We are a global community, willing to both give and receive to improve our business and the people within it.

Running a business can be isolating. The decisions are heavy, the stakes are high, and the pressure rarely lets up. We created The Alternative Board (TAB) so you don’t have to navigate it alone. Inside the TAB Experience, you gain the clarity on what you've been too close to notice, the structure to turn ideas into disciplined action, and the accountability to follow through when it’s uncomfortable. Most importantly, you gain a trusted circle that challenges you, supports you, and helps you show up as the leader your business needs most.
When you join TAB, you’re onboarded intentionally with a clear plan for engaging the frameworks, programs, and conversations that matter most. Within the first few months you will:
Ask a TAB member what the experience is like and you’ll hear more than metrics. You’ll hear about clearer thinking in moments of pressure, accountability that prevents drift, honest conversations that drive improvement, and confidence replacing uncertainty.
Behind the growth numbers are real stories of leaders who stopped carrying the burden alone.
“I have been a TAB member for almost 3 years and the growth I have made personally and professionally can not be matched. Knowing that I have a team of other business owners I can connect to and who are there to support me has made all the difference. John [my coach] has also been so helpful in pushing me to the next level both in my personal life and in business. I couldn't be more grateful.”
“Over 10+ years, the candid advice and thoughtful feedback from my fellow TAB members and facilitators have been invaluable. Whether navigating complex decisions or refining growth strategies, TAB has consistently provided a trusted environment for insight and clarity. I highly recommend TAB to any business owner looking to grow strategically and lead more effectively.”
“My personal stress level today compared to prior to TAB has been reduced by 70%”
TAB members consistently describe their experience as both a business advantage and a personal support system that helps them grow with clarity, confidence, and connection.

Our TAB Member Survey data shows clear, measurable impact.
Members believe TAB adds real value to their business and personal lives
TAB is designed for leaders who want more profit, productivity, and personal fulfillment.

See how real business owners turned complexity into clarity, growth, and stronger leadership—and explore the full archive of case studies to dive deeper into TAB member stories. TAB Members stay an average of 5+ years—not because they have to, but because the value keeps compounding. And with month-to-month membership, you're always free to leave whenever you choose.

When George joined TAB in 1995, his company was growing rapidly, but he lacked experienced business guidance and formal support to navigate scaling challenges. Through decades on his TAB Peer Advisory Board, he gained perspective, refined his leadership philosophy, and strengthened a people-first culture rooted in accountability and profit-sharing. The outcome: PSI grew into a $10 million company with 40 employees, and George built not just a thriving business, but a lifestyle aligned with his personal definition of success.

As a nonprofit leader, Stacey was determined to build a mission-driven organization that operated with the discipline and structure of a strong business, but lacked a peer group that treated her like a CEO rather than “just” a nonprofit director. Through her TAB board, she gained actionable solutions around marketing, staffing, and operations, along with the accountability and perspective shared by fellow business leaders. The result: Breakthrough strengthened its operational foundation, expanded its impact, and reinforced a leadership model rooted in empathy, structure, and sustainable growth.

Two years after launching his environmental consulting firm, Jon sought mentorship and structured accountability to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship. Through his TAB board and coaching support, he gained confidence in decision-making, strategic planning discipline, and long-term goal alignment. The result: his business tripled in revenue, strengthened profitability, and created a high-quality work environment for both him and his team.

Jennifer had built a thriving event management company, but global crises—from 9/11 to COVID-19—repeatedly tested her business’s resilience, culminating in a near-total shutdown of her industry during the pandemic. Through TAB’s strategic planning and risk management work, she had already built a roadmap that allowed her to pivot, protect her team, and navigate prolonged disruption without layoffs or furloughs. The outcome: JDC emerged stronger, more innovative, and diversified, with Jennifer crediting TAB as a critical force behind her growth and long-term sustainability.
The Alternative Board (TAB) has supported business leaders for more than 30 years across 27 countries. TAB’s Business Builder’s Advantage is a complete system designed by and for business owners and leaders, integrating peer advisory, coaching, leadership development, and manager training into one structured framework.

