IIB Institute For Independent Business Attractive Business Model, Bad Organization New York New York

The IIB is about generating revenue by accrediting new associates. Plain and simple. That's their business model. They need to maintain a basic level of quality, but don't be under any illusions as a new associate.

1. You will have to modify their sales script if you have any personal integrity. Pretending to be part of a government small business support program is unacceptable in my book. Similarly the fake approval process for BSPs is laughable - even worse than used-car sales.

2. IIB appointments are mainly worthless. Most of the business owners targeted think they are getting something free (see above) and feel conned when they realize what's going on. Even if they want help, they couldn't afford to pay a realistic rate. You will need to develop your own marketing plan (which they do admit during the training and give you some very 80's approaches).

3. The IIB consulting training is also worthless. If you don't have the skills and experience already, you will struggle (but they will accredit you anyway).

4. The mass e-mail system is a joke. There are a few useful emails but the majority are spam (selling personal stuff, dubious 'business' opportunities), pleas for help by associates who can't figure out how to use Microsoft software, and associates who are looking for free advice. This leads to the next point.

5. Most associates do not sub-contract, even when they are clearly out of their depth. This means that there are very few genuine opportunities to get business within the network.

6. The excuse that those who fail don't follow the IIB recipe is bogus. It doesn't work. Those who are successful develop their own business model.

The IIB is about generating revenue by accrediting new associates. Plain and simple. That's their business model. They need to maintain a basic level of quality, but don't be under any illusions as a new associate.

1. You will have to modify their sales script if you have any personal integrity. Pretending to be part of a government small business support program is unacceptable in my book. Similarly the fake approval process for BSPs is laughable - even worse than used-car sales.

2. IIB appointments are mainly worthless. Most of the business owners targeted think they are getting something free (see above) and feel conned when they realize what's going on. Even if they want help, they couldn't afford to pay a realistic rate. You will need to develop your own marketing plan (which they do admit during the training and give you some very 80's approaches).

3. The IIB consulting training is also worthless. If you don't have the skills and experience already, you will struggle (but they will accredit you anyway).

4. The mass e-mail system is a joke. There are a few useful emails but the majority are spam (selling personal stuff, dubious 'business' opportunities), pleas for help by associates who can't figure out how to use Microsoft software, and associates who are looking for free advice. This leads to the next point.

5. Most associates do not sub-contract, even when they are clearly out of their depth. This means that there are very few genuine opportunities to get business within the network.

6. The excuse that those who fail don't follow the IIB recipe is bogus. It doesn't work. Those who are successful develop their own business model.

The IIB is about generating revenue by accrediting new associates. Plain and simple. That's their business model. They need to maintain a basic level of quality, but don't be under any illusions as a new associate.

1. You will have to modify their sales script if you have any personal integrity. Pretending to be part of a government small business support program is unacceptable in my book. Similarly the fake approval process for BSPs is laughable - even worse than used-car sales.

2. IIB appointments are mainly worthless. Most of the business owners targeted think they are getting something free (see above) and feel conned when they realize what's going on. Even if they want help, they couldn't afford to pay a realistic rate. You will need to develop your own marketing plan (which they do admit during the training and give you some very 80's approaches).

3. The IIB consulting training is also worthless. If you don't have the skills and experience already, you will struggle (but they will accredit you anyway).

4. The mass e-mail system is a joke. There are a few useful emails but the majority are spam (selling personal stuff, dubious 'business' opportunities), pleas for help by associates who can't figure out how to use Microsoft software, and associates who are looking for free advice. This leads to the next point.

5. Most associates do not sub-contract, even when they are clearly out of their depth. This means that there are very few genuine opportunities to get business within the network.

6. The excuse that those who fail don't follow the IIB recipe is bogus. It doesn't work. Those who are successful develop their own business model.

The IIB is about generating revenue by accrediting new associates. Plain and simple. That's their business model. They need to maintain a basic level of quality, but don't be under any illusions as a new associate.

