing so (self sabotage). 

Download it here: Owner Pay & Lifestyle Planning Workbook

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