If you’re the owner of a startup business, you’ll need to connect with other business owners to build your brand and reputation as well as obtain new contacts that can turn into potential customers. One of the best ways to do that is by joining a Chamber of Commerce or Business Association in your local area. There are many benefits of joining a business association as a startup business owner. This includes networking with like-minded business owners and receiving discounts on a variety of products and services that may help your business grow, among other things. Below I outline three important ways joining a business association can help you build your startup business.
Free Promotion
Many business associations have free networking events where you can mingle with other small business owners. You’ll have the chance to meet with people and introduce your business to them. Business mixers and networking events are a great way to do free promotion. Most people will be open to speaking with you since everyone is their to network anyway.
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Business Incubation
Some business associations also offer business incubation services where they provide free or low cost business services to startup business owners. Business incubation services are designed to assist businesses during their early stages of development. For example, I am a member of the Global African Business Association. Through their connections, I was able to secure free office space for my startup business. Securing office space was critical for because I spent several years working out of my home office (on a small scale). Eventually my startup business outgrew my home office. Having access to a professional office space is critical to the growth of your startup business because it is apart of your overall business/brand presentation. A business association membership could be a good way for you to get it at the lowest cost possible.
Free Yet Valuable Business Advice
Usually, members of business associations are well educated and/or well established small business owners that can give you very valuable advice that you wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else for free. That alone, is reason enough to join a business association. There are business advisors that charge thousands of dollars for the same information you could get from other business associations members at no cost. Through the Global African Business Association, I was able to connect with well-rounded business people and bring them into my company as a “Board of Advisors”. Their advice has helped me become a more effective entrepreneur and take my startup business to new heights. You might want to check them out if you plan on starting a new business (or you currently own one).