“Joining TAB has been one of the best decisions I’ve made as a business owner… It’s helped me think more strategically, grow my company with confidence, and make better decisions—not just for my business, but for myself as a leader.”
Tara McCafferty
SoFo Solution Focused HR
At TAB we support and celebrate our community member’s personal and business vision, journey, and achievement through measured accountability, collective wisdom, continuous learning, innovation and leveraging global best practices and tools. We are a giving and receiving community, where we treat each other as we would like to be treated and pursue trusted advisor relationships.
We are a global community, willing to both give and receive to improve our business and the people within it.
We are accountable for our results in all areas of our work and lives.
We believe lifelong learning improves our knowledge, perspective and self- awareness.
We are agents of change and embrace innovation, fresh ideas and approaches.
We are passionate about TAB and the impact it has on businesses, communities and lives.
We continuously strive to provide excellence in everything we do.
We always interact with others in a respectful and professional manner.
Community: We are a global community, willing to both give and receive to improve our business and the people within it.
Accountability: We are accountable for our results in all areas of our work and lives.
Learning: We believe lifelong learning improves our knowledge, perspective and self- awareness.
Innovation: We are agents of change and embrace innovation, fresh ideas and approaches.
Belief: We are passionate about TAB and the impact it has on businesses, communities and lives.
Excellence: We continuously strive to provide excellence in everything we do.
Respect: We always interact with others in a respectful and professional manner.
Allen E. Fishman, a Wall Street Journal and Amazon.com bestselling author, is Founder and Executive Chairman of The Alternative Board (TAB®), the world’s largest franchise system offering peer advisory groups and coaching services for business owners. The TAB system has benefited over 20,000 businesses and business owners in countries around the world.
Allen Fishman has a fiery passion for entrepreneurship and a desire to provide needed unique processes and tools every privately-owned business could use to achieve greater success. Strategic Business Leadership®, is one of the business systems Mr. Fishman has developed. It is an easy-to-use business coaching system used by TAB franchisees with their TAB members to move business owners from a leadership style based upon the “idea of the week” to one based upon strategic thinking. The unique Strategic Business Leadership® coaching process includes a series of simple exercises designed to help entrepreneurs merge their personal and business goals to set a course toward success – on their own terms.
Prior to creating TAB, Mr. Fishman was President and co-owner of a consumer electronics chain, which, after attaining great success, became a publicly traded company listed in the USA on the NASDAQ exchange.
Mr. Fishman holds a finance degree, Magna Cum Laude, and a Juris Doctorate law degree.
His advice and perspectives have assisted business owners around the world to lead their businesses to greater success and to achieve greater personal balance in their life. Mr. Fishman is a noted expert on what is needed for businesses to move to greater levels of success. He has been featured in numerous media outlets, such as The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, Fortune Small Business, Business Week, the Chicago Tribune, Denver Post and Nation’s Business, and Profit Magazine. He has also been a frequent guest on television networks, such as CNN, CNBC, Bloomberg, and First Business and on radio shows such as Public Radio International’s Marketplace. Fishman’s ease with the media stems back to the time he hosted his own business talk radio show, Formula for Success, on a CBS affiliate.
Mr. Fishman has been honored to address organizations such as the Institute of Management Science, the Mobil Oil Distributor Group, the Consumer Electronics Industries Association, the National Association of Retail Dealers of America (“NARDA”), and the National Association of Corporate Growth.
For over a decade, Mr. Fishman wrote the newspaper business advice column, Business Insights, which was nationally syndicated throughout the USA by Tribune Media Services.
His business books include:
• 7 Secrets of Great Entrepreneurial Masters: The GEM Power Formula for Lifelong Success
• 9 Elements of Family Business Success: A Proven Formula for Improving Leadership & Relationships in Family Business
• Strategic Business Leadership: A system for moving from a leadership style based upon the “Idea of the Week” to one based upon Strategic Thinking
• The Alignment Factor: Unlock Potential, Boost Employee Performance, and Increase Profits
• Allen Fishman’s Business Financing Kit: Financing advice for business owners and managers
• StratPro: The Strategic Business Transformation Process
• The Five Habits of High Impact Managers: Take Your Management and Leadership Skills to the Next Level
• The Aligned Workplace: More Productivity! Less Stress!
As the President and CEO, Jason drives the strategic vision and continued expansion of The Alternative Board’s (TAB) international business advisory network. Jason’s ability to counsel and reshape businesses to positions of market leadership has driven TAB’s landmark success; becoming one of the world’s largest for-profit peer board and coaching services.
Jason is dedicated to education and advocacy in the international franchise community. He has earned the designation of Certified Franchise Executive and he is a member of the ICFE Board of Governors for the International Franchise Association. Jason’s involvement in the International Franchise Association is significant. He is a member of the International Committee, including acting as the Vice Chair and is a frequent speaker and moderator at the IFA’s international conferences.
On weekends, you will find Jason enjoying live music, spending time outdoors hiking, climbing, running and smoking food.
Jason lives by the question “When was the last time you did something for the first time?”
Jason’s personal vision is to spend 4 months a year traveling with my bride, Lynette.
Dave Scarola joined TAB in 2008 and serves as TAB’s Chief Operating Officer (COO). As COO, Dave is responsible for overseeing the operational aspects of TAB’s global organization. He also looks over the tools, processes and protocols for TAB’s Coaching and Board Facilitation Programs. Dave’s previous roles include CIO of ResortQuest, Director at KPMG and VP at Carnegie Group, Inc, an early pioneer in the Artificial Intelligence space. Dave is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and has a Master’s degree from the University of Denver. Dave is a PMP in good standing from the Project Management Institute and was the lead editor of TAB’s Timeless Principles book.
On weekends, you will find Dave volunteering at the Samaritan House and Breakthrough with the goal of helping the homeless and the incarcerated make their way back into the workforce. He is also on the Board of the Longmont Humane Society.
Dave’s credo is “steady, modest successes are preferable to one spectacular failure”. Dave is an avid runner, has completed five marathons, and hopes he has at least one more very long race in his future.
At a glance, TAB Members Are:

TAB operates in 27 countries, connecting members to a worldwide network of business owners. Your board is local, but the perspective you gain is global. With TAB Connect, tap into our global network of thousands of business owners to solve challenges and share expertise.
Sorry, we do not currently have a TAB Board available in your area. To be alerted when a TAB Board becomes available in your region, click here
Alternatively, if you would like to learn more about how you can bring the TAB brand to your region as a TAB Board Facilitator / Coach, click here
Being a TAB member means having ongoing support as you navigate the real challenges of running a business. Our integrated Business Builder’s Advantage system includes:

Structured monthly meetings with fellow leaders who provide candid insight, challenge assumptions, and share real-world experience.

Personalized sessions focused on your leadership, blind spots, and growth priorities.

A strategic transformation program that helps your team get on the same page, work collaboratively, and make progress toward your long-term goals.

Management development that strengthens your leadership bench and aligns managers around accountability and communication.

Our proven digital platform that helps you lead strategically and drive your business instead of reacting to it.
Not sure where to start?
Practical resources designed to strengthen strategy, leadership, execution, and decision-making—so growth is supported by structure, not guesswork.
Unlike other peer board groups which require an all-day commitment, TAB’s 4-hour monthly meetings are structured to deliver maximum impact without overwhelming your schedule.
Industry diversity is built in by design to prevent groupthink and bring in fresh perspectives. And in practice, at least 75% of the challenges business owners face are universal, regardless of industry."
Confidentiality is foundational. Members operate under strict agreements that foster trust and candor.
Most programs offer surface-level advice or disconnected tools. TAB gives you a complete, integrated system of coaching, strategy, peer support, team development, and planning, all aligned to help you lead with more clarity and confidence. The Business Builder Advantage isn’t a course - it’s an executable business advantage.
We get it, you're busy. That’s why we designed the Business Builder Advantage to reduce the noise, not add to it. With structured support and aligned tools, you’ll spend less time reacting and more time leading. Members often tell us they “finally feel in control again.”
If you’re a business owner or leader of a privately held, growth-focused company, TAB was built for you. Our members span industries, but they all have one thing in common: they’re ready to lead better and grow smarter with support that actually works.
Many members report shifts in mindset and clearer decision-making within the first few sessions. Tangible business results, such as better execution, more aligned teams, and stronger leaders, build over time through consistency, guidance, and commitment.
Leadership carries weight. TAB provides perspective, accountability, and a structured path forward, so you can make clearer decisions, strengthen your team, and build a business that performs at its peak.
TAB helps forward-thinking business owners grow their businesses, increase profitability and improve their lives by leveraging local business advisory boards, private business coaching and proprietary strategic services.