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My question today is: Do you get spouses’s input on the business? Do you take into consideration what he/she might have to say about how to “run the business”? I realize that this can be a touchy subject for some, but I would really like a honest opinion. Maybe some examples that you are glad that you listened to your spouse and some examples that you wish you hadn’t. I appreciate all the information that all of you have given here on this part of the site. It has really helped me understand what Lars has been doing for the last 19 years. By the way we have only been married three years, so I am the new to this whole arena.
Thanks
Tamara
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Most definitely. I put a price together and hand it to my wife. After she is done with it I know I will make a profit.
*Well in this area I believe there are no experts. There are no stock answers, only what the two of you agree on.How a husband and wife relate is a very personal thing. It depends on their personalities, relationship, nature of the business, and other things. When it comes to the business some share everything; others share nothing. Some husbands and wives have the idea that it is the man's job to provide while the wife keeps the family going and raises the kids. Others think everything is teamwork with both involved in everything.So, if this is an issue in your marriage my best advise is to discuss it. Explain why you want to participate, listen to your spouse and his reasoning. Then pick whatever works for you and him. It doesn't matter what works for me or mine. The only thing that matters is what works for you and yours.
*We both run the business. We have found that we each have special assets to offer the business and compliment each other. My wife handles our book keeping and material order and shipping. I handle the estimating. We both do sales calls and usually go together as a team. We have found that especially when working with a husband/wife client they both feel like they have an advocate who sees their side of the picture if we both are present. We can't work together on the crew but the business end works well for us.
*My wife is truly my business partner. She keeps the books, handles a lot of the day to day things. Most of all I can talk with her about anything and everything. On the other hand I have a buddy who doesn't talk to his wife about squat as far as the business goes. If he dropped dead tommorow she wouldn't have a clue. Different strokes for different folks I guess. DanT
*Without my wife in this company we own (she's the VP) we would have gone under years ago.She does the payroll and tax deposits of our company. She proofreads my bills for errors and also all my business letters. She prepares all the tax info for the accountant. When I have a big decision to make about the business, she's the first one I bounce ideas off of. She balances the books down to the penny and signs company checks when I can't. She is 50% of this business, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I keep her 100% informed on what's going on at all times. It's not company funds or my funds, it's our funds. My trust in her runs as deep as my love for her.I do the estimating, sell our services, make the purchasing decisions for tools and material and run the crews. She really couldn't do that part because she's not trained as a carpenter nor would she want to be. However, she is the only business partner I will ever have. It's her company too. It's OUR company. Good times and bad. It's a BIG load off my shoulders to know she's taking care of her end of the business. It makes me work harder to take care of mine.We've been married 25 years and in business together since 1989.On top of keeping me and 18 employees on the up and up paperwork wise, she also takes care of the house, laundry, shopping and looks after our pets.Hey, I do take out the garbage and fix things around the house.Why she puts up with me sometimes....I just don't know.Am I lucky or what?Her name is Janie........Thank you Janie.Ed.
*Yeah, my wife has had input on one occassion. She asked when I was actually going to get a real job like her's, stop buying tools and make some money?I told her as soon as the mansion I'm building for HER is finished.So now I'm looking for one...Job that is...I'm keeping the wife. ;)Mike
*I appreciate all the input here! Lars would tell you that we are partners in business. It has been a learning experience in every since of the word. I tease him at times and tell him let me bid the job. Of course I have no experience at all and I am kidding. I try and read all his magazines, go to shows with him when I can, and read on this site. I enjoy reading about the business, techniques etc. I may not understand what you all are always talking about on construction techniques, but if it sounds like something Lars would like to read I print or show it to him at night. He just doesn't have the time to come on here, so I try to look over some of the stuff that goes on here. Ed your wife sounds like she worth a million bucks plus. I tell you after working physical therapy for so many years I thought owning your own construction business would be an experience. So far it has been a learning experience and I love to see my husband doing something that he truly loves. Thanks,Tamara
*My wife has many suggestions about how we should run our business but she has the good sense to realize that we are happy with our present system. She is especially good with maintaining good relationships with my partner's wives and with all of our employees. She is willing to listen to my whining about a particularly demanding customer. She is willing to commiserate with the very same customer. Fortunately for both of us she has a good paying job with its own set of problems and I get a chance to "help" her out too.
*I wouldnt be where I am today with out my wife. My wife runs a plant. She has 50 people she is responsible for, and she does the owner a fine job.She has been my rock for business information and advice on office matters. She does all the taxes and pays all the bills.She can type faster than I can think.She is 50 percent of this business and it belongs to both of us. I wouldnt have it any other way. I buy repos. I look at every one that comes up for auction. I have her look at the ones I want to bid on. We have to both agree to buy. WE have rentals and she will fill in for me when she can; but normally it takes me to deal with renters. WE both share what happens to us every day,and she knows where Im at and what Im doing most of the time.She certainly knows what job Im on , and there is a lot of them that dont. Her name is Robbi and shes my rock.
*I wish I had that kinda support and help but mine isn't too bright (obviously as she married me)
*Steve, Oh, I've got support from mine. Shes reading the classified ads for me!!!Mike
*Steve as you know I feel your pain.
*When my wife and I first got married, she did not get involved in the business. It made life very hard on us because she did not understand the need for some of the tool purchases I made or how I priced jobs. This led to many arguments that should/could have been avoided. We moved to coastal Georgia in 1997 and she started taking an interest in the business. She began working with me in the field every day. While doing this she started understanding just how long each phase of a construction project can or should take, what tools would make things go better or faster, and the need to price jobs profitably instead of pricing to stay busy. Now she answers the phone and takes care of the office for me, goes to business meetings with me, and is the first one to suggest buying that new tool we need. My wife is definately half of our company and I know I am far better off for it.