Join the FSB?

[courtg9000]

Are either going to help in this market? Very much doubt it from my experience.

FSB probably is going to help a little especially on the protection front. As for networking. I won't harp on about BNI as I have made my views clear but there are other options for networking that might be worth a shout.

I think the thing for most contractors is to avoid networking groups where referrals are mandatory. Many contractors won't have the breadth and depth of a network to continually produce referrals for a group. Others have already that this is better for smaller work and you will be unlikely to get a 6 monther at bank out of it for example. For this I would advise people to work their existing contacts perhaps taking a manager out for a good lunch?

[TheDogsNads]

No, not Putin's secret police but Federation of Small Businesses.

I am IPSE+ member but wondering if it is worth swapping? I was looking at another Networking group 'BNI Connect', however it is nearly £900 per year for the membership and I read that it doesn't really work for techy based businesses, more geared for Cake makers, plumbers etc.

Edit: FSB good for networking? Some decent reviews on Trustpilot.

qh

FSB was worthwhile when they had a free banking agreement with the Co Op but that option ended to new members a few years ago IIRC. You also got a £25 annualloyalty bonus which offset about a quarter of the annual FSB membership. That too has ended for everyone, again, IIRC!

FSB is a good organisation for any business.

BNI is a waste of time imho. I ran another business for a while and went around a few of these 'breakfast' clubs. Was going to join the local BNI but it went tits up for some reason. Joined another and essentially if you cannot provide 'leads' into other companies, you didnt get any yourself.

Kind of defeats the object for a new start up if you ask me.

Are either going to help in this market? Very much doubt it from my experience.

[Antman]

My brother went to one of these and the trouble was that people only go as they want to sell their wares, there aren't any real buyers and it smacked of desperation.

[courtg9000]

Indeed I have been as a guest, and whilst I can see it works for some businesses, I can't see it working for mine, not for the money you have to put up anyway.

Cheers for all your comments, shocking story about the Golf Club incident. For the money BNI charge prob would be better spent on a golf club membership far more chances of networking. (Not that I would do this, I am hopeless at it).

qh

Do have a look at these people. They are more relaxed than BNI but still do a lot of business together. Network for just a fiver!
They have moved online only but will be going back to face to face as and when they can as per the covid situation.

As I did mention earlier I may have an offer through someone who is looking to me to invest in their business that has a networking/protection/insurance/discounts offer but that is as much as 9 months away.

[quackhandle]

Fair enough. I’m sure they’re not all like that.
As for the OP. He can get himself in as a guest and make his own mind up.

Indeed I have been as a guest, and whilst I can see it works for some businesses, I can't see it working for mine, not for the money you have to put up anyway.

Cheers for all your comments, shocking story about the Golf Club incident. For the money BNI charge prob would be better spent on a golf club membership far more chances of networking. (Not that I would do this, I am hopeless at it).

qh

[Lance]

I can take your point to a certain extent. Helping fellow members of any group you are a member of is generally a good thing, However only up to a point.

Allow me to elaborate.

I have been a guest at BNI twice. 2 different chapters on the South West London/Surrey borders. I was a guest! On both occasions I was pestered for referrals from arriving and on both occasions I was pestered by more than 50% of the group.

On both occasions the way the group attempted to sell membership to me was over forceful and in one case threatening. Bad move on their part as the only response I will give to a pitch like that ends in the word off.

Another example is a former accountant who would regular email his client list asking/begging for business he could pass to his BNI buddies. I would get emails about this certainly twice a week.

I am often asked to return to various BNI chapters as a guest however a combination of what I have outlined above and the golf course incident - 7 members arrested at a networking meeting at a very posh golf course with 3 members of the general public (including me) and a female member of golf course staff assaulted by BNI members means they have zero credibility in my eyes.

Fair enough. I’m sure they’re not all like that.
As for the OP. He can get himself in as a guest and make his own mind up.

[courtg9000]

Haha....

How can it ever be too much pressure to help out other members? That’s the entire point of the group. You’ve got 30 people with an interest in helping you find new business.

Too much pressure is when you have no work and bills to pay.

I can take your point to a certain extent. Helping fellow members of any group you are a member of is generally a good thing, However only up to a point.

Allow me to elaborate.

I have been a guest at BNI twice. 2 different chapters on the South West London/Surrey borders. I was a guest! On both occasions I was pestered for referrals from arriving and on both occasions I was pestered by more than 50% of the group.

