About BNI

Started in January of 1985 by Founder and CEO Ivan R. Misner, Ph.D., BNI-Business Network Int’l. provides a positive, supportive and structured environment to further business through word of mouth marketing. BNI is a business and professional networking organization that allows only one person per profession to join a chapter.

Belonging to BNI is like having dozens of sales people working for you because all the other members carry several copies of your business cards around with them. When they meet someone who could use your products or services, they hand that person your card and recommend your services. It’s as simple as that! Last year, members of BNI passed over a million referrals which generated millions of dollars worth of business for each other!

It’s simple because it’s based on the proven concept of “what goes around, comes around.” If I help you, you’ll help me and we will both benefit as a result. Would you like to increase your business by 20%, 30%, 50% or as much as 100%? You can see results like this! Many have. Some participants have added as many as 50 new clients in the first 2 years!!

Successful businesses depend on word of mouth advertising. It is the best and most cost-effective form of advertising possible. BNI provides a structured environment for the development and exchange of quality business referrals. It does so by providing an environment in which you develop personal relationships with dozens of other qualified business professionals. By establishing this “formal” relationship with other people, you will have the opportunity to substantially increase your business.

Benefits of BNI

Most business people advertise, and we would never suggest that you stop advertising. However, compare the value between advertising and word-of-mouth marketing. Being a member of BNl is like having up to 40 salespeople marketing your product or service everyday!

Good Referrals

Good Referrals offer the opportunity to do business with someone who is in the market to buy your product or service. Although not a guaranteed sale, a good referral is an open door to discuss your business with someone who is interested in your product or service. Each member knows several people. This extended network is a rich data base of potential business available to members of BNI.

Word of Mouth

Word of Mouth is the most cost-effective form of advertising possible. BNI provides a structured environment for the development and exchange of quality business referrals for both men and women. By comparison, getting referrals through a one day 4"x4” display ad costs an average of $1,568.00, based on another a survey published in The World’s Best Known Marketing Secret. Based on a survey conducted by Dr. Ivan R. Misner, each member of BNI passes an average of over $15,660 worth of potential business to other members in one years’ time.

Thinking of joining?

Networking requires commitment. The most successful chapters of BNI are comprised of participants who are sincerely committed to helping one another through networking. They are a team. As a participant in BNI, you are responsible for complying with the policies and guidelines of the organization. A partial list of the policies of BNI are listed below:

 
1. Only one person from each profession is permitted to join a chapter of BNI.
 
2. All participants should represent their primary occupation, not a part-time business.
 
3. Attendance is critical. If you cannot attend a meeting, you may send a substitute. This will not count as an absence.
 
4. Participants are required to bring bona-fide referrals and/or visitors to their chapter of BNI

FAQs

Q: WHAT is BNI?
A: 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.

Q: WHERE does BNI meet?
A: In many chapters throughout the New York Area and more that are developing all the time.

Q: WHEN does BNI meet?
A: Every week, so that members maintain contact and exchange regular referrals. Take a look at the different times the chapters meet in our member directory.

Q: WHY visit and join BNI?
A: Because “what goes around comes around!” people that GIVE business referrals GET business referrals! Visit and see BNI in action!

Q: HOW do you benefit from BNI?
A: In many 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.

Q: Can anyone join a chapter?
A: 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.

Q: What occupations benefit the most from networking?
A: 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.

Q: How many members are in a “typical” BNI chapter?
A: A good mature BNI chapter typically has between 20 and 25 members. Some BNI chapters have as many as 45 members!

Q: Are there any other events besides the weekly chapter meetings?
A: 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.

Q: Are members supposed to bring visitors?
A: 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 only look to invite visitors who are interested in joining BNI.

Q: If all of the current chapters have someone in my profession, what do I do?
A: Contact the local director. You will then be given information on how to start your own chapter.

Q: How do I go about starting a new BNI chapter?
A: 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 word-of-mouth team!

Q: How do you know new members are reputable?
A: The application asks for references and we have a membership committee that checks them. It’s word of mouth, 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.

Q: What if a member gets a referral and does poor work?
A: 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.

Q: How much does it cost to join BNI?
A: The true investment in considering BNI is not money, but your time. You are expected to attend the meetings, meet and develop relationships with your fellow members outside of the meeting and this all takes a time commitment on your part. BNI is a networking organization and you are responsible to work your new network. The annual monetary investment is less than $1 per day.