Working with María has been one of the most gratifying decisions we’ve made. We share a clear vision for the business and have discovered how our complementary strengths amplify our results. Some key benefits include:
Joint decision-making:
Being able to evaluate ideas together has helped us make more balanced, informed decisions. A study by Ruef et al. (2003) found that teams founded by people with close personal ties tend to have greater trust and more effective decision-making. Additionally, a 2024 KPMG report highlights that family businesses with strong internal collaboration tend to be more sustainable and profitable.Mutual support:
In difficult moments, having my partner as a co-founder has been invaluable. We motivate each other and remind ourselves why we started. Research published in Small Business Economics (2024) suggests that entrepreneurs with strong support networks—partners or family—are more likely to overcome critical moments. Fundación Microfinanzas BBVA (2024) also notes that sharing resources and talents as a couple can improve overall well-being.Understanding and trust:
Our fluent communication and deep understanding of each other help us resolve conflicts quickly. We also share clear goals that strengthen our commitment to the business.
The Challenges We’ve Overcome
Building a business as a couple also brings challenges. At first, it was difficult to separate personal life from work responsibilities. There were nights when business conversations took over our entire dinner.
To overcome this, we established clear boundaries: fixed working hours and sacred personal time. According to an article in Forbes Argentina (2023), running a business with your partner requires creating spaces for rest and disconnecting to avoid emotional burnout.
Another challenge was learning to delegate. As a small team, we initially felt we had to do everything ourselves. But as our client base grew, we began hiring external help, which allowed us to focus on our strengths.
Statistics and Trends
The trend of building businesses as couples is more common than people think. Ruef et al. (2003) found that 43% of founding teams in the United States are formed by people with personal or family ties. A more recent study in Small Business Economics shows that businesses run by couples have a higher survival rate during the first five years compared to other types of companies.
In Spain, family businesses represent 90% of the business ecosystem, though more than 70% do not survive into the second generation (Cinco Días, 2025). This highlights the importance of professionalizing operations. In Mexico, 45% of companies are family-owned, reflecting the relevance of this model in both the economy and local culture (Finanzas en Tacones, 2024).
In our case, the data reflects our experience. In 2023, we increased our revenue by 60% compared to the previous year—thanks to teamwork, well-executed digital strategies, and the mutual support that helps us face challenges with confidence.
Final Reflections
Since founding 008 Digital Services, we’ve learned that starting a business as a couple is not only a professional project—it’s also a journey of self-discovery and relationship growth. Despite the challenges, working together has taught us resilience, trust in our capabilities, and the joy of celebrating every achievement as a team.
I want to encourage other couples considering starting a business together to take the leap. With clear communication, defined roles, and a healthy balance between personal and professional life, it’s possible to build something meaningful and long-lasting.
References
Ruef, M., Aldrich, H. E., & Carter, N. M. (2003). The Structure of Founding Teams: Homophily, Strong Ties, and Isolation among U.S. Entrepreneurs. American Sociological Review, 68(2), 195–222.
https://doi.org/10.2307/1519765
Small Business Economics. (2024). Dynamics of Family and Couple Entrepreneurship.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11187-024-00873-8
Forbes Argentina. (2023). Los pros y contras de gestionar un negocio con tu pareja.
https://www.forbesargentina.com/liderazgo/los-pros-contras-gestionar-negocio-tu-pareja-n50133
Fundación Microfinanzas BBVA. (2024). Emprender en pareja: ¿Más pros que contras?
https://www.fundacionmicrofinanzasbbva.org/emprender-en-pareja-mas-pros-que-contras/
KPMG. (2024). El legado como guía para el crecimiento de las empresas familiares.
https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/es/pdf/2024/07/informe-global-empresa-familiar.pdf
Cinco Días. (2025). Profesionalizar la empresa familiar es mucho más que poner orden.
https://cincodias.elpais.com/fortunas/2025-01-18/profesionalizar-la-empresa-familiar-es-mucho-mas-que-poner-orden
Finanzas en Tacones. (2024). Emprender en pareja, ¿qué tan factible es?
https://www.finanzasentacones.com.mx/que-tan-factible-es-emprender-en-pareja/