Getting Your Husband to Support Your Work-At-Home Goal

Adapted Excerpt from The Work-At-Home Success Bible.

I’ve been providing work-at-home information and support for a long time. I’ve talked to a lot of women who were gung-ho about working at home one day, and then after a discussion with their husbands are content to commute and send the kids to day care. What happened?

What baffles me is not so much that the husband talked them out of it but that if the husband was going to be part of the decision, why wasn’t he brought in earlier? I have this impression that women are telling their husbands, “I want to work at home.” And the husbands are saying “Yes, dear.” But when she finally takes the step, and reality hits, husbands pull back. “Whoa! Where are you going to find the time?”, “What if you fail?”, “What is this thing you sent our hard earned money to?” (I should add here that I know this happens to husbands too who’d like to start a home business.)

Odds are the questions the husband raised were answered when the wife was researching, but I bet that her spouse didn’t visit a single website or read a single email when he expressed his opinion. And faced with a questioning spouse, she now has to explain her choices and maybe begins to second guess herself.

If your spouse has influence over your decision about working at home, then bringing him into the mix early on will be key to your success. Its hard enough to build a business without having a spouse who isn’t supportive.

Here are some ideas to help get your spouse on your side:

1) In most cases, it is very important to have your spouse read all the materials you read, listen to any recordings or calls, and talk to those you talk to as well. That way he/she can get the same information you do without your trying to explain it and missing something. Any questions or concerns can be raised and explored together. If he/she is resistant in participating in the research and evaluation process, then let him know that he will need to trust that you can make a good decision and support whatever decision you make. How can your spouse influence your decision when he doesn’t have all the information that you have?

2) All successful businesses have a business plan that outlines financial aspects. How will the business be funded and maintained? Many spouses worry that the family will fall into poverty if you quit to work at home. Therefore, make a plan to show that you won’t let the family finances suffer. Will you work your business around your job? Will work to live six months on one salary saving the second income to be used to start the business and live on until the business is successful?

3) Make a plan that shows how you are going to fit your business in with what you already do and how it will benefit the family in the long run. Let your spouse help with goals and even reap some of the rewards. My husband put the kids to bed (baths, lunches for school etc) so I can work because he would like a new car and a trip to Mexico this Christmas.

4) Plan for household management. Because I am home, I usually make dinner and take care of things that need to be done such as scheduling repairs. But I do work so my husband and children help with household chores as well.

5) Make a schedule so you have clear work and non-work hours I work a lot in the evening but I don’t work 3:30 pm to 7 pm; this is family time. I tuck my kids in at 8:30 pm and sometimes I work some more. But at 10 pm, I’m off for needed down time and hubby time.

6) Finally, let your spouse know working at home is important to you…if it is. Often home businesses, especially those run by moms, are seen as little mommy hobbies. And its okay if it is just a hobby. But if you are looking to make this your “career” or if its important to you, you need to convey that to your family.

If your spouse is holding you back, take a good look at why. It may be that one of the suggestions above will help him understand what it is you are trying to accomplish and how. But if its an effort to keep hold you back, then sometimes the only way to get
through to them is through success. Show them that you believe in yourself and your goal. Make a believer out of him by succeeding in your home business.