Be Your Spouse's Boss? Maybe...

Filed in archive Bootstrapper Tips on September 1, 2009

Women Entrepreneurs asked an interesting question that bootstrappers should consider: should you put your spouse on your payroll?

Of course, for them the issue was complicated by our society's views of male-female authority.

While adding your husband to the payroll may help him get affordable health insurance once his COBRA benefits run out, making him your employee may stir up a hornet's nest of problems that could disrupt your marriage as well as your business.

For one, your husband may never feel like his own man as long as he's working for you-and your employees may start to resent him, too...

I found the question interesting in part because I worked for my wife for 15 months. It wasn't an entrepreneurial setting. I don't think it had a negative impact on our marriage. But we did see some resentment small amount of from other workers.

Bottom line, the answer depends on you (and your spouse). But in much of the world, entrepreneurial spirit is expressed most naturally through family businesses...


© dave.wolanski