Jermaine, TN

A: Mother's Day certainly makes us appreciate the moms in our lives a little bit more, doesn't it?

Long-time readers know that I like to refer to my dad now and then, as he was the first and best entrepreneur I ever knew. Dad had a business partner, and together they grew their single, tiny carpet store into a significant chain of stores throughout Southern California.

At the time, as I was growing up, I remember my mom saying how she and my dad had created that businesses and grew it together. I always humored mom when she said that, but in my heart I figured that it was really my dad and his business partner who built that business.

That is, of course, until I grew up.

I have started and run several businesses over the past fifteen years or so, and if it wasn't for my sweet wife - and the mother of my children - I don't know what I would have done.

I have this pet theory: I think every great cuisine has a "secret ingredient" that gives that food its unique flavor. For Chinese food, for instance, I would say it is sesame oil. Mexican food? Cilantro.

What I now know, what I didn't know when I was a young boy listening to my mom, is that a spouse, be it a husband or wife or significant other, is often the secret ingredient in the recipe that makes for a great franchise or other small business. If you think about it, mates serve several functions in an entrepreneurial home:

They are a sounding board: The vast majority of franchises in this country are owned by one person working for themself. Without a board of directors, sometimes they work in a vacuum. This is where their mate comes in. For many franchisees, it is their spouse who gives ideas and acts as a sounding board.

They can be brutally honest: The adjunct to this is that a mate can be more frank with you than probably anyone else. I run a lot of business ideas by my wife, some of which she thinks are rather kooky. That's actually good to hear because it can help save me from investing time and money in a plan that may not be so great as I first thought.

They give you a unique, different perspective: While mates usually do not know our businesses as well as we do, that can sometimes be a blessing. By discussing business issues with a "novice" you get a perspective that can at times be invaluable. (At other times it can also drive you crazy, but that's the subject of a different column.)

They keep the home fires burning: Starting and running a franchise is, as we all know, a major commitment in a variety of ways. Having a supportive partner can make things easier by taking care of some extra household duties, especially in the first few years of the business when the time commitment is usually the worst.

They are the cheerleaders: Finally, a great mate can help boost morale when it is needed, and cheer you on when things are going well.

So, although my dear, sweet mom is no longer with us, I would still like to say "You were right, mom!"

About Steve Strauss

Steven D. Strauss is one of the world's leading experts on entrepreneurship. A lawyer, author, and public speaker, his latest book is The Big Idea: How Business Innovators Get Great Ideas to Market. Steve's columns regularly appear on USA Today.com, Workz.com, Bizland.com, and Staples.com, among others. You can sign up today for his free newsletter, "Small Business Success Secrets!" at his business web site - www.MrAllBiz.com.