--- title: "The company building framework for founders and business leaders" url: https://www.simonwakeman.com/b3/ description: "The B3 framework® is a free, simple yet powerful company building framework for founders and business leaders of scaling businesses." author: Simon Wakeman --- # The company building framework for founders and business leaders Introducing the framework ## Create a company that’s sustainable, resilient and performs consistently The B3 framework® helps founders and leaders be confident they are creating a coherent and high performing business. It is designed for businesses that: - Are aiming for or experiencing **rapid growth**. - Are undertaking **mergers & acquisitions** (M&A). - Need **transformational change** or **turnaround**. The craft of company building ## A systematic approach to support business creation The B3 framework® is used to systematically create and improve technology and digital businesses. It’s used by: - Start-up **founders**. - VC and PE **investors**. - **CEOs**, **GMs** and **company leadership** teams. The framework ## Four layers, fifteen components The framework is made up of fifteen components, grouped into four layers. - Layer 1 ### [Fundamental basics](https://www.simonwakeman.com/b3/framework/fundamental-basics/) Setting out why the business exists, what it does for customers and how it wants to develop as a company in the future. Why · What · How Explore the layer → - Layer 2 ### [Making a business](https://www.simonwakeman.com/b3/framework/making-a-business/) Taking the foundational aspirations and working out how they might translate into a viable commercial business. Strategy · Operating model Explore the layer → - Layer 3 ### [Building the organisation](https://www.simonwakeman.com/b3/framework/building-the-organisation/) The building blocks of a functioning organisation so that people collaborate effectively towards common goals. Roles · Structure · Governance · Decision making Explore the layer → - Layer 4 ### [Operating the business](https://www.simonwakeman.com/b3/framework/operating-the-business/) Practical day-to-day activities, tools and initiatives that are needed to run the company effectively. Cadence & communication · Change leadership · Performance · Process · Systems · Standards Explore the layer → [Explore the framework](https://www.simonwakeman.com/b3/framework/) How to use the framework ## A flexible toolkit The B3 framework® can be used in a range of applications depending on the business context and goals. It recognises there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for building businesses and encourages genuine experimentation and adaptation. [Implementing the framework](https://www.simonwakeman.com/b3/implementation/) ### Readiness to scale Understanding how ready a business is for rapid scaling and providing a clear roadmap for addressing any blockers to growth. ### Troubleshooting issues Evaluating performance issues in a business to understand underlying causes and what needs to be done to fix them. ### Delivering change Helping understand how significant change can be delivered systematically, including in M&A transactions or major company turnaround situations. ## Why choose the B3 framework® ### Grounded in progressive practice Developed based on more than 60 interviews with successful founders and investors during 2023. ### Based on real experience Developed by [Simon Wakeman](https://www.simonwakeman.com/about-me/) based on over 25 years’ experience in consultancy, agency, technology & digital businesses. ### Free to use for any business Released under an [open source licence](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), the B3 framework® can be adopted and used at no cost by any business. ## Founders love the B3 framework® > “One of the toughest parts of scaling is making sure you are focussing on the right issues and asking the right questions – the B3 framework has proven invaluable in helping guide our thinking and give structure to our actions. > > The specific focus on helping us identify the right issues to focus on without being prescriptive on how we should solve meant that we could structure our thinking but also find the solutions that are right for us rather than try to force our business into tools or techniques that are not suitable.” **Ronald Ashri**, Chief Product and Technology Officer, [Opendialog.ai](https://opendialog.ai/) – series A tech growth business ![Dr Ronald Ashri](https://www.simonwakeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ronald-ashri-300x300.jpeg) Thinking about company building ## B3 articles from _Build_ [All 28 B3 articles →](https://www.simonwakeman.com/b3/articles/) - 8th February 2024 ### [Build #30 – Pastiche in business](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2024/02/08/pastiche-in-business/) I had an initial conversation with a founder recently that stuck with me. The founder told me in detail about the company they were creating. … - 25th January 2024 ### [Build #29 – How role definition drives growth](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2024/01/25/how-role-definition-drives-growth/) This month I’ve been working on an interesting project helping a business define roles. For start-ups moving into a scaling phase, founders often wrestle with … - 11th January 2024 ### [What I really learnt then](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2024/01/11/what-i-really-learnt/) Twelve months ago I left behind the relative comfort of being part of a business leadership team and the monthly salary that came with it … ## Want help using the B3 framework® in your business? I use it with founders as a fractional COO, consultant and advisor. [How I work](https://www.simonwakeman.com/how-i-work/) ![](https://www.simonwakeman.com/b3/assets/b3-logo-240.png) You can distribute, remix, adapt, and build on the B3 framework® in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given through a link back to this website. [Full licence details (CC BY-SA 4.0)](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).