Hi, we’re Katie and Eric Roering; the founders of Fontana Candle Co. In 4 years we took our hobby of making candles in our basement, and selling them at craft shows and makers markets and we turned Fontana into a nationally recognized eCommerce brand. This year we are doing 7 figures of revenue and have 11 employees. So how did we do it? Welcome to The Candle Couple Podcast, where we will share the nitty gritty of scaling our e-commerce brand quickly. We are spilling the tea, so hopefully we can help you scale your brand quickly too. Today we are sharing how it is has truly been to grow a 7 figure company with our spouse, and how our challenges and lack of work life balance, led us to a transition that we are currently going through. You will hear that working 24/7 with your spouse isn't all rainbows and butterflies. Timestamps: 00:50 Immunity for this episode 1:08 Background of our marriage 2:00 Transition period: gaining independence 2:40 Unhealthy amount of time together 3:50 Setting parameters for the next stage of growth 4:30 Separation of duties 5:20 Different expectations: difficulties managing 6:32 Expectations: theme from our marriage counseling 7:20 Power struggles: who is really in charge? 8:40 We just hired a general manager 9:14 Work life balance: the business has become our identity 10:48 We don't go on vacations 11:12 Leaving our business wasn't an option 12:12 Supporting our new manager by not stepping on her toes 13:20 Spouses switching roles: watching your partner struggle 14:40 You can only fake it for so long 15:30 Seeing opportunity 16:00 Making sacrifices 18:12 Working together was our ultimate goal 19:05 More opportunities to disagree 20:00 Being a sounding board vs. a hindrance Disclaimer: Everything shared in our videos is from our own personal experience, and is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Always seek legal guidance from a business attorney and certified public accountant. Everyone is responsible for their own business structure and business practices, and we will not be held accountable. Since we love the companies we talk about so much, we may have an affiliate relationship with them. If you make a purchase through the above links, we may earn a small affiliate commission. There is no additional cost to you.