Step One: SBUSA Board Participation Agreement (BPA)

An important aspect of each peer advisory board is each member's commitment to participating in a manner consistent with our BPA.  Before becoming a member, we ask that you first commit to our guiding principles.

You will be asked to acknowledge the BPA at the bottom of the page.

You must attend and participate in all board meetings.  Board meetings are scheduled in a manner that allows for long-term planning (for example, the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7am)  As a member of a Peer Advisory Board, your participation is critical to the success of your board.  Each board is planned around your individual and group contribution.  Please block off 3 hours for each board meeting.  Established boards generally run for 2 hours, but at times, circumstances may necessitate slightly longer meetings.

Additionally, every business holds a lesson for the other.  Your active participation (uninterrupted attention, visual presence, and advice) is required.

Each member is required to sign a Nondisclosure Agreement prior to their first board meeting.  We take your discretion very seriously.   Because of the intense nature of our conversations, it is imperative that each peer board remain a safe place for our members to share challenges, obstacles, and growth strategies.  Your confidentiality pertains to both relationships within your board, and within our community of business owners and CEOs.

As a member of Small Business USA LLC, you commit to always acting in a manner that aligns with the needs of the companies you support.  As you become closer to the members on your board, it may become increasing difficult to give critical feedback on activities they hold close.  It is your responsibility to speak up when it is uncomfortable and difficult.  Each conversation should be treated as though you have a fiduciary stake in your peer's business.

It is required that as a member of Small Business USA, you invest time in knowing and understanding your peer members as well as their businesses.  This investment in time will allow you to support your peers with solutions and feedback that best aligns with their business and leadership needs, it will also create a strong referral relationship.

Our board meetings are open on Zoom 30 minutes prior to the start of each meeting to allow for open dialogues and networking.  With that noted, it is expected that you come prepared to start each meeting promptly at the designated time.   Preparation includes being prepared to deliver clear and concise follow-up from the last meeting, any state of the company changes since your last meeting, and come prepared with the items on your agenda for peer review.  Being prepared allows you to deliver your needs more clearly, but also respects and values your time and that of your peers.  Your consultant will help you understand how the board works and how to best prepare prior to your first meeting. 

One of the greatest gifts we have is the ability to help each other.  By agreeing to become a member of our community, you are agreeing to support your peers in their time of need.  There may be times when a consultant can not solve a challenge of one of our members.  At these times, we may call on members of our community to have a 15 - 30 minute call with a peer from another board to help solve their problem.  We value these moments as an opportunity to save our members money, but also as an opportunity to introduce two members who almost always leave with a valuable referral relationship.