1. You will have to modify their sales script if you have any personal integrity. Pretending to be part of a government small business support program is unacceptable in my book. Similarly the fake approval process for BSPs is laughable - even worse than used-car sales.

2. IIB appointments are mainly worthless. Most of the business owners targeted think they are getting something free (see above) and feel conned when they realize what's going on. Even if they want help, they couldn't afford to pay a realistic rate. You will need to develop your own marketing plan (which they do admit during the training and give you some very 80's approaches).

3. The IIB consulting training is also worthless. If you don't have the skills and experience already, you will struggle (but they will accredit you anyway).

4. The mass e-mail system is a joke. There are a few useful emails but the majority are spam (selling personal stuff, dubious 'business' opportunities), pleas for help by associates who can't figure out how to use Microsoft software, and associates who are looking for free advice. This leads to the next point.

5. Most associates do not sub-contract, even when they are clearly out of their depth. This means that there are very few genuine opportunities to get business within the network.

6. The excuse that those who fail don't follow the IIB recipe is bogus. It doesn't work. Those who are successful develop their own business model.

1. After further reflection on the Withdrawal of my Ripoff report, I do sincerely and unreservedly apologizeto all the Associates, to the leaders of the Institute, particularly to the Founder and Principal, Linden Dyason, and his management team. I now realize that my report brought the Institute into disrepute. I also realize now the enormity of the damage my report will have caused to the recruitment of new Associates and to the termination of Associates' consultancy assignments.

It was inappropriate to post this attack on the Institute in order to persuade prospective Associates that they could come and join my consultancy, which I based on what I had admitted was an extremely attractive IIB business model.

2. I sincerely apologize for making statements such as:

I've never seen an organization so adapt at misleading and deceiving so many extremely intelligent people.

...my fellow associates, began to doubt the system...

Many became distrustful of the ethics of the leaders of the organization, there were even talks by many of suing IIB.

The truth of these statements was not ascertained and was based only on my particular experience. It seemed at the time that by making them I could deter senior executives from joining the Institute and, instead, come join my thriving consultancy.

3. Also, I apologize for writing:

... appointments with business owners (made under a false pretense and with ill-qualified prospects, most associates find this to be a complete waste)

In hindsight, I now understand that it is only some Associates who find IIB appointments to be a complete waste of time, and that this is simply because they do not faithfully use the Institute's proven methodology of finding new clientswhich is all covered within the IIB guarantee of $105,000 earnings in the first 12 months. Also I now understand that all appointments are set to certain criteria or replaced free of charge.

4. It was inaccurate to suggest (and, I again, apologize for writing) that the IIB Community of Associates was just

...a network who would send me daily emails alerting me to opportunities seeking to work with someone who had my qualifications (these mostly consisted of guys in England trying to rent out their vacation home in Spain or other irrelevant twaddle).

I now have a better understanding of the IIB unique mass email facility. These rental opportunities were actually only a very insignificant number of the hundreds of real business opportunities Associates get every week, needing the specialist skills of Associates to be subcontracted to provide Associates' clients with practical advice that works available anywhere in the world.

5. I also apologize for writing:

...(the IIB) consists mainly of those who were deluded into the scheme and are more than happy to expose the lack of ethics of the organization.

Again, in hindsight I realize that I had no basis on which to claim that over 5,000 experienced senior executives were deluded into joining the Institute. Nor do I have any evidence as to any lack of ethics in the organization. In fact, looking at the IIB Code of Ethics and the Code of Conduct one can see that the Institute prides itself on maintaining very high standards of business ethics.

6. Again, I sincerely now apologize for writing,

...the IIB was a sham and their system did not work... and What the IIB teaches is worthless... and ...the IIB was a scam....

