Spoiler: It's not all that simple

Let’s be honest with you: the idea of starting a business with your friend sounds as wonderful and exciting as a summer afternoon with ice cream in hand. But before you get too excited about the idea, let’s take a pause. Think about it: have you ever tried cooking together in a tiny kitchen? It all starts off well, until someone spills the sauce and the gourmet dream turns into a culinary disaster. Starting a business is a bit like that: You have to be careful not to ruin the friendship in the process..

First, let’s think about friendship and work. It’s beautiful to work with someone we trust, but work can really test any relationship! There are days when deadlines are looming, pressure rises (those famous “deadlines”), and criticisms come up that make you feel like you’re taking a surprise exam. Let me ask you a question: Will you be able to handle differences of opinion without letting it affect your friendship? 

Disagreeing, for example, about the marketing approach doesn’t mean your friend thinks your skills are as useful as an umbrella in the desert. It simply means they are adjusting the strategy. A tip?: don’t take things personally; understanding that the other person is speaking from a professional standpoint is key to not ruining the friendship.

Then there's the issue of expectations and the limits, it’s like when you decide to go on a road trip with a friend: at first, it’s all fun and laughter, but suddenly, one wants to sing at full volume and the other prefers silence. 

Working together forces us to share responsibilities, and it’s not always as simple as it seems. Who’s in charge of what? If we’re not clear, one person could end up doing double the work, and before you know it, you’ll be upset about the tasks you didn’t do—and also because they’re sitting in your favorite chair. Another tip? Knowing when and how to set limits. Because, while the idea of “working together” sounds great, respecting personal space and time is what helps build a healthy team and prevents a series of misunderstandings.

Now, What happens if things don’t go as expected? Let’s be realistic, sometimes what starts with a thousand bright ideas can end up in a chaos of emails, unanswered messages, and more spilled sauce. Again: Will you be able to sit down and talk without one of you scrolling through the latest vacation photos to avoid the conversation? This is where the real test comes in, the one that really matters: when things seem to be falling apart. If you can laugh at everything that went wrong, take a step back, and say, "Okay, this didn’t go as planned, but we made it through," it means you've built a true teamworkAnd that, truly (believe it), is worth more than any "entrepreneur of the year" award..

Here’s the bottom line: friendships are wonderful, yes, but having a good friendship isn’t enough to make everything flow like a fairy tale. Laughter, stories, and good times are part of the deal, but let’s not forget that tensions, criticism, and disagreements will also be part of the daily routine! Ask yourselves this: are you really looking to work because you’re motivated by the project, or is it just an excuse to spend more time together?

Final tip: the idea of working with a friend should always be a conscious choice.