Double Act or Double Trouble? The Truth About Couple-Run Businesses with Mark Creedon

Did you know that around 40% of family-owned businesses in Australia are run by couples? Often husband-and-wife teams share not only a home but also a business. On the surface, this might sound like the ultimate partnership - sharing a vision, building wealth together, and celebrating wins side by side. But the reality? It’s not always so rosy. Running a business with your partner presents unique challenges - blurring the lines between work and life, financial pressures, role conflicts, and sometimes even health and relationship issues. In fact, international research suggests that couples who own businesses together may face higher divorce rates and greater stress than the general population. So how can these couples make it work? What strategies can help them thrive in both their relationship and their business? That’s what Simon Kuestenmacher and I unpack today with our guest, Mark Creedon, CEO of Metropole and host of the Mastermind for Business podcast. Today, we “pick his brain” as to why he believes some businesses can be both incredibly resilient and still uniquely vulnerable, and more importantly, how to avoid the common pitfalls. So whether you’re in business with your partner, or not, or maybe just curious about how demographics shape these trends, this conversation is for you.   Takeaways    ·         Couples in business face unique challenges that can blur personal and professional boundaries. ·         Trust and shared values are crucial for couples running a business together. ·         Clear role definitions help mitigate conflicts in couple-run businesses. ·         Communication is key to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. ·         Financial stress can exacerbate relationship issues for couples in business. ·         Succession planning is more complex in couple-owned businesses due to emotional attachments. ·         Having external support, like business coaching, can provide valuable perspectives. ·         Work-life harmony is more realistic than work-life balance for couples in business. ·         Couples should maintain individual interests and friendships outside of work. ·         Planning for the future is essential for the longevity of couple-owned businesses.   Chapters    00:00 The Dynamics of Couples in Business 09:23 Challenges Faced by Couples in Business 17:47 Strategies for Success in Couple-run Businesses 27:05 The Importance of External Support and Planning   Guest: Mark Creedon – Mastermind Business Accelerator which is community for you if you you’re a business person or couple who wants to 10x your income, elevate your ability to give, and leave a massive impact on your community and the world by up-levelling your tribe, improving your business acumen, and removing your limiting beliefs around money and success. Find out more here.   Subscribe to Mark’s Mastermind for Business Podcast here   About Simon Kuestenmacher   Simon Kuestenmacher  is co-founder and Director – The Demographics Group   Simon is a prolific media commentator on demographic and data matters and a columnist for The New Daily and The Australian newspapers.     He ranks as one of the world’s Top 10 influencers in data visualisation. If you can’t get enough of the kind of data that explains how the world works, make sure to follow Simon on Linked In or X (formerly Twitter) or any of his other social channels.   Click here for a media enquiry or if you would like to book Simon Kuestenmacher for a speaking engagement. His presentations and quirky observations are enjoyed by audiences from the financial services, property, government, education, technology, retail and professional services industries, among others. https://www.tdgp.com.au/enquire     About Michael Yardney   Michael Yardney- founder Metropole Property Strategists has been voted one of Australia’s 50 most influential Thought Leaders.   While he is best known as a property expert, Michael is also Australia’s leading expert in the psychology of success and wealth creation.   Michael is a #1 best selling author of 9 books and frequently challenges traditional finance advice with innovative ideas on property investment, personal finance and wealth creation.   Follow Michael on Linked In or Instagram   Are you interested in property investment - let the team at Metropole build you a Strategic Property Plan to help give you clarity, direction and wealth-producing results.