Bexaida Dominguez and Cinthia Tirado of BX Home Solutions in Des Moines. Photo by Jennifer Marquez.
Bexaida Dominguez and Cinthia Tirado have built both a marriage and BX Home Solutions, their Des Moines property redevelopment and construction business.
By Vanessa Marcano-Kelly
For Bexaida Dominguez and Cinthia Tirado, the usual advice about keeping work and life separate does not quite apply: the seamlessness of “doing both business and life together” has become central to their partnership.
Bex is the extroverted visionary, a big picture and big numbers person, while Cinthia is the organized partner who handles the details that turn a vision into reality.
Together, they run BX Home Solutions, a residential property redevelopment and building company in Des Moines, Iowa, founded in 2022. Their partnership grew from bold ideas that took shape during the pandemic and a shared desire to build a life outside the traditional 9-to-5.
Their collaboration extends beyond the business. Of course, it would have to be: they have been business partners for four years and married for over a decade.
“We consider what we do [entrepreneurship] to be a lifestyle,” says Bexaida.
Bold Ideas in Lockdown
Cinthia and Bexaida both attended Valley High School, but it was not until they worked together as teens at Red Lobster that they finally met each other. They married in 2015. Years later, their personal partnership would evolve into a professional one.
Behind every win there are many lessons learned. “We are always learning from the University of Life,” Cinthia said. In 2020, Bexaida was working as a manager at Caribou Coffee, when a conversation with a customer sent her on an entrepreneurial trajectory. The customer was a real estate professional, a business that piqued her curiosity.
After taking a course and dipping her toes into wholesaling, her first deal profited her $4,000 in under six hours. Bex had also been working on starting a painting business with her father. While these ventures were in their infancy, Cinthia kept working at her regular job to provide a stable income.
The business ideas during lockdown started flowing, and Bex realized she wanted to be the actual investor instead of the “middleman.” She got her real estate license and pitched Cinthia the idea of redeveloping or “flipping” properties together. By May 2022, BX Home Solutions was launched.
Clear Is Kind, Unclear Is Unkind
“At first, we didn’t really know our strengths, and that caused some friction, which is common for any type of partnership at the beginning, business or otherwise,” Cinthia said. On one early project, unclear roles led to confusion over who had communicated what to a contractor. The experience pushed them to define their lanes and lean into their natural strengths.
“Bexaida has such a natural ability to connect with people,” said Cinthia. This makes Bex the “face” of the business: networking, contractor relationships, and finances. Meanwhile, Cinthia oversees all design decisions, ordering, floor plans, permits, city and architect coordination. Cinthia describes herself as task-oriented and structured, while Bex is the visionary.
“It was a bit like getting into a relationship all over again, because you are fully relying on the other person,” Cinthia said. That reliance has turned into one of the ways they care for each other. “It’s also a way to show love – when we’re able to take on something that the other dreads. We have evolved into what we know best,” said Cinthia.
Some parts of the job, like doing taxes, are universally unpopular, so they just bite the bullet and agree on a time to tackle this together.
Bexaida Dominguez and Cinthia Tirado, co-owners of BX Home Solutions. Photo by Jennifer Marquez.
The Beautiful Seamlessness
Rather than a rigid work-life balance, Bex and Cinthia lean into the “beautiful seamlessness” of doing business and life together. Important decisions have come up while they were on vacation, when they could discuss, determine whether the project aligned with their values, and decide on the spot.
“The good thing is that we can handle business from anywhere,” Bexaida said, “there’s times that everything happens all at once.” They have also learned when to step away. “No deal is worth the deterioration of your health,” Cinthia said.
Projects and decisions are always evaluated for alignment with their values and long-term goals and if there is no alignment, they will pass on it.
A profound sense of trust and respect are the underlying forces within BX Home Solutions. When one is unavailable to provide input, the other one feels confident making an executive decision. “The trust we have in each other is irreplaceable,” Cinthia said.
The unique dynamics of being in business with your life partner also means ensuring there is time for connection. Cinthia says that knowing the value of what the other person does, communicating, and maintaining the deep bond outside business are key to not losing sight of their relationship.
The Universe Is Conspiring in Your Favor
With the changes in the real estate market, BX Home Solutions is evolving. The residential redevelopment is taking a back seat, and the business is delving into building.
“Our biggest belief is that everything is working in our favor: things are happening for us, not to us,” they said.
Their advice to couples considering going into business together is practical. “If you don’t have kids, you can go all in, you can go big,” says Bex. Yet if you have little ones depending on you, the risks must be more measured. Nevertheless, to them, the vital thing is to act.
“Being a JEFA is more than titles and accolades — it’s about freedom, self-expression, and tending to all your temples: body, mind, spirit, relationships, home, work, creativity, finances, rest, and your future self,” Cinthia said.
More stories: Read more profiles from JEFAS Magazine.
