Small Business Associations - a New Entrepreneurs Best Friends
A Home Business Article Contributed by Sharon Hill
Network and Learn from Others with Small Business Associations
There's nothing quite like associations with your more experienced peers for learning about how to establish and grow your own small business. The best resource for such networking is a small business association or organization. There are many available, offering not only camaraderie and the sharing of business ideas but also a chance to purchase discounted supplies and equipment, and sometimes even group health and other insurance coverage.
A Brief Look at Several Small Business Associations
The National Small Business Associations enlists the help of lobbyists, conducts media campaigns and relies on members to launch grass roots efforts to make positive legislative change for small businesses on the city, county, state and federal level. Members gather twice yearly to meet with legislators - in Washington DC at a White House meeting with Congress - and at the beginning of the year's congressional session to promote the small business priority issues.
The association's web site offers members informative articles on small business issues as well as links to entrepreneurial and start-up resources. Membership benefits include health insurance coverage, a 401(k) retirement program, free payroll setup, a fifteen percent discount on office supplies, a ten percent discount on fax and email service and free DSL shipping.
The American Small Businesses Association is a partnership of U.S. small businesses whose mission is simply to run profitable businesses. Member benefits include individual and small business health insurance plans, prescription and vitamin discounts, as well as discounts on optical services. Business product and service discounts include Internet service and credit card processing.
The National Business Association uses its volume buying power to offer its members support programs, and valuable small business product and services. Business discount items include income tax preparation, advertising specialty products, debt management and lending application programs, shipping, banking, office supplies, credit card processing, advertising services, long distance and wireless communications and membership in the association credit union.
The National Business Association also offers an ample array of small business training. Through partnerships with organizations such as QuickBooks, Jones International University and Business Buffet, National Business Association members can save while they learn. Business travel discounts are offered from Days Inn, Budget Rent a Car, Meineke, Southwest Airlines and many others.
The Small Business Benefit Association's purpose is to provide small business owners with the tools, support and information needed to grow their firm. The association offers one on one advice on management as well as discounts on long distance, Internet services and health insurance. Its free-of-charge business coaching covers topics such as marketing; sales; legal services' employee relations, motivations and incentives; and hardware and software purchases, installation and troubleshooting.
A Small Business Advocacy Association
The National Federation of Independent Business , with 600, 000 members, is the leading U.S. small business advocacy organization. Its purpose is to impact public policy and be a key business resource for small and independent U.S. businesses. Member benefits include discounts on crucial business insurance products such as Workers Compensation, general liability, property and casualty insurance, and commercial auto coverage. Discounted business products and services include shipping through FedEx and Roadway Express, and low rates on payroll and credit card processing.