I must admit that the IIB system will not work for anyone, me included, simply because I did not work the system. That is, I did it my way instead of the IIB Way. I did not present the Business Support Program to prospective clients in the way required in the IIB methodologywhich, as I have said, is actually guaranteed to workbut only if one works it faithfully. Which is just the same with any methodologythe same for instance in making a cake. If you don't use the right ingredients, or if you vary the ingredients, then you will end up with a cake you can't eat. I chose not to apply the methodology the IIB provided for in the Consultancy Business Development Program feeswhich are very justifiable fees compared to the costs of becoming a successful independent business.

7. By the way, I now realize that due to the Selection Panel assessment process, it is impossible to pay for accreditation. So I do apologize for having said

I decided to purchase my accreditation from the IIB.
And, finally, I also apologize for saying:

... I have heard that the organization has lowered the bar and started to let some in who really don't fit...

I had no evidence of any lowering of the bar.

A few thoughts on Elizabeth's retraction -

1. I did not purchase my accreditation from the IIB, but rather went through their process of application, interview, selection and training, and was accredited after satisfactorily completing the necessary criteria.

In the RBS I attended, I would say that 30% should not have been accredited. There is no rigorous testing or assessment. You are paying for accreditation.

3. The organization has other good things to offer besides its sales pitch to you on the way in.

Yes - there are good associates and positive things.

4. I have no knowledge of associates doubting the IIB's system.

Plenty of associates doubt the system - they move on or complain and get forced out. Do the math. Let's say 30 associates per RBS for 10 months a year in the US and the UK each. That over 700 a year, but the network doesn't get any larger. If there are about 2500 active associates, the turnover is about 25% a year.


5. I have no knowledge of anyone becoming distrustful of the ethics of the leaders of the organization.

I am distrustful of the ethics of the leaders of the organization for one.



7. Appointments with business owners are made truthfully and with qualified prospects, associates get value from this.

Absolutely not. Business owners are intentionally misled into thinking the IIB is some kind of government funded program. They can be quite angry when they find out you're selling something.


8. The network did send me hundreds of daily emails alerting me to opportunities some of which were businesses looking for someone of my qualifications, such leads were valuable.

The mass email system is a huge waste of time. It's an example of the IIB not investing a penny in making it better (it does have the potential to be so much better).

9. The IIB does have positive brand awareness in the business community; the organization does have ethics and prides itself on them.

The IIB ethics are a sham. They are mainly used to protect the income of the IIB. But don't assume that an IIB associate is unethical. There are many good ones who have built business by delivering value to their clients.

10. The IIB is not a sham, their system has the potential to work.

The system does have the potential to work, but it's down to the individual associate. The shame is that the IIB invests nothing to improve the awful training and website. The IIB could be an excellent network.

11. I have no knowledge of the organization having lowered the bar and letting unqualified people in.

They haven't lowered the bar. I doubt it was ever any higher. At least 25% of the people at my RBS had no business giving anyone advice.

12. I was not disappointed; the IIB was not a scam.

The IIB is not a scam. It's got potential, but needs management committed to improving it.

13. What the IIB teaches is not worthless, in fact it is worth a great deal.

There is definitely some value. I hope the associates and IIB management spend some time and money improving the network.


I think the long term problem for the IIB's business model is that the rise in social networking and collaboration is leaving them behind. The UK and US IIB management should be investing in a state of the art website and upgrading the training and sales model to ensure that they accredit excellent associates and support them with a competitive network. They could easily adapt the sales pitch and come up with a high quality, contemporary consulting model.

The problem is that they arrogantly defend their system and create an environment that inhibits any constructive discussion within the network.

To whom it may concern,

After having worked as an associate for over 4 years now, I was happy to see the retraction on this post. Unfortunately, the damage has been done and, as you may suspect, any rebuttals are a letdown to the original posting and are given some lousy real estate at the very end of the article (which has actually been retracted but not removed)?

Nonetheless, and since my accreditation is what's really at issue here, I shall lodge my rebuttal and opinion to this posting as well as any others out here.

