The Alternative BoardFranchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing + SBA 7(a) records
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD franchise requires a total initial investment of $77K – $95K, including a $44K franchise fee. The 2025 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). Verdict grade: A. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified June 18, 2026 · figures per the 2025 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $77K – $95K
- 21st pct Business Serv…
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- 29th pct Business Serv…
- Royalty
- N/A
- Units
- 103
- 40th pct Business Serv…
- SBA default
- N/A
Quick verdict · Business Services · color = vs category peers
Green = >15% above Business Services avg · No shading = within ±15% · Red = >15% below avg · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Franchising since 1996. Systems this mature have refined operations and brand recognition.
Franchised units fell from 112 to 95 over 3 years. Investigate why operators are leaving.
Bottom line
- Total investment $77K – $95K including a $44K franchise fee.
- No Item 19 financial performance data disclosed. The franchisor chose not to publish revenue figures.
- Verdict A (Top Quintile) with a risk score of 26/100.
- System contracting at -15.2% CAGR over 3 years. Investigate whether closures are franchisor-driven (consolidation) or franchisee-driven (economics).
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
- Legal entity
- TAB Boards International, Inc.
- Ultimate parent
- None
- Predecessor
- Direct Communication Service
- Prior franchisor entity
- CEO title
- President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
- Jason P. Zickerman
- CEO experience
- 23 yrs
- Years in role or industry
- Incorporated in
- CO
- HQ
- 11031 Sheridan Boulevard, Westminster, Colorado 80020
- Auditor
- JDS Professional Group
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $6.6M
- vs $6.5M prior year
Independent franchisee associations
- Franchisee Advisory Board
Franchisee-led councils or alliances disclosed in Item 20. Indicates operator voice.
Affiliated brands
- Sun Development Company
- and predecessor DCS is a Missouri
- Allen Training Centers
- StratPro
Other brands the franchisor or its parent operates (Item 1).
Overview
About
THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD franchisees operate peer-advisory boards connecting small business owners for peer mentoring, strategic guidance, and accountability. Franchisees facilitate monthly board meetings, manage member relationships, and collect membership dues on behalf of the franchisor—generating revenue primarily through commission-based royalties on amounts collected rather than direct client fees.
- CEO
- Jason P. Zickerman
- Headquarters
- CO
- Founded
- 1996
- FDD year
- 2025
- States available
- 30
FDD Item 7 · 2025 filing · 12 line items
Initial investment breakdown
| Line item | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Feenot refundable | $44K | $44K | |
| Initial Training Feenot refundable | $25K | $25K | |
| Marketing Feenot refundable | $3K | $3K | |
| Initial Miscellaneous Marketing Campaign Expenses | $4K | $6K | |
| Mentor's Travel and Living Expenses | $0 | $4K | |
| Your Travel and Living Expenses During Initial Training Program | $0 | $5K | |
| Equipment | $0 | $2K | |
| Supplies, Stationery, and Business Cards | $250 | $500 | |
| Deposits and Licenses | $0 | $600 | |
| Website Fees for Three Months from the Start of Service Offering | $180 | $180 | |
| Accounting and Professional Fees | $0 | $4K | |
| Additional Funds for First Three Months After the Start of Service Offering | $2K | $2K | |
| Total initial investment | $77K | $95K |
Line items extracted from FDD Item 7. Ranges reflect the franchisor's stated low and high per line. Total is the sum of line-item lows / highs — actual costs may fall outside this range depending on market and build-out scope.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $77K – $95K
- Better than avg vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $2K – $2K
- Better than avg vs category
- Franchise fee
- $44K – $44K
- Better than avg vs category
- Royalty
- Sliding scale from 20% to 6% of Amounts Collected on Your…
- Ad fund
- 2.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 22.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty (flat) | A percentage of the Amounts Collected on Your Behalf paid on a sliding scale. You will not pay more than $60,000.00 as Royalty Fees in any given calendar year. |
| Marketing / ad fund | 2.0% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $720 |
| Training fee | $25K |
| Transfer fee | $8K |
| Renewal fee | $5K |
| Total fee load | 22.0% of rev |
Financial Performance
This franchisor did not disclose financial performance representations in Item 19, or our extractor could not parse them.
vs Business Services averages
How The Alternative Board Compares
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 103
- Opened
- 7
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 10
- Terminated
- 4
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 2
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- 9.7%
- Company-owned
- 8
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 92%
- vs corporate-owned
- Multi-unit owners
- 1.0%
- Net growth (yr3)
- -4.0%
- Net unit change last year
- 3-yr CAGR
- -15.2%
- Compounded over last 3 years
3-year detail · Item 20
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 4
- Transfers (3yr)
- 0
- Termination rate
- 5.8%
- Franchisor-initiated terminations
- Ceased ops
- 12.6%
- Units that stopped operating
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 20 · 39 states with active franchisees
The Territory Map
Derived from franchisee contact records. Shows states with at least one current operator. Not where the franchisor is registered to sell new units (that data is re-extracting in a future refresh).
