Battle or bliss?

Sure, you love your significant other...but do you have what it takes to successfully work side-by-side with one another in a home-based business?

As the popularity of home-based business grows, many spouses (including myself!) find themselves working together either in joint or separate home-based ventures. Is this a sure-fire road to divorce court, or a dream team mini corporation?

Like any other business venture, the key is in planning and having realistic expectations. This article will cover the home-based co-working environment, using examples of both joint ventures (spouses running the same business together) and separate ventures (spouses running individual businesses, but both working from home.) Many of these tips will also apply to other family business relations: parents and children, siblings, even close friends.

Before you start: Assuming you have already done your due diligence and are confident your business concept will be successful, it's time to make an honest appraisal of your personal relationship with your spouse. At the very minimum there must be an existing relationship based on mutual respect and tolerance. It also helps if you have a similar work ethic. You must be able to "agree to disagree," and respect one another's boundaries. It also helps if you have the ability to mentally separate your personal relationship from your work relationship.

Give each other space: While it's always ideal to have designated work space for a home-based business venture, co-working with a spouse makes this an even greater necessity. Not only should you have workspace that is separate from living space, but that is also separate from one another. Even if all you do is hang a curtain between two desks in a spare bedroom, this delineation of personal space gives each person his or her own "area" in which to work.

Set basic office rules: Just like in any work environment, it's important that co-workers don't infringe on one another. Develop a set of rules governing basic things such as acceptable noise levels (music or TV), general working hours, use and maintenance of office equipment and office upkeep.

If you work together, play off one another's strengths: If you and your spouse are co-running the same business, take advantage of one another's strengths. Perhaps one of you is better at customer service, or has exceptional computer skills. Outline the specifics of your everyday work life and divide responsibilities based on who is best equipped to handle them.

Set joint goals: Just like any partnership, if one partner feels he or she is pulling more weight than the other, problems can arise. It's vital to both your personal and your work relationship, that you create an open and honest line of communication and set clear goals you are both capable of meeting. Set aside time for daily or weekly meetings to touch on projects, goals and timelines to ensure you're both on the same page.

Fight fair: Always keep home and work separate when it comes to resolving disputes. If you need to have a discussion with your spouse/partner about why a deadline wasn't met or why an order shipped late, focus on the specifics of that incident. Don't bring up the fact that the garbage wasn't put out again and that the shower head is still leaking even though you asked five times to get it fixed.

Even if you and your spouse operate separate ventures, there's still going to be overlap in the use of your home office space. Some things to be aware of:

* Just because you've finished your work early one day doesn't mean your spouse has finished his or her work. Consider this before you invite friends over, turn up the TV or make plans for an early dinner out.

* Consider setting office hours during which each of you can work undisturbed.

* Be respectful about use of shared office items office supplies, equipment, etc.

* Be a sounding board. Running a small business can be stressful, and it's helpful to have a sympathetic ear to turn to when times get tough.

Dave Archer, is chief executive officer of Nevada's Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, a nonprofit that connects Nevadans to the resources they need to start and grow successful businesses. Contact him through www.NCET.org.