I can't believe that I am actually spending my time posting on a site that ITSELF has allegations concerning their dollar offer to clean up these kinds of postings and allegations about the owners posting ripoffs to get this site going.

Regardless of those allegations, this posting was apparently an IIB member which, until her retraction, carried weight in the eyes of others. Therein lies the problem and, given my hard earned accreditation and reputation, I wanted to provide my side even though she has retracted.

Let's first talk about my signature I am using to post this under. Just as I transact on ebay as SeeSoClearly, so shall I sign here. Feel free to log onto ebay, check me out, and send me an email. If your profile is 100% positive feedback as mine is, I will happy to speak with you directly about the IIB assuming you send me your contact details.

Now, let me arrive quickly at the most glaring issue here, that being a long discussion about how the IIB misled throughout the process but does have a great business model. The business model is indeed very good and one that has changed my life. The model is, in fact, so good that this person decided to start another business using the same or similar model. I don't think one can stoop much lower than to discredit one business to bolster their own. If the IIB has not yet initiated legal proceedings, they should do so immediately.

This is not a get rich quick scheme, multilevel marketing scheme, or a franchise. THE IIB MODEL REQUIRES HARD WORK! If you are interested in an overnight get rich quick, you are barking up the wrong tree. But the rewards are substantial, especially for me as I embarked on a second career. I love helping people, and there are so many small business owners that need good practical help.

There are other rebuttals out here that address this posting section by section so I shall resist repeating this. Again, this article has been retracted for good reason and I am free to speak with you further about the real IIB and my business using this model.

My best to everyone reading this!

SeeSoClearly

After receiving a telephone call from Linden Dyason, principal and founder of the Institute for Independent Business International, Ltd., a letter from William Liu of the IIB Executive Board and a letter from Thomas Cafferty of Scarinci Hollenbeck, representative legal counsel of the Institute for Independent Business Support North America Ltd., I now retract any and all defamatory statements of and concerning the Institute for Independent Business (IIB) made in my previous post made on November 13, 2008:

1. I did not purchase my accreditation from the IIB, but rather went through their process of application, interview, selection and training, and was accredited after satisfactorily completing the necessary criteria.

2. The organization is not adept at misleading and deceiving intelligent people.

3. The organization has other good things to offer besides its sales pitch to you on the way in.

4. I have no knowledge of associates doubting the IIB's system.

5. I have no knowledge of anyone becoming distrustful of the ethics of the leaders of the organization.

6. I wrote a check to the organization for many reasons, all of which had value.

7. Appointments with business owners are made truthfully and with qualified prospects, associates get value from this.

8. The network did send me hundreds of daily emails alerting me to opportunities some of which were businesses looking for someone of my qualifications, such leads were valuable.

9. The IIB does have positive brand awareness in the business community; the organization does have ethics and prides itself on them.

10. The IIB is not a sham, their system has the potential to work.

11. I have no knowledge of the organization having lowered the bar and letting unqualified people in.

12. I was not disappointed; the IIB was not a scam.

13. What the IIB teaches is not worthless, in fact it is worth a great deal.

Please let this update serve as a complete and full retraction of all defamatory statements of the IIB. Thank you.

IIB Institute for Independent Business

I have read with interest some of the articles placed here and feel that I must add my own comments.

I joined the IIB 6 years ago and have had a very different experience to some of the contributors. I came from a large corporate background and had no experience whatsoever of dealing with small and medium sized businesses or of independent consultancy.

The IIB gave me 3 vital things.

The first was access to the market via leads generated by the telemarketing operation. These leads did vary however overall I closed around 1 in 6 of the leads into clients or projects. I have to say that I was delighted with that result which did accord with what I had been told during the selection process.

The second benefit that accreditation to the IIB gave me was a methodology that allowed me to accurately assess potential clients needs. This proved to be vital in gaining new clients. It also ensured that I only took clients who I could genuinely help.

