I’m Gus. I’m the Scherer ‘mascot’ if you like. You know, of Ask Gus, He Knows fame? And while I’m really just an amalgamated character, I’m hoping we can be friends. And by friends I mean, I hope you’ll read my blog posts and be in awe of my answers.

Today, I got the following question from Jodi Womack of The Womack Company.

How many US businesses are owned by married couples?

Gracias!!!!

(see how polite Jodi is?)
Well, we checked it out and voila!

Back in 2006, the Indy Star wrote:

“Copreneurs,” as they’re called, are a rapidly growing segment of business partnerships. The number of husband-wife companies has more than tripled since 1990, topping 3.6 million, according to the U.S. Census. Glenn Muske, co-author of a 2002 study titled “Copreneurs as Family Businesses,” believes the number of copreneur firms is “greatly underestimated.” He said couples are leaving corporate jobs and opening businesses, but for reasons beyond the bottom line.

This (even older) article from Inc. How To Work (If You Must) With Your Spouse writes:

Though there are no accurate statistics about what happens when spouses try to run a business together, expert estimates are grim: “Only 5% of couples can make all-in partnership work,” says Azriela Jaffe, a frequent reporter on the phenomenon of entrepreneurial couples and author of Permission to Prosper: What Working Wives Crave From Their Husbands, and How to Get It. (”All-in” co-ownership is tougher than a partnership in which one spouse is a subordinate who’s helping out.)

We may need to wait for the next Economic Census for an update, but I’d go with 3.6 million for now! So Jodi, you are not alone!