Chip Gaines Shares the “Secret Ingredient” That Keeps His Marriage to Joanna so Strong

With markets cornered on everything from fashion to baked goods and five beautiful children at home, it certainly looks like Chip and Joanna Gaines have it all figured it. But at Hubspot’s annual "Inbound" event on Friday, the Fixer Upper couple revealed that their relationship hasn’t always been shiplap and roses.

"Every Friday, we were saying, 'Are we gonna make it?'" Joanna recalled of their pre-fame struggles, per Good Morning America.

At one point, she said it felt like they might even be doomed, both personally and professionally.

"The four or five years before we did the show, when the housing crisis hit, things were so hard for us," Joanna said. "We kept pressing through, even in those hard times. The value of what we learned in that is something I'd never want to do again, but I'd never not want that. The hard is what makes us appreciate this."

WATCH: Chip and Joanna Gaines Were So Lovely When Fans Saw Them on Their Minneapolis Date Night

Now, with their juggernaut HGTV series behind them, a booming business, and a new cable network on the way, the Waco wondercouple aren’t afraid to admit that they still butt heads from time to time.

"We definitely disagree. It's not perfect. But for Jo and I, it really is a special bond we're extremely proud of," Chip shared. "We work really well together."

Chip was also generous enough to share the "secret ingredient" that keeps their marriage so strong.

"Solid mutual respect," he said, according to GMA. "A lot of hard work goes into this, but if you can get to a mutual place of respect, you can change the world."