Networking Breakfast

[Jon Grainger]

Hi guys

Got this message following a FB ad I posted of a buy and sell group-

Hi Jon, i see you promoting window cleaning in the local area. I own a cleaning business and am looking to refer business to a window cleaner on a regular basis, would you be interested to come along to my business network meeting on Friday morning 6:45am- 8am to meet me and a few other local business men?

The meeting is held at ****

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Thanks

So I have agreed to go, it's £10 inc breakfast, and we get the chance for a one minute presentation.

I'm planning to go, just to see how it goes, and even if I get one customer I'll make my money back,

I've got a few ideas of what I'm going to say, but help me with any advice!

Regards

J

 

[Dave B]

That sounds like bni

I have been to these

If it is bni you can go twice as a visitor at 10 quid a time

Then you have to join

£175 one off joining fee for the year

Then 500 odd for the actual yearly fees plus 45 a month to cover the building rent and breakfasts so not that cheap really

And you can't get official referals whilst a visitor

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

No davey, the actual annual fees are just over £1000 per year, if you still have that PM I sent you some time back on BNI please feel free to forward it to Jon.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

I just PM'd it to Jon anyhow save you the trouble davey. /emoticons/tongue.png

 

[Dave B]

No davey, the actual annual fees are just over £1000 per year, if you still have that PM I sent you some time back on BNI please feel free to forward it to Jon.

It is about a grand once you add it all together as it needs paying in 1 lump but 2nd year you don't pay the 175 membership fee

I got given the breakdown when i went the other week

Bit steep for me

Around 1200 all added up

 

[Jake]

The costs is why I turned it down about a year ago, there's better ways to get work in, without spending 1k and having to get up early every week!

 

[TolishAPurd]

If its only a tenner inc breakfst then nothing to lose if you ask me. Might meet a few landlords, letting agents and the like. Got to be worth a punt..

 

[Jon Grainger]

Exactly what I thought! I'll write up how it went!

 

[Jake]

Yep, defo go to the first couple of 'free' ones, then sack it off, they'll try and get you to join, but just say no lol

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

What you are all missing is the fact that it is a referral based organization for members only. Does not matter whom you meet at a BNI meeting they will not give you one single lead or referral until you are a member of the club!

 

[MrBump]

Wow a grand is a fair whack of cash to pay upfront! I think you'd need to be bigger than a one man band and get alot of work from it for it to be worth it. You could get a fair amount of advertising for that money! But good luck, don't forget to bring some business cards/flyers or whatever to hand out :thumbsup: (if your allowed /emoticons/wink.png)

 

[adamangler]

Been invited to a few, a grand soon put me off, maybe one day, there on bloody early as well!

 

[Jon Grainger]

Hi guys,

Just finished my BNI meeting, and was good fun, I picked up two new customers. Did a little ad-lib speech which they seemed to like, and they complimented me on wearing a tie and the speech.

Obviously they pushed me to become a member, which I was expecting, and for the first year you are talking at £1200. Apparently the last windie made a killing but was a rubbish businessman, so didn't keep the customers happy.

I'm not to sure what to make of it to be honest! I reckon I could maybe double my money in new work, but it's one hell of a commitment, every Friday, for the best part of two hours, and a lot of money!

 

[Dave B]

It all depends who is there

The one i went to had a property management company and an estate agent and a guy who owns car dealerships so could be an opportunity of a bit of work

Personally if i spent 1200 quid it would be for a canvasser as at least you would see work instantly

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

If you go onto BNIs web site there will be a link to your local chapter and on there it will list the members and occupations so you can get an idea of the who's who before you go.