Are You Stuck in the Day-to-Day Grind?
You started your business to create financial freedom and independence—but instead, you’re stuck managing operations, putting out fires, and constantly making reactive decisions.
Signs You’re Stuck in the Grind:
➡️ The solution? It’s time to step into the role of an owner.
There is a Better Way...
Scaling your business doesn’t mean just working harder—it means making ownership‒driven decisions that create freedom, financial clarity, and long‒term wealth.
The Independence by Design™ Framework helps you:
➡️ See how the iBD Framework™ guides this process.
The Two Hats Every Business Owner-Operator Wears
Every entrepreneur starts as an Operator—managing operations, solving problems, and making day-to-day decisions. But if you want real freedom, you must transition into an Owner—someone who designs a business that scales, grows equity, and thrives without their constant involvement.
Which hat are you wearing today?
Operator: Caught in the grind, solving daily problems, working for income.
Owner: Focused on value creation, building systems, and growing long-term wealth.
➡️ The iBD Framework helps you shift from Operator to Owner—so your business works for you, not the other way around.
Operator
- Time for Money (Salary)
- Operational Execution
- Daily challenges: Managing team dynamics, handling immediate problems, and making decisions on the fly.
Owner
- Reinvesting vs. Distributions
- Equity (Valuation) Growth
- Big picture focus: Building wealth, achieving financial freedom, and creating a business that aligns with your personal goals.
Unlock the Power of Being a Business Owner
Most business systems focus on optimizing operations—but they don’t help owners build scalable wealth. The Independence by Design™ Framework is built to align your business decisions with your long-term vision for time, cash flow, and wealth—helping you reach Escape Velocity faster.
At the heart of every business owner's journey is a constant push and pull between time, cash flow, and wealth. These three forces determine whether you’re trapped in operations or building toward true independence.
Right now, you might feel like:
- Time Constraint: Your business depends on you, leaving no time for strategy, growth, or personal freedom.
- Cash Flow Constraint: The lifeblood of your business. Predictable cash flow gives you the freedom to reinvest, take distributions, and fund your goals.
- Wealth Constraint: You’ve built a great business, but without a clear roadmap, you don’t know if it’s truly building equity—or just keeping you stuck.
The goal isn’t just to grow revenue—it’s to create Independence: a business that funds your ideal life, whether you’re working in it or not.
The Solution: Aligning Your Time, Cash Flow, and Wealth
The Independence by Design™ Framework gives you a structured process to transition from being trapped in constraints to having a business that gives you freedom, financial clarity, and long-term wealth.
This isn’t just a theory—it’s a proven path. Here’s what happens when you implement the right strategy:
- Step out of day-to-day operations while the business runs without you
- Turn cash flow into an asset that funds your freedom
- Build wealth through ownership—whether you keep, scale, or sell
Indepencence Flywheel™
Working with Ryan has been revolutionary. I have more clarity and less anxiety regarding the financial health of my business. I’m so grateful that I can now use my new mindset, tools and knowledge to grow my company’s equity value.
Steve Schaffer
Owner, Schaffer Manufacturing
The most concrete business practice I learned and adopted in Ryan's workshop was starting to think about our company as a financial asset and realizing we can forecast the business’s value into the future. We now understand that the future cash flow and equity value are the real metrics behind the health of the company.
Anne Dougherty
Owner, ILLUME Advising
As a business owner, I sometimes get into a rhythm or maybe a rut and do things in a certain way, almost methodically. Ryan's workshop allowed me to intentionally disrupt the rhythm and look at things through a different lens.”
Jamie Gmach
Owner, Evolving Solutions
An incredible resource for M&A pros
Ryan's podcast is a weekly ritual for my team. The insights and conversation topics. Ryan and his guests touch on issues that are highly relevant and actionable. We even find ourselves simply forwarding episodes to our clients to help them navigate the exit process. Thanks for the thought leadership!
Steve Gerten
Partner & Advisor, Paradise Capital LLC
Purposeful and Authentic
Ryan never fails to deliver excellent content that is useful and helpful. He asks questions that draw the best out of his guests. Ryan is motivated to help people achieve their purpose and his enthusiasm is tangible. He brings experience and authenticity to every episode.
Jenna Fromm
CEO, Palmer Bus Service
“Ryan Tansom walks the talk. He is incredibly dedicated to helping business owners and leaders ‘grow the value of their business with an end in mind’. My Vistage Members, EOS Clients and Coaching Clients leverage Ryan’s tools, education, workshops, and podcasts. My only regret about Ryan, is that I did not meet him earlier in my professional career.”
