Sometimes siblings are part of your life from the start, while other times they come along and stay forever. Having a sibling is a unique and special bond. For some business owners, turning this relationship into a business partnership has been a key to success. However, anyone with siblings knows that working together can bring about arguments, negotiations, and personal challenges.
Four sibling pairs have been successfully running franchises together for years. From bathroom remodeling to math tutoring, sporting goods resale to a chicken salad restaurant, these sibling business owners highlight the benefits of working with family. Here are their top tips for turning a lifelong relationship into a strong business partnership.
Know When It’s Work, and When It’s Play
Levi and Jordan Wood, along with their brother-in-law Eric Barker, have been running their Re-Bath franchise since 2016. Their relationship has been tested, but working with family is nothing new for them. As kids, their dad would take them to job sites, teaching them to see each other as co-workers, not just brothers. This mindset has helped them succeed, knowing when to focus on business and when to relax. Working with a sibling means dealing with something more sacred than just a business partner: family. This foundation, if nurtured, can lead to success. Since their dad opened the Re-Bath in 2000, they’ve expanded to a warehouse five times larger to meet growing demand across 23 counties.
Find a Balance of Power
Krista Rhymes and Ashley Keever, franchisees of Chicken Salad Chick in Louisiana, use their individual strengths to their advantage. Krista is business-minded, while Ashley is creative. They support each other, sharing the workload and valuing each other’s opinions. Their advice for working with a sibling is to maintain a balance of power. They act like bookends, holding the business together and supporting each other. Along with their business partner Matthew Miller, they were named 2020 Owners of the Year and IFA 2021 Franchisee of the Year. Their success is reflected in the quality of their product and the support they provide to employees across their three stores.
Play to Each Other’s Strengths
Mike Thoman and Nicole LaFountain opened their Play It Again Sports in Waterford, CT, earlier this year. They adopted a "divide and conquer" approach, assigning tasks based on their strengths. Mike’s background in network engineering helps streamline solutions, while Nicole, with two kids in sports, manages inventory, community events, and social media. Opening a business is challenging, but they motivate each other when needed. Honest communication is key, and knowing each other well is an advantage. Since opening, they’ve enjoyed seeing customers return and refer friends, making their business a part of the community.
Be Complementary Parts of a Whole
Charles and Julia Fung run Mathnasium centers in Hillsborough and Plainsboro. Running a business involves more than just numbers; it’s about the people who run it. They complement each other’s skills, with Julia focusing on the big picture and Charles on details. Their different approaches create a dynamic environment. Their deep trust, built over a lifetime, allows them to appreciate each other’s goals and methods. Growing up together means they share a unique understanding. Their entrepreneurial spirit follows a family tradition, as they are the grandchildren of a self-made man whose business recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.
