BNI cost?

[C&V leaflet distribution]

Hi,

I am thinking of applying to become a member of the BNI but has anybody got any idea of cost please? Also if I joined 1 in the east midlands would I be able to go to any BNI meeting in the east midlands or just the 1 that I have joined.

Thank You

 

[MikeBzr]

£500 + VAT for your first year, £400 + VAT for each year onwards.

Membership is on a per-chapter basis; you can visit other chapters, but policy is that you're only allowed to do so twice (though many chapters choose to ignore this rule).

When looking at costing, you also need to be aware that there'll be a weekly meeting fee which pays for the room and the breakfast, which can be anything from £5-£10.

 

[neildigital]

I joined a chapter 4 weeks ago....

Its been great, getting to sit and chat with other local businesses. Also getting some work from it helps.

Neil

 

[Deleted member 27344]

Main thing with BNI is that you HAVE to attend every week and provide referrals.
If you don't then they will kick you out without any refund.

I find BRX more approachable and relaxed, that's why I am the chairman for BRX Islington.

 

[Active Office Solutions]

It is true that you have to attend each week. If you cannot make it you need to find someone to take your place when you are not there. My wife is currently sitting in for a friend of hers in the Stafford chapter.

I myself have considered joining our local BNI, the thing that puts me off is that you HAVE to get a refferal EVERY week for another member of the chapter.

If your considering it i would suggest you find out how many are within a radius that you are willing to travel and go to each one once. That way you can get a feel for it and see how you get on with the other members.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Also if I joined 1 in the east midlands would I be able to go to any BNI meeting in the east midlands or just the 1 that I have joined.

You can visit any other Chapter that doesn't have someone in your classification. You can go as a substitute for a member at another Chapter (see below). However, you should check in advance with the Chapter Director.

You should never go to another Chapter's "Visitors Day".

As a member of BNI for a couple of years, I am shocked by a couple of the posts on here:

Main thing with BNI is that you HAVE to attend every week and provide referrals.
If you don't then they will kick you out without any refund.

Not completely true. Yes, there is a requirement to attend every week or send someone as a substitute (it cannot be member of the same Chapter). However, BNI does give you three absences (i.e. not being there and not supplying a sub) within 6 months. There is also medical leave for serious illnesses, pregnancy, etc.

I myself have considered joining our local BNI, the thing that puts me off is that you HAVE to get a refferal EVERY week for another member of the chapter.

That sounds like a rule that the local Chapter has decided on, it certainly isn't a BNI rule. Yes, of course you should be trying to find a referral for other members - BNI's philosophy is "Givers Gain". But it's called the referrals and testimonials section. So if you haven't got a referral, you give a testimonal to another member who has done work for you, or you can announce any 1-2-1 meetings you've had or are about to have with other members in the Chapter.

For more about BNI, see my blog entry What is BNI and is it any good?

At the end of the day only you can decide if BNI is going to work for you. So why not pop along to the Chapter (you are allowed two visits - or you could go as a substitute) and see the people there, etc.

 

[Active Office Solutions]

Not completely true. Yes, there is a requirement to attend every week or send someone as a substitute (it cannot be member of the same Chapter). However, BNI does give you three absences (i.e. not being there and not supplying a sub) within 6 months. There is also medical leave for serious illnesses, pregnancy, etc.

My wife is covering for her friend who has just had a baby.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Your Chapter must be a little loose as my wife is covering for her friend who has just had a baby.

No, pregnancy is covered under medical leave (I was Membership Coordinator for a year). However, some women prefer to have a sub.

If you can get someone, it makes sense; after all, you've still got someone pushing your business rather than just being absent for a long period of time.

We had a female member have time away from the Chapter while she had her baby, but she was representing her employers and they put another member of staff in her place while she was on leave.

 

[DambTech]

I was a member for 3 years of BNI and left last year, the fee's we paid was £400 + Vat per year (After first year) and then a monthly fee of £37.00 per month.

But the true cost is your time as well as the money, because there will training event as well as the normal meeting which you will need to go to.

I found the first year very good for business as it got me more confident in standing up and talking in public. Make sure you visit all the chapters in your area and choose which one is best suited to you and your business.

cheers

 

[C&V leaflet distribution]

Thank you all for your help and advise I think that I will go as a visitor and see how it goes. The only problem is there are 3 in Lincoln so I will have to go as a visitor to all 3 to see which one is best.

 

[office man]

Thank you all for your help and advise I think that I will go as a visitor and see how it goes. The only problem is there are 3 in Lincoln so I will have to go as a visitor to all 3 to see which one is best.

Doing this is very important, some BNI chapters are way better than others and only YOU will know which one fits you the best.

Good Luck (get plenty of sleep!!)

 

[Ashley_Price]

Doing this is very important, some BNI chapters are way better than others and only YOU will know which one fits you the best.

Also, when you visit, there will be a section where they pass round the business card box. Make sure you take one of every members' card so that you have a good idea who is in the Chapter.

We had a local business person once join our chapter and their business was very locally-based (people from more than a few miles away wouldn't travel to it), yet a lot of our members live/work upwards of 5 to 10 miles from the Chapter's meeting venue. Because they hadn't gone through the business card box they weren't aware of this - then wondered why the Chapter didn't work for them.

 

[areyousecure?]

i was involved in two different chapters for a period of four years, i only stopped going due to my work schedule. i would recommend visiting a few chapters to see which ones have the best range of businesses that you could work with

 

[Ashley_Price]

i was involved in two different chapters for a period of four years, i only stopped going due to my work schedule. i would recommend visiting a few chapters to see which ones have the best range of businesses that you could work with

This is excellent advice.