KATIE GRASSO/Courier-Post Sue Kruger and Bonnie Burton, the two sisters who own Amelia's Teas and Holly, talk business at their Mullica Hill shop. Their partnership works because they agree on how the business should be operated. TIPS Questions to ask before you plunge into a partnership. Do you have similar work ethics? Do you both keep similar hours, or does one expect to put in substantially more or less, and is that acceptable to both of you? Do you have similar approaches to quality and vision? Are you both committed in a complementary way to providing things like customer service or quality management? What are your management styles and are they complementary and suited to your industry? Is one of you a yeller? In some worlds, this is not only acceptable but required for effective management. In others, it's a huge taboo. How do you each handle challenges, stresses and crises? Does one of you avoid challenges in the hopes that they will just go away? What's your mutual commitment level? Is your personal relationship compatible with your professional roles? AMELIA'S TEAS & HOLLY Address: 26 S. Main St., Mullica Hill Phone: (856) 223-0404 Web site: www.ameliasteasandholly.com

When Sue Kruger approached her sister Bonnie Burton about opening a tearoom and Christmas shop, the two like-minded sisters quickly began bouncing around ideas.

"The more we talked, the more real and exciting it became," said Burton. "We realized we were both on the same page."

Earlier this year, the sisters formed a limited liability corporation and bought a commercial property on Main Street in Mullica Hill.

They named their Christmas retail store and tearoom Amelia's Teas & Holly, named after their great-grandmother Amelia, who loved lacy frills and tea.

Their partnership is working because they agree how the business should be run, and do not let their different personalities interfere with their business.

A partnership with a family member or friend can be an exciting venture, according to Sanjyot Dunung, author of Straight Talk About Starting and Growing Your Business (McGraw-Hill $17.95), but people should stop and think before taking the partnership plunge.

"The key is to know whether or not you have complementary work styles," Dunung said.

Burton said even though they think alike in business terms, their opposite personalities complement each other.

"Sue is more high-strung and I'm laid back," Burton said. "There's an advantage to that. She cracks the whip and makes sure things get done while I can calm her down if things get stressful."

They made a verbal agreement before they began to formally plan the business to avoid any problems that could affect their business and personal relationship.

After all, they are more than sisters -- they are backdoor neighbors.

"It's important to make an agreement because you hear too many horror stories (about failed family businesses)," Burton said.

But even with the agreement and their different personalities, Kruger said she doesn't foresee a disagreement hurting their business.

"We said from the start that we have other jobs, so this is just for fun," she said. "It's a lot of work, but it's home away from home. It doesn't feel like a job."

Reach Katie Grasso at (856) 486-2478