BNI is “Business Network International,” a business marketing program that allows one person from each profession to join a chapter. The sole purpose of the chapter is to increase business through a structured system of giving referrals.
In many chapters throughout the New York area, and more that are developing all the time. To find a chapter, visit here.
Every week, so that members maintain contact and exchange regular referrals. Take a look at the different days the chapters meet in our member directory.
In a number of ways:
•By allowing members the opportunity to present and promote their business to all members in a group exclusively without competing professionals. Each profession has only one representative per chapter.
•By an increased awareness of your profession from other networking members who will use or recommend your services once they know and trust you.
•By substantially increasing and expanding your business through referrals.
•By exposing your service and knowledge to businesses and success oriented people throughout the community.
•By gaining knowledge from information on other networking members’ professions.
•By using a professionally designed forum to promote yourself and your business efficiently, effectively and economically.
•By routinely meeting with other focused, motivated business professionals.
We only take one person from each profession. So if you are a residential real estate professional and we already have one, we can refer you to another BNI chapter, or we may help you open another chapter.
It is not the occupation, it is the individual. The occupation can be anything. All professions can prosper from BNI given you take the time to learn how to target market and teach your fellow members what you are looking for in referrals.
A good mature BNI chapter typically has between 25 and 30 members. Some BNI chapters have as many as 80 members!
Yes. Member Success Programs, monthly advanced training and from time-to-time there are regional workshops and other educational events. Some regions have golf outings and awards banquets as well. Contact the local Director for more information or check out the regional calendar in this site.
You’re encouraged to bring visitors for those occupations that are open. After the visitor has been prescreened and joins, their profession is then closed. BNI is primarily an invitation-only organization and members look to invite visitors who are either interested in joining BNI and/or invite those interested in meet a dynamic networking group.
Contact the local Director. You will then be given information on how to start your own chapter.
•Attend a chapter in your area as a visitor. You are allowed to attend a maximum of two meetings, after which time you will be asked to make a decision if you would like to apply to that chapter.
•When you visit you will have a brief visitor orientation, and be given an application along with a visitor’s pack which contains additional information about BNI. Since BNI only accepts one person per professional specialty, if your position is already represented in the chapter, you can contact the Director to learn about openings in other chapters or to start your own BNI chapter.
•When you apply, complete this application and return it to the Vice President of the chapter, along with your payment for annual or bi-annual dues, and the registration fee. The Membership Committee of the chapter will evaluate your application, verify your references and interview you and your sponsor. A decision will be given before the next meeting.
First visit a chapter to see if you like BNI. Next you will need to contact your local Director and let them know you want to start your own chapter. Finally, you will need to find 12 or more people in different professions who are willing to start the chapter with you. Your Director will then take you through the education process of forming your new powerful referral marketing team!
The application asks for references and we have a membership committee that checks them. It’s referral marketing, so before they even come to a meeting they have to have spoken to someone or been invited by someone in the group. Everyone has to have a sponsor, or one is assigned to them, and they interview them.
We have an ethics committee and it is imperative that anyone who gives a referral and finds out it was not satisfactorily handled must report that to the membership committee, who will investigate.
The cost to join BNI is $445 annually for a 1-yr. membership, or $685 for 2-yr. membership, with a one-time $150 administrative fee due in the first year. In addition, chapters collect a breakfast fee which covers the cost of the meeting space room rental and a light meal, such as a continental breakfast.
