1. Meet together each week to plan and discuss the upcoming week.  We make a list of which emails we will each send, which partners we will contact, which website changes we will make and so forth.  We usually meet right before lunch on Mondays.  It is important to have a standing meeting or it is easy to forget to meet together.

2. Delegate responsibilities and write them down. This way you know who is responsible for what task, duties, promotions, emails, etc.  We are in the process of hanging a huge, blank, white board on one office wall (in our home).  We will have a column for each of us, as well as our office assistants.  We will also have a huge calendar to mark our upcoming promotions, events, etc. 

3. Keep a big calendar of business and family appointments. It is a good idea to use different colors for different family members.  A family business gives you the freedom to attend daytime events for your kids and work business appointments around them.

4. Identify and play to your strengths.  Hire someone to do office work that keeps you and your spouse away from what you enjoy and what makes you money.  Be specific which of you your employees work for, their priorities, and which spouse they report to.

5. Have an open discussion before you start your business. This should center around who will help with home and family responsibilities.  Who takes kids to practices?  Who picks them up from school?  Who cooks meals?  Who cleans house?  Be sure to discuss these things ahead of time and follow through. 

6. Have a good idea of what each of you brings to table. This is in case one of you needs to step away from the business at some point.  Think about how much you might have to pay someone to take your place for a time.  This is especially true during and after pregnancy or if family matters take you away from the business for an extended time period.

A little extra planning goes a long way at making your home business run more smoothly.  Good planning will make life easier for the whole family.

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about Stephen Beck
Stephen Beck teaches families how to start a real home business working with your spouse. Go grab Stephen's 3 free videos at http://www.8weekstoprofits.com so families can begin today.

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