BNI is a great idea, but your expense it is not only the intial annual fee. It also includes the gas to get to the venue every week and the weekly fee.

I am about to join my local BNI but for the price, figure $500, plus $20 per week, it's actually closer to $1500 a year.

That said, you CANNOT miss any meetings either... If you can't attend personally, you are expected to send a representative... That will cost you as if you were there.

BNI is great, if you can budget the $1500 per year into the group.

Also, I've been looking for a BNI group that FITS me, and I've had to attend several until I found this one that I like. So try on several different groups for size to find one that you feel comfortable in and one that works for you as well.

BNI protects you within the group, so you will never have anyone in your field competing for your services like you would in a chamber of commerce, and like any other networking group, you have to work it for it have value. So, choose carefully.

IMNHO, there are lots of less expensive networking groups that are more suitable until you are in the financial position to justify a $1500 per year marketing expense.

T

Tina Brooks, VP Marketing
Brooks Pepperfire Foods, Inc.
Makers of Peppermaster Hot Sauces
http://www.peppermaster.com

Eat more peppers!