Marriage & Business: A Perfect Match for Small Business Owners

Manta, the largest online community dedicated entirely to small business, has revealed findings from a new study that shows small business owners are mixing business with pleasure. The survey of more than 1,100 small business owners shows one in four works with their significant other, and nearly 60% say they would recommend it. In fact, one-third of those polled say their family life and relationships have actually improved as a result of owning their business.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t extended into the bedroom. SMBs rank their sex life last in the areas of their life that have gotten better, with business saying their business and personal relationships are of higher importance. While small business owners’ sex life may be taking a hit, their personal relationships are thriving. Sixty percent of the small business owners polled are married: nearly 10% higher than the national average. Moreover, SMBs keep their relationships high on their list of priorities: 87% value their personal relationships as much or more than their business, and an overwhelming majority (80%) rank friends and family as the most important part of their life (above their business). Coincidentally, couples who own a small business together say they argue most about work/life balance even more so than money, employee issues, and hiring.

Full survey results