States derived from franchisee contact records (FDD Item 20). Shows states with at least one current operator on file. Full state registration data (Item 12) will appear on a future FDD refresh.
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA 7(a) and 504 loan disclosures, public data unique to FranchiseVerdict.
- Total loans
- 19
- Loan volume
- N/A
- Amount data pending
- Median loan
- N/A
- Charge-off rate
- N/A
Historical SBA 7(a) lending data, not predictive of future performance. How SBA charge-off rates are calculated
- Repayment rate (PIF)
- N/A
- 5-yr charge-off
- N/A
- Loans approved 2021+
- Active lenders
- 0
- Defaults
- 0
Explore lender portfolios on Bank Reports or regional data on State Reports.
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 5, 6, 12, 17
Risk & Legal
TAB presents meaningful acquisition risk due to shrinking franchise network, opaque financial performance, aggressive royalty structure, and recent litigation over franchisee payment defaults—compounded by unprotected territory and lack of earnings transparency.
Litigation (Item 3)
TAB Boards International, Inc. v. Lawrence Reines (Case No. 2023CV33449, Denver County District Court, Colorado). Suit filed November 22, 2023 against former franchisee terminated April 18, 2023 for failure to pay accrued amounts and violation of non-disparagement and non-competition covenants. Dismissed with prejudice pursuant to Settlement and Release Agreement dated August 30, 2024.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · JDS Professional Group
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: Yes
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: No
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 26 / 100 rating
- 01MINORDeclining unit count (-4.0% YoY) suggests system contraction and potential market saturation or franchisee dissatisfaction
- 02MINORNo average revenue or net income disclosure (Item 19) prevents validation of earnings claims and ROI assessment
- 03MINORHigh royalty rate (20% at entry) on collected amounts creates aggressive cash drain, especially problematic for early-stage advisory businesses with variable cash flow
- 04HIGHRecent litigation (2023) involving non-payment and covenant violations indicates franchisee financial distress and enforcement challenges
- 05MINORUnprotected territory exposes franchisees to direct competition from other TAB board members in same geographic area
- 06MED5-year term is relatively short; limited runway to build recurring client base and recoup $44,000 franchise fee plus initial investment
- 07MINORSliding scale royalty structure (20%-6%) suggests performance-based model that may mask true cost burden in early years
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
FDD Items 5, 6, 12, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 5 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 5 years |
| Territory type | Geographic |
| Protected territory | No |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Not allowed |
| Owner-operator | Required |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 25 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Curable defaultsℹ | 3 |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Arbitration location | Denver, Colorado |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | Colorado |
| Litigation count | 1 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
TAB Boards International, Inc. v. Lawrence Reines (Case No. 2023CV33449, Denver County District Court, Colorado). Suit filed November 22, 2023 against former franchisee terminated April 18, 2023 for failure to pay accrued amounts and violation of non-disparagement and non-competition covenants. Dismissed with prejudice pursuant to Settlement and Release Agreement dated August 30, 2024.
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 56 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 0 hrs
- Training location
- On-site and corporate
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Franchisor financing
- Offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- Pipedrive
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: Pipedrive
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
100 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD · FDD (2025) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD franchise?
The total investment to open a THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD franchise ranges from $77K – $95K, with an initial franchise fee of $44K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD franchise owners earn?
THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD does not disclose average franchise owner earnings in their FDD Item 19. Not all franchisors are required to make financial performance representations. We recommend asking existing franchisees directly about their financial experience.
What is THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD (fewer than 10 loans on file). Charge-off rates are one way to gauge franchise risk, but not all franchise loans go through the SBA program. We recommend reviewing turnover and closure data in the FDD and speaking with current franchisees.
How many THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD has 103 total units in the United States, including 112 franchised units and 8 company-owned units. 7 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates THE ALTERNATIVE BOARD as a A-grade franchise with a risk score of 26 out of 100, based on our analysis of investment costs, revenue data, SBA loan performance, and growth trends. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
For franchisors
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Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.