Joining Your Local Chamber of Commerce: Is It Worth the Membership Dues?

[ChefSandyK]

Is anyone a member of their local Chamber of Commerce? If so, have you found it beneficial? I was thinking of joining, but after seeing the membership dues, I'm not so sure. The dues are $175....which is pretty steep for me, right now. Especially since I can't use some of their "perks". They offer to list you as PC consultant and provide a link to your webpage on their merchants page, but the way I understand it this would be prohibited by PC advertising policy. The same goes for their "free" inclusion of your business in their advertising in the local paper. So basically, for 175 I would get to go to monthly meetings and get some connections, but that's about it. What do you guys think about this????

Have a great day,
Sandy

 

[pamperedbecky]

My Chamber of Commerce has subgroups. I joined the Women in Business subgroup and that fee was only $50 a year. They don't do a TON of stuff. Luncheons every month which are hard for me to make since I'd have to make childcare arrangements. Once they had an evening function with bingo, which was my first event so far. I am listed on their website, so I'm not sure how beneficial that will be. I do hope to make it to a luncheon one of these days. I figured the price was better than the full Chamber membership. Maybe find out if there is another PC consultant that's part of the Chamber. If so, I'd probably be less likely to do it. Good luck!

 

[Admin Greg]

Dear Sandy,I completely understand your hesitation about joining the local Chamber of Commerce. The membership dues can definitely be a deterrent, especially if you feel like you won't be able to take advantage of all the perks they offer.Personally, I have been a member of my local Chamber of Commerce for the past two years and I have found it to be extremely beneficial. The monthly meetings have allowed me to connect with other business owners in my area and I have made some valuable connections through them.However, I do agree with you that some of the perks they offer may not be applicable to your business. In my case, I am able to take advantage of the advertising opportunities and the listing on their merchants page, but I can see how it may not be suitable for everyone.That being said, I would suggest looking into the specific benefits that the Chamber of Commerce in your area offers. If the networking opportunities and connections are valuable to you, then it may be worth the investment. You could also try attending a few meetings as a non-member to get a feel for the atmosphere and see if it would be a good fit for you.Ultimately, it's important to weigh the potential benefits against the cost and make a decision that is best for your business and your budget. I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck in your decision-making process.Best regards,