Business Owner Groups
San Francisco Bay Area

"I have no one to talk with about my business challenges. II can't talk with my employees or my spouse. I feel isolated in my decision making."

You don't have to feel like this. Growing and running your business is a lot easier if you get needed help. The best help often comes from your peers--other business owners.

WE HARNESS THE POWER OF A GROUP OF SUCCESSFUL OWNERS 

Join one of our groups of savvy business owners and you'll get the support you need to tackle the challenges you face.

Large organizations have a board of outside advisors. Small businesses often lack this invaluable resource. We provide it. 

"AM I TOO SMALL OR TOO BIG TO JOIN A BUSINESS GROUP?"
Different size businesses have different problems. We have groups for three levels:
1. One or two-person outfits, Sole professionals, home-based businesses and start-ups.
2. A few employees -- established and growing. 
3. Up to 100 or more employees -- with a management structure, may have multiple locations.

Business Owner Group meeting in Marin County, CA, hosted by Yoshi Tome 

WHO IS THIS FOR? WHAT CHALLENGES DO THEY FACE?     
Read about some typical business owners and their challenges.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? Achieve your goals of growth, profitability, and desired work style Want to see dramatic improvements in members' business performance? Read their Success Stories. You often hear that 4 out of 5 small businesses go belly up within a few years. We turn that statistic on its head: 80% of our members achieve their goals.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
Each group of ten owners – led by a professional leader who runs a successful business and has proven coaching and consulting skills -- meets once a month for half a day. During the meetings, you can bring up any business issue. “Peer to peer” problem solving is the focus and this leads to solutions as it develops learning and trust among the participants. Here are some that are familiar to any business owner:

• “I’ve got this problem employee.” 
  
• “We’ve got more business than we can handle, and can’t find good workers.” 
  
• “Business is down, and we have high overhead.” 
  
• “Give me some feedback on our new website.”
  
• “I'd like to groom my managers to take over so I can eventually retire." 
  

• Professional leadership
• A variety of different businesses brings broader perspective
  
• Focus on “eye level” immediate problems
  
• A balance between strategic overview and ad hoc problem-solving
  
• Ongoing group support
  
• Cost-effective business problem solutions 
  

WHY DON’T ALL BUSINESS OWNERS JOIN?
Some have the “Lone Ranger Mentality.” They say things like—

“Can’t afford help.”
“Don’t need advice.”
“Just need to keep working.”

What’s the impact of this thinking? They feel isolated. They make unnecessary mistakes. Stuck in molasses with constricted vision, many simply burn out. Alas, it's the flip side of our slogan . . .
“How to go crazy without growing your business!”

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Mike Van Horn , President, The Business Group © 2010