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Spousal Startups: Industries with Co-Owned Firms (2022)



By: Jack Nicholaisen author image
Business Initiative

💕 Power Couples in Business: Where Spouses Start Companies Together

When love meets entrepreneurship, amazing things happen. Our analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey reveals where married couples are building businesses together—and which industries offer the best opportunities for spousal partnerships.

🏆 Top Industries for Spousal Co-Ownership

Leading Sector: Professional Services dominates spousal startups with 2,537,216 co-owned firms, proving that couples can successfully combine personal partnerships with professional ventures.

Total Impact: In 2022, 17,841,263 spousal co-owned businesses employed 409,504,687 people and generated $149,966,208,944 in revenue.

💰 Average Revenue per Spousal Firm

Performance Insight: While Professional Services has the most spousal firms, other sectors show varying per-firm revenue performance, suggesting different strategies for spousal business success.

👥 Employment in Spousal Businesses

Job Creation: Spousal businesses aren’t just mom-and-pop shops—they’re significant job creators across multiple industries.

🔍 What This Means for Couples

Why Spousal Businesses Succeed

  1. Shared Vision: Couples often have aligned goals and values
  2. Complementary Skills: Different strengths can cover all business areas
  3. Built-in Trust: Existing relationship foundation reduces partnership risks
  4. 24/7 Commitment: Business discussions happen naturally at home

Top Industries for Spousal Success

  • Professional Services: 2,537,216 firms (leading sector)
  • Service-Based: Lower startup costs, relationship-focused
  • Retail & Hospitality: Customer service benefits from couple dynamics
  • Professional Services: Leveraging combined expertise

Success Strategies for Spousal Startups

  1. Define Roles Clearly: Who does what, when, and how
  2. Set Boundaries: Separate business time from personal time
  3. Leverage Strengths: Use each partner’s unique skills
  4. Plan for Challenges: What happens if the business or relationship changes
  5. Get Professional Help: Legal and financial advice for spousal partnerships

🚀 Ready to Start Your Spousal Business?

Building a business with your spouse can be incredibly rewarding—both personally and financially. The data shows that thousands of couples are already succeeding across diverse industries.

Take the First Step:

Key Takeaways

  1. Professional Services leads with 2,537,216 spousal co-owned firms
  2. Diverse opportunities exist across 10 major industries
  3. Significant job creation: 409,504,687 employees in spousal businesses
  4. Strong revenue generation: $149,966,208,944 combined annual revenue
  5. Growth potential: Strong foundation for future growth

Bottom Line: Love and business can mix successfully—the data proves it. Whether you’re in professional services, retail, or any other sector, spousal partnerships offer unique advantages for entrepreneurial couples.


Source: U.S. Census Bureau Annual Business Survey (ABS) - Characteristics of Businesses 2022
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About the Author

jack nicholaisen
Jack Nicholaisen

Jack Nicholaisen is the founder of Businessinitiative.org. After acheiving the rank of Eagle Scout and studying Civil Engineering at Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), he has spent the last 4 years disecting the mess of informaiton online about LLCs in order to help aspiring entrepreneurs and established business owners better understand everything there is to know about starting, running, and growing Limited Liability Companies and other business entities.