Katina Koller
Vistage Chair and EOS© Implementor
Working with Ryan has been revolutionary. I have more clarity and less anxiety regarding the financial health of my business. I’m so grateful that I can now use my new mindset, tools and knowledge to grow my company’s equity value.
Steve Schaffer
Owner, Schaffer Manufacturing
The most concrete business practice I learned and adopted in Ryan's workshop was starting to think about our company as a financial asset and realizing we can forecast the business’s value into the future. We now understand that the future cash flow and equity value are the real metrics behind the health of the company.
Anne Dougherty
Owner, ILLUME Advising
As a business owner, I sometimes get into a rhythm or maybe a rut and do things in a certain way, almost methodically. Ryan's workshop allowed me to intentionally disrupt the rhythm and look at things through a different lens.”
Jamie Gmach
Owner, Evolving Solutions
An incredible resource for M&A pros
Ryan's podcast is a weekly ritual for my team. The insights and conversation topics. Ryan and his guests touch on issues that are highly relevant and actionable. We even find ourselves simply forwarding episodes to our clients to help them navigate the exit process. Thanks for the thought leadership!
Steve Gerten
Partner & Advisor, Paradise Capital LLC
Purposeful and Authentic
Ryan never fails to deliver excellent content that is useful and helpful. He asks questions that draw the best out of his guests. Ryan is motivated to help people achieve their purpose and his enthusiasm is tangible. He brings experience and authenticity to every episode.
Jenna Fromm
CEO, Palmer Bus Service
“Ryan Tansom walks the talk. He is incredibly dedicated to helping business owners and leaders ‘grow the value of their business with an end in mind’. My Vistage Members, EOS Clients and Coaching Clients leverage Ryan’s tools, education, workshops, and podcasts. My only regret about Ryan, is that I did not meet him earlier in my professional career.”
Katina Koller
Vistage Chair and EOS© Implementor
Three Steps to Independence:
Build a Business That Runs Without You
The Independence by Design™ Framework provides a structured path to achieving true ownership freedom. Instead of being trapped in the daily grind, this framework helps business owners create a financially independent, owner-optional company by focusing on three key steps:
- Plan - Clarify your goals, align your strategy, and allocate capital like an investor—not an operator.
- Build – Structure your business to produce consistent profits, growth, and scale while increasing value.
- Elevate – Step out of the day-to-day and lead from the top—backed by a strong team and clear incentives..
Each step moves you closer to Independence The freedom to do what you want, when you want—whether you own the business or not..
1
Step 1: Plan for the Future
Clarify your goals. Drive your strategy. Allocate capital wisely.
Most business owners operate without a clear plan beyond the next quarter. In this first phase, we help you step out of the weeds and become a strategic owner with a forward‒looking mindset.
You’ll define what you want your business to do for you, assess where you are now, and lay the groundwork for intentional growth. From there, you’ll build a roadmap that ties your business strategy, financial targets, and capital plan together—so every decision supports your long‒term goals.
Key Components of the Plan Phase:
- Clarify Ownership & Personal Goals
- Expland Knowledge and Learn Business Valuations and the M&A Game
- Drive Company Strategy Through Ownership Lens
Outcome:
You’ll walk away with a clear vision, aligned financial plan, and a scorecard to track your progress every step of the way.
2
Step 2: Build a Valuable Business
Get control of your cash flow. Build systems that scale. Increase the value of your company.
Once the plan is in place, it’s time to build a self‒sustaining machine. That starts with getting your numbers right so you can forecast cash flow, track value creation, and make smart business decisions.
From there, we help you scale sustainably by aligning your operations, people, and growth strategy. The result? A business that runs without you—and is worth more because of it.
The Key Components of a the Build Phase:
- Optimize Financials (Budgeting, Forecasting, Monthly Package)
- Maximize Growth (Pricing, GTM Strategy, Revenue Mix)
- Scale Operations (Cost Structure, Capacity, Systems)
Outcome
You’ll have reliable financial data, streamlined operations, and a business that increases in transferable value—whether or not you plan to sell.
3
Step 3: Elevate From Operator to Owner
Step out of day‒to‒day. Empower your leadership team. Align incentives for growth.
f you’re stuck in operations, you’ll never achieve true freedom. In this final phase, we help you elevate into the owner’s seat by building the leadership team you need to scale—and creating the incentive systems that get them thinking like owners.
You’ll set up the rhythms of boardroom leadership, where you guide the strategy, make capital decisions, and focus on what matters most—without getting pulled back into the weeds.
