He Said, She Said: Experts Sound Off on Mixing Business and Marriage

A Pro “The power of having someone I can trust and talk to openly about business decisions is the most valuable part of working with my husband,” said Susan Karakasevic, co-owner of the Charbay Winery in Napa Valley.

A Con “When a spouse works in a business, I’ve found it very common for it to cause a lot of tension with the rest of the team,” said Lyons-Chavis, who runs a company in Tampa that offers specialized training to employees in entrepreneurial companies. “It’s hard to draw boundaries, and the rules often don’t apply to the spouse.”

The Bright Side "We made the mistake of ending the marriage, instead of just ending the working relationship. Seven years later, we remarried,” said Barry Cohen, who owns a media communications company in Clifton, N.J.

The Not-so-Bright Side “If you've never resolved the issue of which one of you is the boss at work, get ready for all out war at home,” said workplace consultant Eve Tahmincioglu.

The Price “If your business fails and your marriage fails, the cost is too high,” said Dwight Bain, an Orlando-based small business consultant.