Are you and your spouse entrepreneurially minded and ready to take on the business world? If so, there’s a lot of potential for success when you double your passion, skills, and resources. Luckily, the best business ideas for couples are accessible regardless of your budget or expertise.
My significant other and I have spent the past seven years testing and experimenting with various income streams. Some were successful, some not so much. This list champions our best results alongside great business ideas from other high-performing entrepreneurial couples.
From shared side hustles to full-time ventures, here are 10 great business ideas for couples to explore.
Online Business Ideas for Couples
It’s easy to get started with online businesses, making them the perfect option for couples looking to dip their toes into entrepreneurship together. Here are five ideas to consider:
1. Start a Blog Together
I’m sure there’s something you and your partner share in common. It may be something simple, like a love for cooking, or more complex, such as investment strategies. One of the best ways to share your passion with others is by starting a blog. Not just any blog, but one that offers valuable content to your audience while making money in the process.
When starting a blog from a business perspective, consider the following:
- Choose a specific niche that you and your partner are passionate about.
- Conduct keyword research with a tool like Keysearch to identify popular topics and improve your chances of ranking on search engines.
- Create high-quality content consistently to build a loyal following.
Your blog can generate income through various means, such as affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and advertising.
We invested in the Authority Site System, a comprehensive course that taught us how to build and monetize successful blogs, and it has paid off in the long run.
Building a profitable blog takes time; you must invest in blogging skills and SEO tools. You can also consider dividing tasks such as content creation and promotion to utilize each other’s strengths.
2. Become a VA Team
Embarking on an online business as a VA team presents a great business venture for couples looking to leverage their complementary skills. With your unique skill sets, you can cover more territory with your clients.
For example, my partner always steps in when something sticky happens with a site or database as the “IT” half of our VA team. This frees me up to create content and perform research for the same client. Take some time to determine what each of you brings to the table to curate your offerings and develop a VA brand.
Here are some of the most sought-after skills offered by VAs:
- Task management
- Scheduling appointments
- Content creation
- Digital marketing
- Website design and development
- Bookkeeping
- Research
- Data entry
- Email management
Starting on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or Task Rabbit can help you gain experience. There are plenty of virtual assistant jobs for beginners to help build your portfolio. You can also join Facebook groups and LinkedIn communities dedicated to virtual assistants to network and find clients.
3. Start an Online Store
If you and your partner are creatives, you may have a digital or physical product to sell online. This could range from developing apps to designing t-shirts or selling digital art prints. The sky is truly the limit, and plenty of great programs and organizations can help you get started.
For those looking for an ultra-affordable option for selling merch, print-on-demand (POD) services like Printful and Printify allow you to design products and have them shipped directly to your customers. You don’t even need to carry inventory or worry about shipping logistics, as these services have an entire workflow.
Working with POD companies is by far the most affordable way to get started if you sell physical products. My partner and I have had a print-on-demand store for five years and haven’t paid a single dollar upfront in that time. The process is
We pay for products after a customer has placed an order and let the auto-fulfillment process take care of everything else.
If you prefer a more hands-on approach, platforms like Etsy and Shopify provide easy-to-use e-commerce tools for selling handmade or unique items and shipping discounts to help sellers minimize expenses.
Even couples without a product to sell can invest in dropshipping, where you market and sell products from a third-party supplier without ever handling the inventory. While this method may require some investment, it can be a lucrative and low-risk option for couples unsure of what to sell.
4. Establish a Social Media Management Business
Starting a Social media management business is a brilliant couple business idea, especially when leveraging programs like SocialPilot or Social Ninja. This venture taps into the high demand from businesses in various industries needing robust online presence management.
Here are a few common tasks and types of clients a social media management agency handles:
- Managing (posting, commenting on, or sharing) social media posts for busy professionals in the coffee industry
- Researching trends and marketing ideas for fitness associations or personal trainers
- Promoting subscription businesses, t-shirt brands, or influencers by creating quizzes or surveys
This two-person team approach provides diverse services, from basic account management to comprehensive marketing strategies. You can take on different engagement shifts, split up specific duties, or even designate a person to work on specific channels.
Offering free services initially can help build a portfolio and attract other businesses seeking social media expertise. As the business grows, you can consider hiring additional staff or outsourcing tasks for a more streamlined workload.
5. Launch a YouTube Channel
Many entrepreneurs have succeeded with YouTube channels, and couples are no exception. This can be a great way to share your expertise or passions with the world and build a loyal following.
A few great ideas for YouTube channels for couples include:
- Travel vlogs and tips for budget-friendly adventures
- Cooking or recipe videos featuring your favorite meals to make together
- DIY tutorials and projects for home renovations or decor
- Fitness and wellness tips as a couple team, showcasing workouts and healthy living habits
Are you and your significant other camera-shy? No problem. Even couples can create a faceless YouTube channel with animated videos, voiceovers, or a focus on showcasing products or services rather than themselves.
YouTube channels can earn income through advertising revenue, brand sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and merchandise sales. Plus, generating content ideas and sharing the workload can be easier with two people involved.
What exactly does the workload entail to make money on YouTube?
In a nutshell, you’ll need to create and upload regular, high-quality videos, engage with your audience through comments and social media, and optimize your content for search engines. Programs like TubeBuddy can help you with keyword research and channel optimization.
