Making your spouse a business partner on your rental properties

[Peter Lu]

I have been mostly managing the rental properties on my own and more recently, after studying a lot more on the tax benefits, I realized that a couple of the trips that I take to meet with my property management companies can be deducted.  Over time, I want to start involve my spouse in parts of the business decisions and/or record keeping since we tend to travel together.  What's the right way to make that happen?  some say to put her on the payroll, but I don't have any business entity right now.  is that the only approach?  or if we start tracking how she is contributing to the business decisions, that would work as well?  Thank you in advance for this great community!