For those of us not working with family, what's expected of us in our jobs is relatively straightforward. Job description, hours, salary and holidays are clearly prescribed. But for those who work with their other halves there's likely to be a huge amount of variables. The rewards for family run businesses can be big, financially and emotionally. However, there can be drawbacks as well.

Price Waterhouse Coopers recently undertook a survey of the top management of 1,454 family businesses across 28 countries. They found that more than one-third admitted to conflicts over their future strategy, and a quarter quarreled about the competence of family members actively involved in the business, or who should be allowed to work in the company. While there are many pluses there are also pitfalls to consider. According to Juliette Johnson, senior family business advisor at Coutts, "When you're working together with your spouse, you can predict and manage many of the challenges they will face in advance." For this reason Coutts set up an advisory service specifically for family-run businesses.

"For some couples, being together all the time can be a recipe for disaster. For others, a shared business experience, like a shared personal one, can strengthen and enrich their relationship" Johnson reflects. She says "What's important is that whilst complementary temperaments and talents are important, couples must also be able to work together as a team. This means they have to decide how they are going to share the workload, allocate power and divide up the rewards of their efforts".

She goes on to give examples of how problems might evolve "The most difficult challenges arise in relation to decision making and role definition. Some husband and wife teams find that making joint decisions can be key to success, whilst others divide decision making, either according to strengths and weaknesses or with reference to previously agreed roles, so that the partner with authority in a certain area, makes all the decisions in that area. Clear role definition is crucial," Johnson says, "as is conscious separation of business and family issues so that criticism or conflict about business decisions does not become personal. In many cases it can also be useful to include an outsider – someone who will be able to offer a balanced viewpoint, or even a casting vote to defuse tensions and help the couple avoid the slippery slope to rivalry and blame."

"The most difficult challenges arise in relation to decision making and role definition. Some husband and wife teams find that making joint decisions can be key to success, whilst others divide decision making. Clear role definition is crucial." Juliette Johnson, senior family business advisor, Coutts

Two first generation businesses that enjoy keeping it in the family are Omorovicza and Matches. But both are run and owned by a husband and wife team, who have experienced their own pros and cons to working with their partners.

Omorovicza – an innovative skincare range

Stephen and Margaret de Heinrich de Omorovicza first met in Budapest. Margaret believes, "It was a stroke of luck". And Stephen agrees. "I have to say it's changed everything in my life to be honest. First of all we met, got married and started a business at the same time. Then we had our first child and product at the same time. It was so easy to commit to it much more than any other business and that's wonderful."

The strength, and burgeoning success of the company which launched its first eight products in 2006, has much to do with the couple's shared enthusiasm and ambition. The inspiration for a skincare range came after Stephen introduced Margaret to the spa baths of his city, Budapest. Hungary is famous for its thermal spas with rich mineral waters that hold claims to healing powers. They thought, why not harness the effects of the minerals and waters in skin creams?

But as Stephen had been a solicitor based in London and Margaret a diplomat in Brussels, neither had the knowledge or experience of creating a skincare range, let alone setting up a business. And there's no doubt that if they hadn't decided to pool their efforts, and create a family venture, they probably wouldn't have progressed the idea. But they didn't and today their products are sold in flagships stores such as Harvey Nichols and Liberty's in London. With the likelihood of Omorovicza soon being available in Japan, America and Ireland, to name only a few countries they're expanding into, it seems the family aspect works well for them. Stephen remarks, "I think we're very complimentary and that works out well in this business. It's wonderful because it takes up so much emotion and physical time. It does make business fairly personal and I don't necessarily find that a bad thing."

And for Margaret, running a family business is 'a strength. It's about a great deal of authenticity. People can appreciate the idea of families getting involved and creating'. She also feels that having her own business has made going back to work with two small children much easier and more enjoyable. If there's a downside it's the times she and Stephen look at each other and say 'let's drop the work subject'. But with business central to their lives it doesn't stay off the agenda for long. Margaret comments, "It's an emanation of us completely." It's also a family business that's set to run for some time, because Stephen is already contemplating his daughters' involvement. As he says, "That would be lovely."

Matches – fashion in store and online

When Tom Chapman was 'finding it difficult to work for others' he decided to open a retail store in Wimbledon, south London, selling clothes. At that point he met Ruth who started to help him. Fast forward 20 years and they're married, have three children, 14 stores and a website. But unlike the Omorovicza's they decided quite early on that they were best suited to working apart. As Tom says, "Part of the reason you want to work for yourself is you want to make those things happen. You can be in sync but not always." So Tom and Ruth decided to take on men and women's wear respectively and ran separate shops. And the business has expanded from there. Being a family business means for Tom that 'we present a united front'. "This is a really important part of it," he says. "As sole owners people know and understand where we're coming from. And we meet every week to go over major issues."

"Conscious separation of business and family issues is crucial so that criticism or conflict about business decisions do not become personal" Juliette Johnson

Matches women's collection includes designers such as Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs and Ruth's own range Freda. They try to reflect a younger, fresh approach and the menswear features collections by Rick Owens, Marc Marmel and Deuxieme.

With an eye to expanding the business they now have what they call pop-up shops where they take the collections to different venues and effectively set-up shop. This is private shopping for personal clients who are 'time poor'. In October, for instance, they will be running an event for a city law firm at the British Museum.

The internet site is Tom's 'baby'. He says, "I want to make people's lives easier. It's not like buying from a normal internet site. We have our best sales people on the phone. If you want to know what to wear to Glyndebourne you need staff that understand the product and the fit."

The internet business was set up in 2006. In the last 12 months business increased by 300%, which in real terms means it has grown from £2.7 million to £7.5 million.

One feels much of Matches success is down to its family origins. Tom comments, "We're still very passionate about the service element. We're really the face of the business." When it comes to succession he says, "What we've tried not to do is talk about work (at home) but in many ways everything is connected." They have a daughter who's 13 and 'passionate about design' and a young son who's starting to be interested in the business side of things. So it could be a question of watch this space.

If you're already running a family business it might just be worthwhile attending one of the forums run by Coutts for family business owners. It's an excellent opportunity to listen to the experiences of others. This month chef father and son Mosimann talk about how they work together.

This month also sees the opening of nominations for The Coutts Prize for Family Business. It's a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements and real worth of family concerns. For more information visit www.coutts.com/familybusiness

By Michele Nevard