Business advisory franchise The Alternative Board (TAB) is proving indispensable to SME business leaders across the UK.

This year seven SMEs will celebrate ten years of TAB membership, alongside a further 23 reaching their five-year anniversary.  All are reaping the benefits of TAB’s month peer board meetings alongside 1:1 coaching services.

“Our high member retention rate is something that sets TAB apart within the business coaching sector,” commented Mags Fuller, FD of TAB (UK).  “In a recent survey, members’ reasons for joining TAB ranged from a need for accountability and advice on running their business to simply feeling less lonely.  Being part of a TAB board and building strong relationships with those other business owners is undeniably powerful. With around 60 per cent of small businesses failing within the first three years, it is testament to the success of our model that so many SMEs are thriving under the guidance of our franchise owners.”

Demonstrating the extensive value that TAB delivers, businesses that have reach five- and ten-year anniversary with the franchise hail from sectors as diverse as fire safety, accountancy and software.  All members attend monthly franchisee facilitated peer board meetings with around half a dozen other local company owners where they are encouraged to raise a current issue for the board to help resolve.  

“We are firm believers that many businesses in the UK fail not because they were a bad idea but because of the complexity of skills and mental fortitude required to run a business,” continued Mags.  “Running a business can be incredibly overwhelming and at times, lonely, which is why the role our franchisees play in helping business owners identify and resolve their commercial issues is so critical.  What’s more, our franchisees are constantly evolving themselves via regular training and support from head office that ensures they are abreast of the latest business trends and challenges.  Whether it’s solving employee retention issues or helping devise a successful exit strategy, our franchisees are always confident that they can help their members by using TAB’s resources and its community expertise.”

One TAB member who has been with the franchise for over 10 year is Leeds based James Hennigan who runs Meson Electrical Services.  James commented: “TAB continues to deliver value to my business year on year. It helped me through a management buy-out in my early years in business and has supported me in growing my firm to a level where am now attracting high end clients including Jaguar Land Rover and Red Bull Powertrains.  I have recently expanded to take advantage of the growing demand for renewable energy solutions and TAB helped me ensure I had a clear strategy and business model in place to deliver that successfully.

“I have also got to know a lot of my local peers through TAB and really enjoy learning about the challenges their businesses are facing and collaborating on solutions.  I count many of my TAB board members as close friends and it’s great to be able to share the daily ups and down of entrepreneurship with others who understand my position.”

TAB franchisee opportunities are currently open across the UK and are ideally suited to those with a back ground in business.  TAB is seeking professionals including consultants, coaches, business owners and senior employees who are looking to combine a passion for business with the drive to help others to succeed.  

TAB franchisees enjoy incredible flexibility and independence with unparalleled training and support.  As a business service, a TAB franchise has low overheads as most franchisees choose to work from home.