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 Escape Velocity: 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
iBD Ownership 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
Four 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 four key steps:
- Ownership Education – Clarify what you want from your business and align your decisions with your long-term goals.
- Financial Roadmap – Build a three-statement financial model that supports growth and sustainable cash flow.
- Value Growth Strategy – Implement strategies that increase cash flow, reduce risk, and drive enterprise value.
- Leadership Team & Pay – Develop a leadership team and compensation structure that reduces founder dependency.
Each step moves you closer to Escape Velocity—where your business creates time freedom, financial clarity, and long-term equity growth on your terms.
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Step 1: Ownership Mindset
Shift from Operator to Owner
Most business owners start out wearing every hat—managing operations, putting out fires, and making decisions based on gut instinct. The problem? That keeps you trapped inside the business rather than owning it.
The first step to achieving Independence by Design™ is developing an Ownership Mindset—understanding the difference between working in the business versus working on it. This shift allows you to make intentional decisions that align with your time, cash flow, and equity goals.
5 Pillars of Ownership
- Ownership Mindset
- Business Valuations
- Financial Forecasting
- Ownership Structures and M&A
- Family Office
Outcome:
By mastering these five pillars, you’ll gain clarity on where you stand today and what’s holding you back—giving you the roadmap to start working toward financial independence.
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Step 2: Financial Roadmap
Align the Business with Ownership Goals
Now that you've shifted your mindset to an owner’s perspective, it's time to ensure your business operations align with your long‒term vision. A business without a financial roadmap is just reacting to problems—it’s time to get proactive.
The iBD Financial Roadmap ensures that every decision—whether it's reinvesting in growth, hiring a key leader, or planning an exit—supports your goals for time, cash flow, and equity value.
The Key Components of a Financial Roadmap:
- Three-Statement Model
- Historical Financial Analysis
- Annual Budget & Monthly Cash Flow Forecast
- Five-Year Valuation Forecast
- Cash Flow & Valuation Gap Analysis
Outcome
By the end of Step 2, you will have a clear financial model that allows you to make decisions based on numbers, not just gut feeling—giving you confidence in how your business funds your long‒term ownership goals.
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Step 3: Value Growth Strategy
Turn Cash Flow into Long‒Term Wealth
Now that you have a financial roadmap in place, the next step is to increase the value of your business while ensuring it operates efficiently—whether you want to scale, sell, or simply gain more freedom. This step is about strategic execution—turning your financial model into a wealth‒building machine.
The iBD Value Growth Strategy focuses on maximizing cash flow and reducing risk by implementing the right initiatives that drive enterprise value.
Key Components of a Value Growth Strategy:
- Funding & Capital Allocation
- Value Growth Assessment
- Owner & CEO Priority Selection
- Integrating Growth Strategies
- Financial Roadmap Alignment
Outcome:
By the end of Step 3, you will have a structured value growth strategy that turns cash flow into long‒term enterprise value, helping you scale with purpose while reducing risk and increasing optionality.
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Step 4: Leadership Team & Pay
Reduce Founder Dependency & Build a Self‒Sustaining Business
A business that relies too heavily on its owner is not truly independent—nor is it valuable in the long run. The final step of the Independence by Design™ framework is about building a leadership team and compensation structure that allows the business to thrive without you.
This step ensures that leadership, incentives, and culture are aligned to create a business that can scale, run without daily founder involvement, and ultimately become a wealth‒building asset.
Key Components of Leadership Team & Pay:
- Design the Future Org Chart
- Assess the Leadership Team
- Develop a Leadership Pipeline
- Compensation & Incentive Plans
- Systematize Leadership & Culture
Outcome:
By the end of Step 4, your business will be structured to operate without you in the day‒to‒day, with a leadership team that drives growth, executes the vision, and aligns with your ownership goals. This step ensures you gain true independence—allowing you to focus on what matters most.
Download the iBD Owner's Playbook™
Most business owners build their companies for years—only to realize they’re still trapped inside them. Independence by Design™ gives you a structured path to break free from daily operations while growing your wealth and achieving true financial independence.
By implementing the iBD Framework, you will:
- Align your business decisions with your long-term goals
- Build a financial roadmap that creates predictable cash flow
- Execute value growth strategies that increase equity and reduce risk
- Develop a leadership team that runs the business—so you don’t have to
The goal isn’t just to build a more profitable business. It’s to create a wealth-building machine that funds your ideal life—on your terms.
“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.