Unlimited Partnership

Why are more and more couples risking romance to launch a business together? How do the successful ones make it work? Five couples - and one ex-couple - share their stories and strategies.

Anamaria Schelling and Carol Peabody
Spend time apart
Anamaria Schelling and Carol Peabody
Hacienda D'Mexico
Tucson

Anamaria Schelling and Carol Peabody knew from the beginning that they were for each other, and they've weathered many ups and downs since they met in 1987. But they had no idea how tough things could get until, in 1998, they launched their Tucson-based furniture shop, Hacienda D'Mexico.

Respecting each other's individual strengths and expertise is key to their successful partnership. That, and working different schedules: Peabody takes Fridays off. Schelling takes Thursdays off, and they alternate mornings and afternoons - so both can be as hands-on (or hands-off) as they like.

The store has profited despite and because of their differences. "When a customer came in the first week we opened and bought $30,000 worth of inventory, we knew we were going to make it," says Schelling.

Last updated January 10 2008: 10:16 AM ET

Divide and conquer

No shop talk at dinner

Spend time apart

Get professional help

The trust factor

After the breakup

Quiz
After selling a successful online startup, a San Francisco couple create a haven for children. (more)
A Florida couple mill beautiful lumber out of logs they salvage from the South's river bottoms. (more)
An animal-loving husband and wife team watch as online sales grow. (more)

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.