For over 30 years, The Alternative Board® (TAB), has helped nearly 30,000 CEOs, business owners and their leadership teams in over 20 countries achieve their dreams by running their businesses more strategically. By Brianna Bohn
For over 30 years, The Alternative Board® (TAB), has helped nearly 30,000 CEOs, business owners and their leadership teams in over 20 countries achieve their dreams by running their businesses more strategically. Through unique combinations of one-on-one business coaching, peer advisory boards and a suite of strategic and proprietary tools, TAB franchisees deliver greater strengths to their clients.
TAB brings together small- to medium-sized, privately owned businesses for a regular exchange of ideas, challenges and advice they otherwise could not obtain on their own.
TAB franchisees facilitate monthly peer board meetings and individual coaching sessions for their members – business owners, CEOs and presidents – who join for the privilege of accessing a collective wealth of wisdom and experience. Members come from a range of businesses, including professional services, the trades, manufacturers and wholesalers.
“We help business owners and their leadership teams run their businesses more effectively in a way that changes their lives,” said Jason Zickerman, TAB president and CEO.
While members come from diverse industries, 75% to 80% of the challenges they face are common across all industries. Common board topics include hiring and motivating employees, growing, financing, culture and partnership challenges. A diverse group of board members supports each other and helps bring diverse perspectives and accountability, so that all members can achieve what they want from their business and their lives.
“Our value proposition has proven to be powerful and effective across so many industries, countries and cultures” Zickerman said.
Through board meetings, coaching sessions and TAB’s suite of services, business owners engage in a strategic planning process and utilize proprietary tools that help them focus on the most urgent matters beyond the distractions of the day, Zickerman said.
In publicly held businesses, the bottom line is all about the dollar. “The most important thing when dealing with a privately held business owner is helping them think through and ultimately articulate their personal vision of success,” Zickerman said. “It’s not necessarily what it means to the bottom line of the business, but what it means to the bottom line of their life.”
Zickerman uses the analogy of a bicycle: The member’s personal vision is the front wheel and their business vision is the rear wheel. Both need to be aligned to reach their destination successfully and enjoyably. Franchisees employ a comprehensive business diagnostic to thoroughly assess the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of each member’s business.
“They’re working on the right things at the right time, and before they know it, their business is really moving in a very powerful direction,” Zickerman said.
Among TAB’s franchisee benefits are a low-cost point of entry, minimal overhead, no employees and no overnight travel. It offers scalability, protected territories, marketing support and the ability to work from home.
TAB is a recession-resistant business, having grown through past downturns and the pandemic, Zickerman said.
But perhaps the company’s biggest draw is its subscription model, which affords a kind of “stickiness” that gives peace of mind to its more than 300 franchisees who build recurring income through monthly membership dues. Members stay an impressive average of five years, Zickerman said.
TAB is an equity-building business as well. Franchisees can devise an exit strategy, replacing themselves with another facilitator or coach, and profit from a business that has grown in value.
TAB seeks forward-thinking entrepreneurs to help it expand around the world.
“We’re on a mission that’s way bigger than ourselves as individuals,” Zickerman said.
Patty Horansky