About Independence by Design™
Ownership deserves a plan of its own.
Your business should give you the freedom of time and money, whether you scale, step back or sell. Independence by Design grew out of Ryan’s experience rebuilding and selling a family business. The Ownership Operating System connects that purpose to your company’s goals, numbers and decisions.
Ryan Tansom · Founder
I built the system I wish we'd had.
In my first year officially working in our family business, my dad and I learned we'd lost $940,000 on $21 million in revenue. We spent the next several years rebuilding the company. We sold it when I was 27.
The sale changed the business, my work and the people around me. I went to work inside the buyer's company and left 60 days later. The transaction had answered one question. I still had to work out what I wanted my life to look like.
That experience led me to study how ownership decisions fit together. Through coaching, workshops and podcast conversations, I kept returning to the relationship between time, cash flow and wealth.
The iBD Ownership OS™ grew out of that work. It gives you a way to connect your goals, your company's numbers and the choices in front of you while you still have time to shape them.
My story · 28 minutes
Why I built iBD
Rebuilding and selling a family business raised the questions that shaped Independence by Design. This recording follows that experience, the change in an owner's role and what came after the sale.
Recorded in 2025. The current method and program details are explained throughout this website.
The people behind the work
Ownership, revenue and technology.
We bring different responsibilities to the same work: helping you understand your choices and use your own Playbook.
Founder
Ryan Tansom
Ryan leads the method, writes the curriculum, hosts the podcast and coaches owners. His work connects your ownership direction to financial planning, leadership and the decisions your company needs to make.
Partner · Chief Revenue Officer
Kim Clark
Kim leads iBD's revenue function and the Predictable Revenue work. Her focus includes the customer journey, acquisition economics, revenue systems and forecasting.
Chief Information Officer
Paul Rehovsky
Paul leads iBD's technology, information and AI work. He supports client setup, the working platform and the practical use of the tools.
The ownership choice stays yours.
You may want to keep the business, grow it, change your operating role or consider a sale. We help you examine the trade-offs with your goals and actual numbers. You make the decision.
Use the public teaching independently, or work with us to apply it to your company.
See how the ideas fit together.
Start with your Velocity Score and Roadmap, build your Owner’s Playbook and keep using it as you work toward independence.