On both occasions the way the group attempted to sell membership to me was over forceful and in one case threatening. Bad move on their part as the only response I will give to a pitch like that ends in the word off.

Another example is a former accountant who would regular email his client list asking/begging for business he could pass to his BNI buddies. I would get emails about this certainly twice a week.

I am often asked to return to various BNI chapters as a guest however a combination of what I have outlined above and the golf course incident - 7 members arrested at a networking meeting at a very posh golf course with 3 members of the general public (including me) and a female member of golf course staff assaulted by BNI members means they have zero credibility in my eyes.

[Paddy]

No, not Putin's secret police but Federation of Small Businesses.

I am IPSE+ member but wondering if it is worth swapping? I was looking at another Networking group 'BNI Connect', however it is nearly £900 per year for the membership and I read that it doesn't really work for techy based businesses, more geared for Cake makers, plumbers etc.

Edit: FSB good for networking? Some decent reviews on Trustpilot.

qh

I never trust Trustpilot, it is full of fake reviews.

[Lance]

FTFY!

Haha....

How can it ever be too much pressure to help out other members? That’s the entire point of the group. You’ve got 30 people with an interest in helping you find new business.

Too much pressure is when you have no work and bills to pay.

[courtg9000]

BNI can generate work but it’s likely to be small projects.
They are almost all small business (not exclusively). There is too much pressure to generate leads for other members and that does work pretty well if you’re in a good group (Good groups are few and far between).
Find someone who’s a member and get them to take you as a guest. That is another thing they pressure people to do (increase the group). That way you can see how it works.
If I was out of contract for an extended length I’d potentially join again.

FTFY!

[Lance]

BNI can generate work but it’s likely to be small projects.
They are almost all small business (not exclusively). There is a lot of pressure to generate leads for other members and that does work pretty well if you’re in a good group.
Find someone who’s a member and get them to take you as a guest. That is another thing they pressure people to do (increase the group). That way you can see how it works.
If I was out of contract for an extended length I’d potentially join again.

[courtg9000]

No, not Putin's secret police but Federation of Small Businesses.

I am IPSE+ member but wondering if it is worth swapping? I was looking at another Networking group 'BNI Connect', however it is nearly £900 per year for the membership and I read that it doesn't really work for techy based businesses, more geared for Cake makers, plumbers etc.

Edit: FSB good for networking? Some decent reviews on Trustpilot.

qh

-

I would avoid BNI unless you are doing support or flogging kit.

Be warned with BNI - you have to bring referrals for other people in your chapter - at least 2 referrals each meeting. You will be castigated if you have not brought referrals for each member of your chapter over a given period of time. Some chapters are very badly run. I will save the story of the time 7 members of one chapter got arrested at a golf club for another time.

If you want to do face to face networking look at 4networking instead. There are some contractors that are members.

I have a business plan for some new in this space on my desk (full 9 yards, insurance, discounts, events, travel, leasing, finance,banking, xero, the lot ) but it won't be ready until at a guess end Q2 2021 at the earliest.

A swap from IPSE to FSB might be worth it.

[malvolio]

There seems to be an increasing overlap between the FSB and IPSE's target markets these days, the main difference is that FSB focus on the "industry" side while IPSE look at the workers. However, FSB are not interested in the same things that IPSE's members typically are so won't provide anything like the same level of support if things go wrong.

I've been to a few FSB networking meetings over the years. Typically the sort of skills we sell are not of interest to their members.

As an aside one of the two people that set up PCG/IPSE was a major player in the FSB. He saw the need for a separate organisation, and worked with both for many years.

[DimPrawn]

No, not Putin's secret police but Federation of Small Businesses.

I am IPSE+ member but wondering if it is worth swapping? I was looking at another Networking group 'BNI Connect', however it is nearly £900 per year for the membership and I read that it doesn't really work for techy based businesses, more geared for Cake makers, plumbers etc.

Edit: FSB good for networking? Some decent reviews on Trustpilot.

qh

I joined many years ago. Seemed to be mostly small shop owners, builders, window cleaners, garages, etc. Not really aimed at IT or tech.

[quackhandle]

No, not Putin's secret police but Federation of Small Businesses.

I am IPSE+ member but wondering if it is worth swapping? I was looking at another Networking group 'BNI Connect', however it is nearly £900 per year for the membership and I read that it doesn't really work for techy based businesses, more geared for Cake makers, plumbers etc.

Edit: FSB good for networking? Some decent reviews on Trustpilot.

qh