Brendan Marquardt knows the impact entrepreneurship can have on a marriage. He is the co-owner of Loli Bed, which sells direct-to-consumer beds that fold into the wall, and is a divorced father of two elementary school-age children.
Unlike most divorced entrepreneurs, Marcato has chosen to share his experience publicly in hopes of helping others.
He did so recently in our conversation. Number 2 On the podcast. The entire audio is embedded below. The transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
Eric Bandholz: Please give us an overview about you.
Brenden Marquardt: I co-own Loribed with my brother Kyle. We sell murphy beds that can be folded up against the wall to repurpose the space. It’s a niche product, but it’s growing in popularity.
I’ve been running this business for about 10 years. We bought the company from the woman who designed our first model. We kept her name “Lori.” She is no longer in the business.
Bandholz: It’s been a tough year for me personally.
Marcato: I moved from Austin, where I lived for two years, to Brownsville, Texas, where my wife is from. We decided to end our marriage about a year and a half ago. After that breakup, I began to distance myself from friends and loved ones out of shame and frustration.
I wanted to rebuild my life before appearing in public again, but now I realize I should have opened up to my friends sooner. The support I received when I opened my business made a huge difference. Isolation may be necessary, but it’s not always the healthiest approach.
I realized the importance of maintain friendshipespecially towards other men. While it’s important to focus on family, it’s easy to lose contact with friends. Male friendships and support systems are essential, even on a weekly basis. I ignored my friendships in favor of my family, which created a void in my life.
Bandholz: Has the business affected your marriage?
Marcato: This probably had an influence on her, especially during the six years she worked as an office worker while raising Lolibed. Quitting that job and focusing on my business gave me more time, freedom, and flexibility, which benefited my family.
My brother Kyle and I are equal partners in business. Texas has community property laws, and assets acquired during our marriage, including our business, are divided equally between my ex-wife and I.
She worked in customer service in the early years, but is no longer involved in operations. We agreed that I would continue the business and she would receive other assets such as savings and real estate. This arrangement allows me to focus on growing the business, which is ultimately in the best interest of my children. If we were both involved in the management, things would have been more complicated and would have affected my brother and the company’s day-to-day operations.
Bandholz: Was the process friendly?
Marcato: Problems often originate with lawyers. Lawyers can sometimes unnecessarily escalate the situation and make the process more contentious. Ideally, both parties should come to an agreement and have their attorney draft it. Unfortunately, too much involvement of lawyers can create friction and lead to them chasing you and fighting back, even if you didn’t intend to.
Lawyers are paid an hourly rate, which gives them an incentive to drag out the process. It is important to control the situation.
Bandholz: Can couples share a lawyer during divorce?
Marcato: This is possible, especially if both parties agree to the terms. Although one lawyer may draft the legal documents, it is still wise for each party to have their own lawyer review everything. In most cases, you won’t be splitting everything 50/50, so having a personal representative is important to ensure fairness. I didn’t want my ex-wife to feel like she was being taken advantage of, so I suggested she get a lawyer.
Lawyers’ fees are expensive. We each paid several hundred dollars an hour for legal services. Just for the record, I probably spent $40,000 on legal fees, business valuations, and other expenses. Although you have enough assets to cover these fees, you will still be charged extra fees. That money could have been directed toward our children or other family needs.
One helpful strategy is to schedule weekly meetings with your co-parents to discuss finances and upcoming events. Keep communication open and avoid last-minute conflicts. Maintaining friendly relationships is difficult, but the only thing you can control is your own actions.
My goal is to never speak ill of my ex-wife in front of my children and to focus on growing my ex-wife in the eyes of my children. Children need both parents. between us, The marriage didn’t lastlove for children remains and there is no need to feel bitter.
Bandholz: How can people contact you?
Marcato: I’m here linkedin. visit LoriBeds.com To learn more about the business.
