Local business associations are essential vehicles for the business community to articulate their issues. These associations bring together the business owners operating a business within a particular geographical area of coverage. Companies operating within the area adopt the idea of an association to face their challenges together. These challenges include high taxation, an influx of imports or the high cost of utility bills.
In this article, read about the path to becoming a member of your local business association.
Be a Business Owner
Most local business association would have this as the first condition for joining their rank. The business has to be registered and in operation for a particular period. Some association will have a minimum threshold of employees or turnover before allowing membership. Others will open their doors to just about every registered business regardless of the size or profitability. The rationale for allowing registered companies only is to give the association a legal standing in court disputes. It also grants the association legitimacy when engaging with government agencies.
Define Your Objectives
Different business associations are created with different objectives. Some are registered to lobby for favourable government policy. In contrast, others are formed to bring business owners together for the purpose of networking and exploring partnerships. Understand the objectives of your local association. Analyse whether they are in tandem with your business and personal goals. If they do not match, you need to look for the next association. However, if the objectives are in consonance, you can go ahead and seek to join.
Apply for Association Membership
The next stage is to apply for consideration of membership. Some associations will provide an application form where you fill in your details and attach the requisite documents. The application will then be reviewed. If you meet the threshold, you will be asked to pay a certain amount of money. Going forward, you will then become a member subject to the associations’ rules.