Offline Business Ideas for Couples
While online businesses may be the trend right now, there’s still plenty of room for success in traditional businesses. Here are a few flexible options that are easy for new entrepreneur couples to get started with:
6. Offer Petsitting Services
Petsitting is a great idea for making extra income, especially for couples who work from home. You’re likely qualified if you and your partner can cover the basic needs of dog walking, feeding, playing with pets, or house-sitting while owners are on vacation. If not, you can help neighbors, friends, and family members out to start gathering experience.
To get started, create a profile on platforms like Rover or Care.com to reach pet owners in your area. You can also network through local Facebook groups or advertise your services through word-of-mouth.
Petsitting services typically range from $30 to $100 a day, and you can offer them in your home or travel to the pet.
While hosting pets in your home may be more convenient, it can be more exciting to travel to others’ homes.
We’ve felt like we are on a retreat, staying in beautiful homes, and have used these environments to focus deeply on our other business ventures.
This opportunity is best stacked with other income streams. But if you and your significant other want to go all in with sitting, you can start your own professional pet-sitting business and hire contractors or employees as your client list grows.
7. Embrace Delivery Services
Delivering food and products to people is a great business idea for couples who want to work offline, but don’t want to work at one dedicated location. From delivering packages to groceries to food. there are plenty of great companies to get started with.
If you don’t mind splitting the profits with your loved one, you could share a car with your partner and deliver items together. It’s a great way to make an otherwise solitary job feel more fun, make the time fly, and you can share driving responsibilities.
Some great apps to get started with are Uber Eats, Instacart, or Amazon Flex. Depending on your area and availability, you can also look into local delivery services, such as Postmates or Grubhub.
8. Start an Airbnb
Converting your home (or a portion of it) into an Airbnb is an excellent venture for couples looking to enter the hospitality industry as a two-person team. This business idea allows for flexibility and creativity in how you host, with responsibilities ranging from managing bookings to ensuring guest satisfaction and maintaining the property.
Setup options include:
- Renting a room in your home is perfect for those wanting to start small.
- Setting up a unique campsite on your property for adventurous travelers.
- Renting out a coach house offers guests privacy and a unique experience.
- Creating a rentable unit out of an RV or camper van for a rustic stay.
- Renting your entire house while traveling, maximizing earnings.
- Purchasing multiple properties and hiring a property manager for passive, scalable income.
- Using a home you don’t own by negotiating with an owner, known as Airbnb arbitrage.
My partner and I found a creative way to maximize our income by combining this with dogsitting. Whenever we secured a dogsitting job, we rented our home on Airbnb. This strategy allowed us to earn from both ventures simultaneously, showcasing the potential for successful businesses when couples collaborate effectively.
Not only did it contribute to our business growth, but it also maintained a balance between our professional commitments and personal life. Talk with your partner about how you could also “stack” opportunities to finish more in less time.
9. Form a Catering Business
Are you and your significant other always in the kitchen? If so, why not turn your culinary skills into a profitable catering business? It’s one of the best business ideas for couples who love hospitality, have a lot of energy, and a dash of creativity.
With more people choosing to outsource cooking for special events, couples with a knack for creating delicious dishes have ample opportunity. You can embrace a delivery service model, cater events in person, or part
To get started, both business partners need to:
- Determine your niche (i.e., types of cuisine, dietary restrictions, event size).
- Obtain any necessary food retail business licenses and permits for food handling.
- Decide if your catering company is also a meal delivery service business.
- Create a menu, pricing structure, and designate working hours that provide a work-life balance.
- Advertise your services through social media, word-of-mouth, or partnering with local event planners.
By working together in the kitchen, you can potentially cut down on preparation time and provide a more personalized experience for clients. But if only one of you likes to cook, that may work even better. The second person can handle business aspects like marketing, advertising, and bookkeeping.
10. Become Personal Trainers
Do you spend a lot of time working out with your significant other? Look no further than the fitness business world, where you can make a significant impact together. Inspired by the success story of Alex and Leila Hormozi, who transformed their passion into a powerhouse within the fitness industry, couples everywhere can take note.
While the Hormozis reached impressive heights, their blueprint for success—leveraging each other’s strengths in a united front—can guide even those aiming for a more modestly scaled fitness business.
Here’s a concise business plan to follow to get started:
- Pinpoint Your Fitness Angle: Decide together on your unique approach to fitness, whether it’s holistic health, strength training, or another area you’re both passionate about.
- Secure Certifications: Credibility is key. Both partners should get certified as personal trainers, with additional niche market specializations to enhance your offerings.
- Craft Your Story: Use your journey as a couple to shape your brand. A strong online presence and sharing your philosophy can draw people to your business. Show how your collaboration enhances your service.
- Grow Wisely: Start by offering sessions locally. As your reputation grows, consider online coaching or a small studio to begin accepting clients.
- Prioritize Client Achievements: Your business’s success is tied to your client’s success. Tailor your training to their needs and celebrate their progress for a loyal clientele.
This approach allows couples to build a rewarding business in personal training and can work for just one client or a whole roster. Aim for success by combining your strengths, staying dedicated to your shared vision, and impacting lives through fitness.
Final Thoughts: 10 Great Business Ideas for Couples
Some people say it isn’t easy to work together as a couple. But over the years. I’ve found that working with my partner has always amplified my results and profits, no matter how challenging.
And let’s be honest; it’s just plain old fun to have someone to celebrate the wins with and cheer you on when the going gets tough.
So, instead of debating if you should collaborate with your partner, consider asking a much more interesting question: how could we benefit from working together? Tackle one of these business ideas for couples, or brainstorm your own and see where it takes you.
