Partners in Life and Business

Spouses enjoy benefits of working together as entrpreneurs

By Greta Weiderman
CIB Editor and staff writer

Just a few years ago, Scott and Michelle Henderson needed a change.

Scott was working long hours in retail for a big box store in Champaign and didn't enjoy the holiday season because he had virtually no time to spend with his children.

"When you have kids, you want to be able to enjoy the holidays, not hate them," Michelle said.

So when the Hendersons noticed that more retail space was being added to the Savoy Plaza, they decided to open a franchise - specifically an ice cream shop. They had visited a Marble Slab Creamery and some similar shops in Arizona and decided to open a Marble Slab Creamery because they liked the ice cream more than ice cream from similar franchises.

The Hendersons opened Marble Slab Creamery in the Savoy Plaza on Feb. 22, 2007.

The first year was hectic, but running the business together has been great for the couple's family life, Scott said.

"For us, it's been really good because we spent so many years not seeing each other very much," Michelle said. The two previously lived in Champaign and commuted to jobs outside the area, which cut down on family time.

Owning and managing the business together actually increased their family time.

"We're able to arrange our schedules so that we have time together," Michelle said. "We go hiking. He's the den leader for our son's Cub Scout troop."

Working together gives the Hendersons peace of mind.

"I honestly think that compared to a traditional partnership where your partner isn't your spouse, there's an inherent trust level where I know things will get done, and we know what to expect from each other," Scott said.

He said he and Michelle's skills complement each other well. They split up the duties. Scott hires employees, handles catering and orders the dairy products and flavorings for the ice cream, while Michelle takes care of the payroll and taxes, orders supplies, makes waffle cones and organizes the fundraisers the company offers.

The idea of working with your spouse might sound a little scary to some. But the couples interviewed for this story have found that their spouse's skills complement their own - which helps them create successful businesses. Working together also gives them more time together - which they cited as a benefit. And they're not alone. About 1.2 million husband-and-wife pairs own small businesses in the United States, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

Paul and Christine Breen, the owners of Techline in Champaign, aren't sure what it's like not to work with each other.

They have been working together in various jobs since shortly after they were married 30 years ago.

The couple purchased Techline in 2001. The company sells and installs the Techline brand of cabinets made in Waunakee, Wis. and custom designs spaces with the product.

They thought long and hard about how owning the business together would work.

"Before we went into this, we really did do some soul searching and discussing about this," Paul said. "It's not a casual endeavor."

Paul handles design and fabrication and Christine does accounting, book keeping and advertising. Both work with customers.

Because they each handle specific aspects of the business, they rarely butt heads, Paul said.

"Of course it has its moments, and we don't take any of this home with us," Paul said.

The Breens' advice to couples considering going into business together? "Have a division of labor," Paul said. "Use your strengths to your advantage to run the business."

Christine said controlling stress is important. "If you get stressed about something, you have to learn how to let it go and forgive and forget," she said.

Joe and Dawn Taylor, owners of Sleepy Creek Vineyards, starting growing grapes and building their winery together in 2002 when they were still dating.

Joe had owned a business in Rantoul and got into the entrepreneurial spirit again. About that time, he stumbled into the wine and grape industry and started making wine on his kitchen counter. "That was right around the time that we met," he said.

Joe purchased property and he and Dawn started planting grapes for their business in 2002. "I figured if she could plant 10 acres of grapes, she was a keeper," Joe said.

The Taylors were married in 2006 and opened the tasting room at Sleepy Creek Vineyards in 2007.

Dawn handles most of the accounting items and takes care of the tasting room at the winery, which is three and a half miles south of Oakwood, Ill. Joe is the winemaker and handles the marketing, creates the labels for the wine and interacts with the artists who display work at the winery. Dawn said Joe is the "visionary" while she handles some of the practical sides of the business.

The Taylors said they have strengths and weaknesses that make them compatible business partners. And overall, they love working together and appreciate the freedom of being their own boss.

"I think it's great," Joe said. "There's so many relationships where people don't see each other until 6 or 7 p.m. and then get to spend a half an hour together and go to bed."

Dawn said, "It's like working with your best friend and it's not like work. It's almost like it's a hobby that we get to do full time together."

The Taylors advised couples considering starting a business to discuss their roles first. "Define and talk about the roles you each want - and hopefully they're not the same thing," Joe said.

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