Key Components of the Elevate Phase:
- Strengthen Leadership Around Financial Targets
- Incentivize Growth With Bonus Plans & Equity Tools
- Hire a Key Executive to Replace Yourself
Outcome:
You’ll have a team that runs the business, while you lead from the boardroom—with clarity, freedom, and time on your side.
🎯 Start with the
Role & Goal Clarifier™
Most business owners are grinding toward a future they haven’t clearly defined.
The Role & Goal Clarifier™ helps you connect your long-term personal and business goals so you can finally create a plan that makes sense—on your terms.
By using this tool, you’ll:
- Define what success really looks like across time, cash flow, and wealth
- Identify the gap between where you are and where you want to go
- Clarify the role you want to play in the business—and how to buy back your time
- Create a foundation for smarter, more confident decisions
This is your first step to achieving Ownership Independence™.
“What Makes Independence by Design™ Unique?”
Most business owners build a company to create freedom—but end up trapped in the daily grind. Independence by Design™ is a structured framework to help you transition from being stuck in operations to building a business that works for you. It aligns your time, cash flow, and equity goals so that you can make strategic decisions with clarity and confidence.
The goal isn’t just to grow revenue—it’s to create Escape Velocity: a business that generates sustainable cash flow, financial clarity, and long-term wealth, giving you the freedom to scale, sell, or step back on your terms.
This framework is built from my experience as an entrepreneur, investor, and advisor to business owners navigating ownership transitions. Whether you want to grow, exit, or build a self-sustaining company, Independence by Design™ helps you take control of your business instead of letting it control you.
Ryan Tansom
Founder of Independence by Design™
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Independence by Design™?
Independence by Design™ is an ownership decision-making framework that helps business owners align their operations with their personal goals for time, cash flow, and wealth. It’s designed to guide you through a three-step process to shift your mindset, create a roadmap, and build rhythms that let you confidently own your business without being trapped in daily operations.
2. Are you a consultant or service provider?
No. I don’t sell professoinal services or act as a consultant. Independence by Design™ is an education-based framework designed to empower you with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to make decisions as a business owner. My goal is to help you see the game of ownership clearly so you can work with the right advisors and service providers to achieve your goals.
I do have a 1-on1 and group coaching program (currently limited to 20 clients) where I act as their ownership coach where I help clients get where they want to go faster by connecting dots, resources, education and accountatiblity. My main mission is to grow the content and framework.
3. How does the iBD framework help me grow my business?
The iBD framework doesn’t just help you grow your business—it helps you align your decisions with your long-term goals for time, cash flow, and equity. By focusing on ownership fundamentals like understanding your valuation, building a financial roadmap, and creating predictable cash flow, the framework gives you clarity and confidence to make decisions that strengthen your business over the long term.
4. Who is Independence by Design™ for?
Independence by Design™ is for owner-operators who are:
- Stuck in the day-to-day grind of running their business.
- Juggling cash flow, team management, and endless decisions.
- Looking to step back from operations and focus on creating equity value and financial freedom.
- Ready to align their business with their personal goals instead of operating on autopilot.
5. How does this compare to systems like EOS®, Scaling Up, or The Great Game of Business™?
These systems are great for running the operations of a business, but they don’t focus on ownership decisions. Independence by Design™ complements these systems by focusing on the owner’s role—helping you understand how to align operational systems with your goals for time, cash flow, and equity.
6. Will I get one-on-one coaching or services?
While I do offer one-on-one coaching for 20 clients, my plan to grow Independence by Design™ is through education, resources, and tools that guide you through the process of aligning your business operations with your personal goals.
7. What are the results I can expect from using the iBD framework?
By applying the Independence by Design™ framework, you can:
- Clarify your personal and business goals.
- Make confident, data-driven decisions aligned with your goals.
- Build sustainable cash flow and grow equity value.
- Step back from daily operations and focus on being a true owner.
8. What if I don’t have a team in place to implement the framework?
That’s okay! The framework is designed to meet you where you are. Whether you’re just starting to build your team or already have systems like EOS® in place, the iBD framework helps you focus on the decisions that will move you forward. You can also share these tools with your team or advisors to ensure alignment.
9. Can I share the tools and playbook with my team or advisors?
Absolutely. The playbook and tools are designed to help you create alignment across your team and advisors. By sharing your goals and roadmap, you can ensure everyone is working toward the same vision for your business.
10. How can I get started?
You can book an Ownership Strategy call with me https://bit.ly/iBDplaybook, start listening to the podcast, or attend a workshop.
The best way to start is with Step 1: Understand the Game. Download the iBD Ownership Scorecard™ to evaluate where you are and what you need to focus on next. From there, you can explore Step 2 and Step 3 to align your business and build a sustainable ownership system.