What to Expect
Before You Visit
Getting invited to a local online Chapter meeting is the first step in finding your new referral network. Our business networking groups are what we refer to as a Chapter. You’ll find BNI members to be welcoming and excited to meet you to learn more about you and your business.
Your First Online Meeting
bni online™ is a fantastic online meeting platform. It’s a simple and effective way to build and stay connected to your network from the comfort of your home or office. All it takes is a couple of mouse clicks.
Get Invited
Your first step is to find a local business networking group (known as a Chapter) and register for a meeting. We have over 9,000 chapters all over the world. The registration process is easy. You will receive emails from the local Chapter leadership with information about the meeting and a link to participate in an online meeting.
What to Expect
Visitors like you attend online chapter meetings all the time. Members are excited to meet you and make every effort to make the experience fun and productive for you. There is a proven agenda used worldwide to make the most of your time.
Proven Agenda
During the meeting, you’ll have a few seconds to share your name, your business, and how you help your clients. It’s that easy and is only a few mouse clicks away.
Relationships and Referrals
You will see networking in action. Members will be building relationships and sharing referrals to help each other grow their businesses.
Your First Online Meeting
bni online™ is a fantastic online meeting platform. It’s a simple and effective way to build and stay connected to your network from the comfort of your home or office. All it takes is a couple of mouse clicks.
Get Invited
Your first step is to find a local Chapter and register for a meeting. We have over 9,000 chapters all over the world. The registration process is easy. You will receive emails from the local Chapter leadership with information about the meeting and a link to participate in an online meeting.
What to Expect
Visitors like you attend online chapter meetings all the time. Members are excited to meet you and make every effort to make the experience fun and productive for you. There is a proven agenda used worldwide to make the most of your time.
Proven Agenda
During the meeting, you’ll have a few seconds to share your name, your business, and how you help your clients. It’s that easy and is only a few mouse clicks away.
Relationships and Referrals
You will see networking in action. Members will be building relationships and sharing referrals to help each other grow their businesses.
Member Mindset
The most successful chapters of BNI are comprised of a team of people who are sincerely committed to helping one another and helping each other grow their business network.
Member Mindset
The most successful chapters of BNI are comprised of a team of people who are sincerely committed to helping one another.
As a Member
As a BNI Member, you are part of an exclusive network dedicated to helping grow your business. By building relationships with fellow Chapter Members you will create a supportive business network that will go beyond your Chapter meetings.
What can happen after you attend this meeting
When members agree you are a good fit for the chapter, you will be invited to apply for BNI membership. BNI Membership helps you generate more sales with consistent growth, less effort and lower cost than other marketing methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore answers to frequently asked questions about our organization.
How do I find a chapter?
Finding a chapter in your area is easy using our "Get Invited" page. From this page, you can find out where and when they meet and directly contact the chapter leadership.
How do I join a chapter?
Visiting a chapter is the first step in finding your new referral partners. Once you have visited a chapter that you believe will be a good fit for you, you can apply for membership with the Membership Committee of the chapter. This process involves filling out an online application and an interview with the Committee.
Can anyone join a chapter?
BNI is exclusive: only one person per professional specialty is permitted to join a chapter. If your specific "seat" is no longer available, we can refer you to another chapter.
How do I get an application and can I apply online?
You can receive an application link directly from the Membership Committee of the chapter that you are hoping to join.
Do new members need to be sponsored to join?
No, being sponsored is not a requirement to join. Upon joining a chapter, a new member may be assigned a mentor within the chapter, who will help coach them in developing relationships and in growing professionally and personally using BNI resources.
How do you know new members are reputable?
The application process includes an interview with the Membership Committee and a reference check. This allows our members to know that the new members of their network are in good standing in their profession. Members are also encouraged to have One-to-Ones with new members so they can get to know each other and better identify the strengths and weaknesses of their businesses, ensuring the best referrals can be passed.
What if a member receives a referral, but performs their work poorly?
BNI chapters have an ethics committee. Any member unsatisfactorily handling referrals must be reported to the membership committee, for investigation.
What occupations benefit the most from networking?
Any occupation that can accept referrals can benefit from networking.
Are members encouraged to bring visitors?
Of course! Visiting a BNI meeting is the best way for someone to decide if they are interested in becoming a member, and inviting someone to visit your chapter can be instrumental in helping your membership grow. Members are also welcome to invite others from their profession to visit, while they cannot be in the same chapter, the visitor may be interested in joining another chapter in the area.
If I specialize in a field within my profession, am I expected to be an expert in all aspects of my profession?
BNI does not expect any member to be an expert in all aspects of their profession. On the contrary, being a
subject-matter expert in your field and primary area of focus can help the rest of the chapter better learn
what you do and how to best refer you.
My profession does not let me directly solicit business. Is BNI still right for me?
BNI's primary objectives: assist members in ways to improve their business, and educate them to become more proficient at networking. Professionals earn business when their expertise is known, and when others reach a level of trust with them. BNI provides a valuable forum that can facilitate introductions, build credibility, and increase profitability.
Do ethical rules for certain professions prohibit participation in BNI?
BNI understands the importance of the ethical concerns governing certain professions and acknowledges that rules can differ by location. As such, BNI requires members to uphold the rules of their professions to not violate their ethical obligations. In the event that BNI’s general rules could potentially violate a professional ethics code, BNI’s rules are superseded by the dictates of the profession’s ethics’ code.