The third and most important benefit was the Business Support Program and access to specialists via the network. This meant that I could offer a credible and powerful solution to my clients needs with me acting as the generalist and using specialists where required. Offering a service as a one man band is neither effective nor long term stable.

Whist I cannot speak for everyone my own return from investing in the IIB training and accreditation has been huge not only in financial terms but also in delivering a high level of service to my clients and in having a large group of other associates to talk with and get advice and support.

I would strongly advise anyone looking at the IIB to talk with current associates before making a decision to ensure that the IIB is suitable for them.

Overall I have been very pleased with the return on my investment and I believe so have the vast majority of those associates who I deal with on a day to day basis.

IIB Institute for Independent Business

I have read with interest some of the articles placed here and feel that I must add my own comments.

I joined the IIB 6 years ago and have had a very different experience to some of the contributors. I came from a large corporate background and had no experience whatsoever of dealing with small and medium sized businesses or of independent consultancy.

The IIB gave me 3 vital things.

The first was access to the market via leads generated by the telemarketing operation. These leads did vary however overall I closed around 1 in 6 of the leads into clients or projects. I have to say that I was delighted with that result which did accord with what I had been told during the selection process.

The second benefit that accreditation to the IIB gave me was a methodology that allowed me to accurately assess potential clients needs. This proved to be vital in gaining new clients. It also ensured that I only took clients who I could genuinely help.

The third and most important benefit was the Business Support Program and access to specialists via the network. This meant that I could offer a credible and powerful solution to my clients needs with me acting as the generalist and using specialists where required. Offering a service as a one man band is neither effective nor long term stable.

Whist I cannot speak for everyone my own return from investing in the IIB training and accreditation has been huge not only in financial terms but also in delivering a high level of service to my clients and in having a large group of other associates to talk with and get advice and support.

I would strongly advise anyone looking at the IIB to talk with current associates before making a decision to ensure that the IIB is suitable for them.

Overall I have been very pleased with the return on my investment and I believe so have the vast majority of those associates who I deal with on a day to day basis.

IIB Institute for Independent Business

I have read with interest some of the articles placed here and feel that I must add my own comments.

I joined the IIB 6 years ago and have had a very different experience to some of the contributors. I came from a large corporate background and had no experience whatsoever of dealing with small and medium sized businesses or of independent consultancy.

The IIB gave me 3 vital things.

The first was access to the market via leads generated by the telemarketing operation. These leads did vary however overall I closed around 1 in 6 of the leads into clients or projects. I have to say that I was delighted with that result which did accord with what I had been told during the selection process.

The second benefit that accreditation to the IIB gave me was a methodology that allowed me to accurately assess potential clients needs. This proved to be vital in gaining new clients. It also ensured that I only took clients who I could genuinely help.

The third and most important benefit was the Business Support Program and access to specialists via the network. This meant that I could offer a credible and powerful solution to my clients needs with me acting as the generalist and using specialists where required. Offering a service as a one man band is neither effective nor long term stable.

Whist I cannot speak for everyone my own return from investing in the IIB training and accreditation has been huge not only in financial terms but also in delivering a high level of service to my clients and in having a large group of other associates to talk with and get advice and support.

I would strongly advise anyone looking at the IIB to talk with current associates before making a decision to ensure that the IIB is suitable for them.

Overall I have been very pleased with the return on my investment and I believe so have the vast majority of those associates who I deal with on a day to day basis.

IIB Institute for Independent Business

I have read with interest some of the articles placed here and feel that I must add my own comments.

I joined the IIB 6 years ago and have had a very different experience to some of the contributors. I came from a large corporate background and had no experience whatsoever of dealing with small and medium sized businesses or of independent consultancy.

The IIB gave me 3 vital things.

The first was access to the market via leads generated by the telemarketing operation. These leads did vary however overall I closed around 1 in 6 of the leads into clients or projects. I have to say that I was delighted with that result which did accord with what I had been told during the selection process.

