Top business and career coaches from Forbes Coaches Council offer firsthand insights on leadership development & careers.

It’s not uncommon to see couples decide to go into business together. The close relationship, shared goals and unwavering support they have together often make entrepreneurship seem like a natural fit. After all, you’re partners in life — why not be partners in business?

But, some couples learn the hard way that building and running a company with your significant other isn’t always a good idea. The long hours and lack of work-life boundaries present some significant challenges for “couple-preneurs,” and both parties need to be fully committed to working on both their business and their relationship full-time to keep both afloat.

We asked nine members of Forbes Coaches Council about the biggest struggles they’ve seen couples face as they go into business together and how to overcome those challenges for a successful personal and professional partnership.

1. Discuss And Establish Operating Norms

Explore each other’s values, assumptions, strengths and needs. Document and agree to some clear operating norms that define how you will honor the other person’s needs, and clear up assumptions. Clarify how you will make decisions, and talk about guiding principles for your business and how that relates to the future you see for both your business and your relationship. – Amy Douglas, Spark Coaching, LLC

2. Get Your Legal Issues And Business Contracts In Place

It’s important to make sure that all legal and contractual measures are in place before any business partnership takes place, even in a marriage or intimate relationship. It allows the business to have a solid foundation independent of your personal relationship. No matter what part of the relationship may turn sour, your business interests are protected, and a plan is in place to move forward. – Niya Allen-Vatel, NCRW, CCTC, CCM, Career Global

3. Clearly Define Your Roles And Responsibilities

The biggest challenge I’ve seen is the clear line between who is ultimately the boss. Someone needs to make the final call, and that needs to be determined in advance for different situations. Otherwise, roadblocks become impassable. I find that clearly defining roles and responsibilities in the partnership, and respecting those, can be a huge step to having success. – Tyron Giuliani, Selling Made Social

4. Set Aside Time For Non-Work Activities

Couple-preneurs often spend far more time together than average couples. To avoid relationship burnout, try not working in the same space. If that’s not possible, make sure your roles are clearly defined and separate so, your roles don’t collide and you complement one another. Make a designated date night on a regular basis where you don’t discuss work and enjoy a shared hobby or nice meal out. – Beth Kuhel, Get Hired, LLC

5. Plan For Time Away From Work And Each Other

Successful couple-preneurs separate work and home life. They define clear boundaries around their personal time. They disconnect from business issues and business talk at the end of the workday. They invest in their relationship by planning fun activities. They also have lives apart from each other, spending time with their individual friends. – Frances McIntosh, Intentional Coaching LLC

6. Hire An Objective Advisor

Couple-preneurs know each other’s triggers extremely well, which either leads them to avoid difficult conversations or have too many of them, which can strain their relationship. Engage an objective third party who can draw up an explicit “co-head” agreement from the start and can enforce a quarterly cadence of check-ins to address difficult issues and gauge progress against priorities. – Shoma Chatterjee, ghSMART

7. Define The Lines You Won’t Cross With Each Other

Mixing personal and business relationships can work an amazing magic for couples. It can also be a tremendous line-blurring and stressful existence. Those who make it work seem to find lines they don’t cross and respect those as they get busy, deal with challenges and grow. Those that don’t have lines, like rules for fighting or when they shut off, face more serious challenges, burnout and stress. – John M. O’Connor, Career Pro Inc.

8. Stay Conscious Of Your Individual Happiness

When priorities intersect in every aspect of daily life, it’s important to be cognizant of individuality and how that impacts personal happiness levels. In a world full of stressors, don’t ignore what drives you and makes you tick. Feed your inner creativity through personal passion projects or hobbies that strengthen your individualism. Measure, access and address your level of happiness first. – Rachel Lourdes Mestre, Marketing Muses

9. Accept The Reality That The Personal And Professional Will Collide

Before long, couples lose sight of what is work and what is personal. My best piece of advice, besides visiting roles and expectations monthly, is to hire an external adviser to keep everyone honest and professional. The reality is that couple-preneurs always mix personal and professional relationships. Don’t fool yourself; it’s sensitive and challenging. – Rubi Ho, The Rubi Ho Group

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