Any views on the Federation of Small businesses?

[top-click]

We had some intersting thoughts and comments about Business Link - but I've been approached by the FSB - has anyone got any insights good or bad, the membership seems fair at £100 or so, but what tanglible benfits will I get?

Any thoughts?

Cheers
Rob

top-click

[Ozzy]

Hi Rob,
My experience with the FSB is that its not as pro-active in getting its members together and helping build their business as the Chamber of Commerce/BusinessLink.
I am a member of the FSB, and I would recommend it if you have a lot of online sales. Just by joining and then getting their special rate with Streamline I have saved over £2,500 a year in bank charges! So that is the membership paid for ;)

I have been to one of their networking breakfasts, and to be honest it was pretty poorly run, but I'll keep going for a while and see if it was just a bad day.

In my humble opinion I see the FSB as more a noise machine sorting out legal legislation for small businesses, a more behind the scenes organisation. The Chamber/BusinessLink is a more out in front helping with the immediate issues type of organisation.

This may just be the Northants area, and other areas things may be different, but consider this.

I get regular bulletins by email from the Chamber Of Commerce informing me of events going on in my local area where I can attend and network, or attend training and so on. I get post with information, and I even get business referrals from members of the Chamber team who have met someone who may benefit from my services.

I've had no correspondence at all from the FSB since I joined, no email or letters. No phone calls, and only by speaking to another FSB member at a Chamber event did I find out that they had a monthly networking breakfast a 10 minute walk away from my home! Granted, their Streamline deal has saved me a shed load of cash though, but so far I'm not impressed wth the FSBs lack of proactive suport of its members on day-to-day needs. They are a more reactive organisation, ring us if you need us.

[barry.hynd]

I was a member until recently and I would mirro Ozzy's comments as I didnt see any site of them once they took the 300 quid membership.

I prefer the local chamber as well, we also have a thing up in scotland called bacon, eggs and entrepreneurs which i'm in the process of joining

[Julie]

(Wish we had a 'Bacon, eggs and entrepreneurs'! Sound intriguing...)

Hi Rob

I've been a member of FSB for years now, and even served on the local branch committee for a while. They have an impressive list of benefits for members, some offering really good discounts, and some branches are more active in networking terms than others. They are definitely a campaigning organisation, seeing themselves as 'activists' first and foremost, and have the ear of the government when it comes to small business issues.

I've always thought that the annual fee is reasonable enough, but you'd need to look into finding the right benefits for you and your business. I used their free legal helpline quite a few times and it was reassuring to think that I had that behind me, particularly as an employer (although they don't cover contractual disputes, so when one of my customers owed me a lot of money they couldn't help me -- I had to bring in a solicitor).

Julie

[Sibs]

Hello

I've been a member of the FSB for over a year and although I probably haven't got the most of it yet I have used the legal helpline a few times and they have always been very efficient and helpful. I expect that should any real difficulties arise they will be very useful. I do find that there is a lack of support as previously mentioned though.

Regards
Sarah

[top-click]

So, on balance, quite good then - it seems as if members use them like a form of insurance, in case of emergencies.

I think i'll take the plunge!

Thanks for all of your help
Rob

[Pete Williams]

I had someone visit me just the other week. There was no pushyness and he explained all the benefits very clearly, he left the forms for me to fill in and said send them when and if you decide to.

I am interested in their Bank account and PDQ machine services and they look like money savers.

I kind of saw them as a Union for small businesses.

[finstar]

I'd mirror what Pete said, and some of the other posts, the cost savings of joining certainly outweigh the membership, the legal helpline is very good and to draw comparions between FSB and a union is spot on.

If not already registered, make joining the Chamber of Commerce your next step, not as a substitute for the FSB, rather to act in tandem. both provide excellent services in their own right, without stepping on each others toes too much.

[Sibs]

That's just reminded me.
I'm also about to swap banks to go with the FSB Co-op account because this has no charges.

Regards
Sarah

[winton50]

I've been a member for about six years and I have saved all of my subs just through using their legal advice line.

There are a lot of other benefits too.Some of which I have used and some not. I think I got some examples of contracts, terms and conditions and other lgal stuff free of charge.

I'm not a big joiner of things to be frank but I reckon this one it worthwhile