Membership in Business Organizations

1. 1

   Fifty-eight (58) percent of small-business owners belong to one or more business organizations and 42 percent belong to more than one. The owners of larger, small businesses are significantly more likely to be members, and members of more than one organization, than are owners of smaller, small firms.

2. 2

   The most important business organization for 45 percent of small-business owners is a national or international group, though 28 percent consider theirs to be a state or regional organization, and 26 percent a local or neighborhood association. Sixty-three (63) percent classify their most important organization as a trade or professional association, 26 percent a general business group, and 8 percent a booster or promotional organization.

3. 3

   Fourteen (14) percent say that they are very active in their most important business organization.

4. 4

   The most important benefits of a business organization to current members are: informs you about government rules and obligation, promotes your industry or community, and provides technical information specific to your industry. The least important benefits are: social activities, supports one or more charitable activities, and makes you part of a group that can purchase discounted goods and services.

5. 5

   The relative attractiveness of organization benefits to those who are non-members generally parallel important benefits to members. The primary exception is makes you part of a group that can purchase discounted goods and services. The group purchasing benefit is of broad interest to non-members, but not to members. However, the overall importance of organizational benefits is less for non-members than members.

6. 6

   Association members are divided over the most important type of information they receive from their business organizations. Twenty-four (24) percent report their choice is new technologies and the latest way of doing things, 23 percent cite their specific industry’s news and information, 22 percent note applicable laws and regulations, and 18 percent prefer information about markets and customers. Non-members have greatest difficulty locating information about applicable laws and regulations (32%) and markets and customers (21%).

7. 7

   Forty-three (43) percent of members annually attend conferences, seminars, meetings, etc., sponsored by business organizations that require them to be away from home for at least two nights. The most important benefits received from attendance at these gatherings are continuing education (49%) and networking opportunities (29%).

8. 8

   The most single important reason that owners do not belong to a business organization is few or no visible benefits from membership (40%), they are not “joiners” (22%), and they have not had time to look into it (21%). Nineteen (19) percent terminated membership in one or more business organizations within the last three years. The most frequent reason given for termination (45%) is that the benefits are not worth the cost of membership.

Volume 3, Issue 6, 2003
ISSN 1534-8326

William J. Dennis, Jr.
NFIB Research Foundation

• 1Are you, or is your business, a member of a business organization, trade or professional association, local Chamber of Commerce or a similar business group? Top 100
• 2How many such business, trade or professional organizations are you or your business a member of?
• 2aHow would you characterize the organization? Is it a:?
• 2a1How would you characterize the organization? Is it a:?
• 2a2Are you very active, active, somewhat active, not too active, or not at all active in the organization?
• 2bHow would you characterize the organization? Is it a:?
• 2b1How would you chracterize the organization? Is it a:?
• 2b2Are you very active, active, somewhat active, not too active, or not at all active in the organization?
• 3A(reason to join) Provides an opportunity to network with other business owners.
• 3B(reason to join) Represents you or involves you in government matters or public policies that affect your business.
• 3C(reason to join) Makes you part of a group that can purchase discounted goods or services.
• 3D(reason to join) Develops industry standards or procedures.
• 3E(reason to join) Promotes your community or industry.
• 3F(reason to join) Offers useful management or marketing ideas.
• 3G(reason to join) Has social activities.
• 3H(reason to join) Holds trade shows.
• 3I(reason to join) Provides technical information specific to your industry.
• 3J(reason to join) Sponsors a continuing education-type program.
• 3K(reason to join) Supports one or more charitable activities.
• 3L(reason to join) Informs you about government rules and obligations.
• 4In the last year have you attended a conference, seminar, meeting, trade show, etc., sponsored by a business organization, trade or professional association that required you to spend at least two nights away from home?
• 4aWas the single most important benefit of attendance:?
• 5Does most of the useful information you get from membership in a business organization or trade or professional association come from:?
• 6What is the single most important type of information you obtain from belonging to business organizations, trade, or professional associations? Is it:?
• 7Have you terminated membership in one or more business organizations, trade or professional associations in the last three years?
• 7aWhich best describes your reason for quitting?
• 8Which best describes why you are not a member of any of these organizations? Is it because:?
• 9A(attractive benefit) Provides an opportunity to network with other business owners.
• 9B(attractive benefit) Represents you or involves you in government matters or public policies that affect your business.
• 9C(attractive benefit) Makes you part of a group that can purchase discounted goods or services.
• 9D(attractive benefit) Develops industry standards or procedures.
• 9E(attractive benefit) Promotes your community or industry.
• 9F(attractive benefit) Offers useful management or marketing ideas.
• 9G(attractive benefit) Has social activities.
• 9H(attractive benefit) Holds trade shows.
• 9I(attractive benefit) Provides technical information specific to your industry.
• 9J(attractive benefit) Sponsors a continuing education-type program.
• 9K(attractive benefit) Supports one or more charitable activities.
• 9L(attractive benefit) Informs you about government rules and obligations.
• 10What is the single most important type of business information that you have trouble acquiring? Is it information about:?