📚 Book One · Launching October 15, 2026

The Owner Dependency Tax™ Series

Build a business that's Owner Optional

Design a business that frees you — not one that owns you. Owner Optional is the argument for the owner: what owner dependency actually costs you in freedom, equity value, and peace of mind — and why the fix is never the org chart.

By Joe Lorenz | Growth Advisor | BEI Owner Based Planner | Former Vistage Chair | Former EOS Implementer

Owner Optional book cover

What you'll discover

A complete methodology for transforming your business from founder-centric to enterprise-centric.

1

The true cost of owner dependency

Exactly how much your inability to step away is costing you — in reduced business value, missed opportunities, and personal freedom.

2

The five dependency areas

Decision-making, client relationships, operations, sales & marketing, and knowledge transfer — where owners get stuck and how to tell which one is holding you.

3

Why the fix is never the org chart

The mindset shift from founder-centric to enterprise-centric thinking, with the specific behavioral changes each stage requires.

4

The Four Stages of Freedom™

The progression every owner-led business moves through, and a clear picture of what each transition actually demands of the owner.

5

What "owner optional" really means

The destination — a Must-Have Company™ that runs without you — and how to know when you've arrived.

Who it's for

Founder-led and family business owners generating $3M–$50M in revenue who want the business to be an asset, not a life sentence.

Start before the book ships

Take the full Owner Dependency Tax assessment to get your personalized score and roadmap now — then the book gives you the playbook.