The second benefit that accreditation to the IIB gave me was a methodology that allowed me to accurately assess potential clients needs. This proved to be vital in gaining new clients. It also ensured that I only took clients who I could genuinely help.

The third and most important benefit was the Business Support Program and access to specialists via the network. This meant that I could offer a credible and powerful solution to my clients needs with me acting as the generalist and using specialists where required. Offering a service as a one man band is neither effective nor long term stable.

Whist I cannot speak for everyone my own return from investing in the IIB training and accreditation has been huge not only in financial terms but also in delivering a high level of service to my clients and in having a large group of other associates to talk with and get advice and support.

I would strongly advise anyone looking at the IIB to talk with current associates before making a decision to ensure that the IIB is suitable for them.

Overall I have been very pleased with the return on my investment and I believe so have the vast majority of those associates who I deal with on a day to day basis.

I have been an Accredited Associate of the Institute for Independent Business International for over 4 years now. What exactly are the differences between Elizabeth Gordon and myself, I wonder.

The reason for me to join was a simple one: I wanted to be able to offer more to business owners than just myself. Furthermore the methodology of the Institute would help me to do just the things you have to do to start and maintain a good business - get to speak with business owners, find out what they need and help them getting it. It's as simple as that.

I found out that the business model of the IIB is extremely valuable to me. It brought me succes and a good life and I know I'm not the only one. Many of my fellow associates have the same opinion. I also realize that it's not for everyone. You have to be a mature business person with lots of experience and certain communication skills.

So what is the difference between me and Elizabeth? People take decisions in their lives based on what other people tell them. Many of us sometimes forget to reflect what is told on ourselves. We are always responsable for our own actions.

I do not want to take advantage of the opportunity to market my business. I don't need to.

I have been an Associate of the Institute for Independent Business for the past three years, and it's been the best decision I ever made. I don't recognise the organisation from Elizabeth's comments. It clearly didn't work for her, and that's a pity. And it is important that anyone considering applying to accredit with the IIB takes a considered view of it before they do - as I did. But I do think it's really unfair that one person's unhappy experience can be presented as if it's somehow the whole story. It isn't.

Will it work for you? Can't say, for sure. I CAN say that I have met hundreds and hundreds of Associates, and am one myself, who have found that it delivers everything it promises, and more. And what I can also say is that it's certainly not a scam.

If you're seriously thinking about applying to accredit with the Institute for Independent Business, talk to the the representative and ask him or her for the names of five Associates with whom you can talk. Then make up your own mind.

I became accredited 4-5 years ago and am very satisifed with the IIB. My business has developed in many different ways - many of which would not have happened had I not joined the IIB and I am therefore very grateful to them for the opportunities it opened up for me.

I understand that some people may find it difficult and maybe expect to have everything handed to them on a plate but this is not a franchise and I enjoy running my business as I want to run it provided I follow the guidelines re the Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct.

I have always found other associates willing to help and support me and my business whenever I have needed it.

If you decide to join the IIB, there is a cost involved for the residential school, the mentoring etc but there are benefits available and yes, you do need to work to get any business going. At the end of the day though, how well you do is up to you.

It seems a shame that this individual seems to need to complain about one organisation in order to promote her own.

I did read the report of the disappointed lady from Atlanta ,Georgia.
It's an example of those who are failing to be successful, blame it on someone else, in this case the IIB. But like I tell many off my clients if you're pointing you're finger to blame someone else ,always remember that three fingers are pointing towards yourself. I wonder if this lady did ask herself the question; perhaps it's me to blame?
Did I use the IIB product to its full extend?
Did I invest in using and applying the IIB methodology?
And most important did I invest enough in the IIB network?
Those three are what the IIB is. A successful product, a proven methodology en the greatest business network around.
I'm an Accredited Associate since 2 years. I applied and invested in those three items that IIB delivers. I'm in control, being an active Associate and fully responsible for my success or failure, like any entrepreneur is. I'm very satisfied with my choice being an Associate and I'm making good money. This is in fact the best I have done in my whole life. Being successful or not in business is not in totally depending on circumstances beside or outside myself. It's in fact mostly about me.
Theo Kropman
Rotterdam, Netherlands Europe

Im an Accredited Associate of the IIB since nearly three years ago. Im living and working in Stockholm, Sweden and I cant recognize myself at all in the picture Elizabeth Gordon makes about the IIB. IIB provides each Associate with business rules, a business and social environment, business processes and a number of tools. How you chose and how you use them is for each one to decide, as long you as you follow the Institute's Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct.

