small business associationԾ The U.S. Small Business Association provides support to small businesses and entrepreneurs in the United States. The associationҳ membership includes members of theSBAҳ Office of Advocacy, SCOREҳ mentoring program, and eWomenNetwork. The following are some reasons to join a small business association. These groups are a great way to learn about and network with other entrepreneurs. They offer free resources and support to help small businesses grow. SBAҳ Office of Advocacy The Small Business Administrationҳ Office of Advocacy for Small Business has the mission of ensuring that federal regulations meet the needs of small businesses. Compliance with regulations is one of the top concerns for Americaҳ 30 million small businesses. However, poorly designed regulations can add unnecessary financial and technical costs and hurt the ability of small businesses to grow. In addition, small firms often donҴ have the resources to devote to the compliance of new rules. The Office of Advocacy for Small Business conducts economic research and monitors compliance with RFAs. Additionally, the Office of Advocacy for Small Business actively engages in outreach outside of Washington, D.C., through the appointment of Regional Advocates in each of the 10 federal regions. Regional Advocates visit small business communities in their respective regions to hear their concerns and advocate for their interests. To determine whether a business meets the criteria for small business status, the SBA looks at total income and number of employees. The SBA defines small businesses as those with no more than fifty-five employees and an average annual receipt of $41.5 million. Businesses younger than 12 months can use an average of each pay period to calculate their size. Additionally, they must take into account the revenue generated by their affiliates and the average number of employees for each. Another flaw of the SBA Office of Advocacy for Small BusinessesҠresearch efforts is that they lack policies to govern the selection of peer reviewers. As a result, the Office of Advocacy for Small Business is prone to selecting unqualified and biased peer reviewers for its research projects. Further, it lacks the legal authority to evaluate the scientific research conducted by other agencies. In other words, the SBA Office of Advocacy for Small Businesses lacks the necessary policies and procedures to ensure the accuracy of its research and evaluation. SCOREҳ mentoring program One of the benefits of SCOREҳ mentoring program is the free, personalized assistance it offers entrepreneurs. Since it was founded in 1964, SCORE has assisted more than 10 million entrepreneurs. The program boasts the largest network of volunteer business mentors with over 10,000 members. These counselors have considerable business experience and expertise and are available to assist entrepreneurs with every aspect of their businesses. There are many free workshops and educational seminars offered by SCORE. While SCOREҳ mentoring program for small business organizations has been around for over 50 years, it has recently expanded into the Fargo area. The Fargo office will oversee mentorships in Detroit Lakes, Park Rapids, and Fergus Falls. This expansion will introduce SCOREҳ services to new communities and help strengthen those that are already in place. The program also seeks to recruit experienced business professionals from the area to serve as mentors to small business owners in the area. The goal is to recruit at least 15 new volunteers and grow the mentoring program in North Dakota. SCOREҳ mentoring program for small business organizations is free and available online. During the day, mentors are available to answer questions in real time. These sessions are open Tuesday and Thursday from 2 to 5 PM ET. In addition, a free Real-Time mentoring platform has been added to SCOREҳ website. By combining a mentoring program with a small business association, SCOREҳ mission will be to serve the minority community. Another benefit of SCOREҳ mentoring program for small business organizations is the fact that its members are typically smaller than those of the general public. However, the program also helps small business owners access financing and grow their business. There are over 12,000 members, so there is no reason not to join one. You can tap into their network for free and start growing your business today. If you canҴ afford the services of an attorney, SCORE is a great place to start. eWomenNetwork The eWomenNetwork small business organization helps women succeed in the business world. With Accelerated Networking(tm) and over 2,000 in-person and online events, the organization empowers women to reach their full potential. Sandra Yancey, founder of eWomenNetwork, has developed daily messages for businesswomen from her personal journals. The message system has helped her to accelerate the process of building and exchanging business connections. eWomenNetwork is one of the most well-known and effective small business associations for women. Founded in 2000, eWomenNetwork is one of the largest networks of women-owned businesses in the U.S. There are 118 chapters throughout the U.S., so chances are you can find an eWomenNetwork chapter near you. By joining, youҬl be able to learn from other women in your area about marketing, advertising, and legal issues. NAWBO is a large organization with lots of perks for its members, including a monthly magazine, but eWomenNetwork is focused on women-owned businesses. They connect like-minded women with the same goals and share ideas. Their networking platform makes them better businesspeople. They can learn from each otherҳ experiences and help each other grow their own businesses. In addition to their networking, eWomenNetwork is the ideal choice for women business owners and those who want to get ahead in their field. StartUp Nation As a leading small business association, StartUpNation provides entrepreneurs with valuable advice, resources, and connections to start and grow their businesses. The company was founded in 2002 by Jeff Sloan, a passionate entrepreneur and creator of multimedia content. Its content is crafted by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, and written by thought leaders, business professionals, and subject matter experts. For more information, visit StartupNationҳ website. In addition to its comprehensive website, StartUpNation hosts monthly events and webinars to help entrepreneurs expand their businesses. A major goal of the organization is to create an entrepreneurial culture in Israel, where the entrepreneurial environment is favorable for innovation and growth. Through these events, entrepreneurs can meet investors, government representatives, and other business leaders to create new and exciting ventures. In addition, the organization provides matchmaker support to help entrepreneurs and investors connect with the right investors and partners. The organization connects Israeli entrepreneurs and small businesspeople with new opportunities all over the world. In addition to its website, the StartupNation radio station hosts a radio show, which offers free advice to small business owners. In addition to its free resources, the website features interviews with thought leaders and industry insiders on small business issues. Another useful resource for small business owners is the American Express Shop Small Forum, which doesnҴ operate as a small business association. However, small business owners who have an American Express business credit card should check out the forum to learn more about how to maximize their businessҠpotential. Whether it is general or industry-specific, a small business association can be an important resource for aspiring entrepreneurs and help them build their businesses. Membership fees may be expensive, but the potential business partners and mentors you can find through this network will make it worth it. YouҬl also benefit from the free advice and forms that come with membership in a small business association. The only downside to membership is that some small business associations charge for membership. But the rewards of meeting others in your industry is well worth the investment. Ashoka If youҲe looking to start a business or expand an existing one, you may want to consider partnering with Ashoka. The largest network of social entrepreneurs, Ashoka has nearly three thousand members from 70 countries. Not only can Ashoka connect you with local partners and other organizations, it can also provide useful guides to growing your venture. Members can also learn about local programs that are designed to help small businesses thrive. Founded in 1981 by Bill Drayton, Ashoka is a network of thousands of social entrepreneurs who are developing innovative solutions for the worldҳ most pressing problems. With its mission of making every person a changemaker, Ashoka is dedicated to helping people find the resources and networks to make their ideas and dreams a reality. As such, membership is free. The benefits are immense. Members receive mentoring and coaching, and learn about thebusiness community in an environment where they can network with others who share similar goals. One of the many benefits of joining Ashoka is its Fellowship. Fellows receive a generous living stipend while working on their project full-time. In addition, they receive expert advice, access to mentors, and a lifelong community of entrepreneurs. There are five main qualities Ashoka looks for in their Fellows. Each applicant must have a revolutionary idea. It must be a new approach to a pressing social issue, or a groundbreaking innovation in a specific field. Other benefits of joining a small business association include access to valuable information and services. There are also many local, state, and national small business associations. Each of these organizations has members and representatives that are willing to help you. National Womenҳ Business Council is a nonpartisan organization that reports on issues related to small businesses. This group is an excellent resource for connecting women with small businesses. Its members will help you grow your business to a new level. The post4 Reasons to Join a Small Business Association appeared first onSMB Place.