Have you and your friends ever had a great idea for a business, but felt like you didn’t know where to start? Or even had others dissuading you from starting a business with a friend? We’ve been there.

We’re two best friends who had a passion for beauty, a mutual respect for one another, and a dream to open our practice.

It’s been a little over a year since we opened our own medical spa, New England Skin Center, and we couldn’t be happier with our decision to open a business together.

Not only have we seen great success, but we’ve also formed meaningful relationships with our clients and deepened our friendship together. 

As fellow women, business owners and BFFs, we’re here to give you some of our do’s and don’ts when it comes to starting a business with a friend, in case it can encourage you to jump in and go for it too!

DO make sure you share the same work ethic and values with your partner. Being friends usually means you share similar values already, but you want to also feel confident that you are aligned professionally. Discuss your vision and passion for the business.

Why do you want to do this as individuals? Why do you want to do it together? By starting your business with a mutual respect and love for one another, you’ll set a foundation of trust and collaboration. 

DON’T hold anything in. It’s crucial, especially in the early stages of opening your business, to be honest and open with your partner. If you have an idea, speak up! If something doesn’t sit right in your gut, say it!

It’s crucial that you make your intentions and feelings known at every point in the business journey together, or else silent grudges can form that break the bonds of trust and transparency. We stay in constant communication to ensure total transparency and collaboration.

DO maintain love and respect for one another. We are now responsible for each other as co-owners and that is a responsibility neither one of us takes lightly. The more we work with each other, the more our respect for one another grows.

Our trust in one another is so deep that we have culminated a work environment that is peaceful and loving for our clients and colleagues. The energy of our practice is one of acceptance, tolerance, and openness.

We have created a safe space where we are empowered to create beauty and grow without judgment. 

DON’T micromanage each other. When conflicts arise, we sit down and communicate with maturity and respect. Because we went into this with such a shared vision and the same work values, we don’t formally divide tasks.

We trust one another enough that when things arise, we communicate openly and handle them as needed. We don’t feel the need to micromanage because we know we both have the same passion for our business.

DO balance one another out. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, Every aspect of our business is 50/50.  We are in constant communication regarding the growth and direction of our business.

The vision we have for our practice is a shared one, and because of that, it allows us flexibility and freedom to make decisions independently of each other. 

DON’T forget to laugh along the way. After all, you’re friends before you are business partners! We find moments every day to share our joys and wins. Some people have asked us if it’s challenging to spend so much time together–it’s just the opposite.

We love coming to work with people we love to do a craft that we are passionate about. Don’t let your business owner ‘hat’ overtake your BFF ‘hat’. It’s truly a beautiful thing to work with your best friend. Now go out there and go for it!

Starting a business with a friend requires some extra steps, but is absolutely possible.

Christine McMackin and Tobi Baker-Daigle Bios

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