I've noticed a trend among my peer group and want to put my voice out there: Stop giving your boyfriend free labor in his small business ventures. I have not one, but two friends who are currently running the social media platforms, designing and executing logos, decorating store fronts, providing customer service, and conducting market research for their boyfriend's businesses. These talented ladies are doing a fantastic job, and I can tell their boyfriend's businesses would not do as well without their input, but these women are putting their energy in the wrong places.

They are providing valuable services (usually deemed "female" jobs) for a company that is not even in their name. Notice the connection between female-oriented business tasks and the lower pay and lower respect those jobs are given? If those jobs are being done, they are worth being paid for that labor. You and your boyfriend are not "building an empire together." He is using you for free labor.

I cannot recommend working for a boyfriend's business, even if he were to give you a contract and salary. In the event that your relationship sours, you lose the chance to have his business represented on your portfolio for future employers to call and ask about your job performance. The last thing you need is to throw your valuable business labor at a boyfriend's business, only for his reference to be unusable later when you have to look for other work.

Protect your future, respect your talent, and do not make business deals (formal or informal) with boyfriends!