I'm very satisfied with my choice being an Associate and I'm making money. This is in fact the best I have done in my whole life. Being successful or not in business is not in totally depending on circumstances beside or outside myself. It's in fact mostly about me.

I've been an IIB Associate for six years. In that time my business has grown substantially. Did the IIB grow my business? Of course not. Did I grow my business using the skills, experience and contacts that I made through the IIB worldwide network? You bet I did. And that's how I continue to grow it. I don't recognise the way the posting here talks about the IIB. When I did my own research six years ago before applying for accreditation, I was very clear that I wanted to find a worldwide network that would give me access to people with skills and experience across the world who could provide me with additional skills to offer my clients as well as helping to answer my own questions and thereby enhance my own knowledge and skills base. The IIB seemed to me to be the only network of a size and reach serious enough to be of interest to me.

Accreditation by any organisation or industry body isn't going to guarantee you work or even a foot in the door. It's what you do with it, the people you meet, how you work with them, what value you add to them so that they want to take you into their clients! You know there are no magic bullets when it comes to business. Once accredited, I joined the local regional network and starting getting to know people and making sure they knew what I could offer to their clients. I became a regional chairman so I could support the established and the newer Associates in our region, and put something back into this business community. I've met the nicest people and learned a huge amount and I keep learning, just by reading from the email network what is happening in businesses of all sizes across the world.

If you found this particular site through an Internet search, then you also have access through that very same search facility to screens full of results that will include the direct web sites of established IIB Associates all over the world, individually and in groups where they are happily working together. The IIB doesn't manage or control their businesses: once accredited by the IIB, these people can display the badge of accreditation similar to those obtained from many industry bodies, providing a recognition to others that these are people who have gone through the accreditation process, who are seeing the network in action at first hand and who have seen how their own and their company's credibility can be enhanced by their association with the depth and reach of the IIB worldwide. And if you have specific questions about anything to do with the IIB and the accreditation process, call or email the contacts shown for your home country on the IIB web site www.iib,org.ws ask anything you want to know or ask to talk to people like us who have been part of the network and are clearly still smiling.

How sad to read some of the comments on this site about IIB - particularly from the lady in Georgia?
Like many thousands of IIB Associates worldwide, I have no axe to grind - I'm not employed by IIB and I have no personal agenda.

I have however, been an Accredited Associate of IIB for 6 years having been through the same recruitment process as everyone else, and having been an independent consultant for the past 15 years.

I can truthfully say that since accreditation, and following the IIB methodology my turnover has tripled from the very first year - with no perceived additional effort on my part.
In short, the IIB does 'what it says on the tin'! It delivers a truly outstanding Residential Business School 6-day course, it provides a methodology for working in the SME market, it delivers continuous professional development, and everything a new consultant could possibly need in establishing a new consultancy business.
In my experience, those few people who are minded to write completely inaccurate 'stuff' about IIB, either have an on-going problem selling themselves, or have decided that 'they know best', and disregard what is taught by IIB, and then become vindictive in finding someone other than themselves to blame for their own lack of success.

The Institute has been around for well over 20 years and associates exist in over 20 countries. If what we are told on this site has even a small degree of accuracy, IIB would have 'died' many years ago. Like thousands of my colleagues, I am delighted to have taken the decision to become an Accredited Associate of the Institute for Independent Business, - so, if you are thinking of doing the same, do not be misled.