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Are you our Next member?

Joining BNI

HOW TO JOIN

The most successful chapters have members who are sincerely committed to helping one another. 

The best way to find out about BNI is to visit a chapter. Contact us for more information on attending a weekly meeting. 

BNI Chapter 12 meets every Tuesday from 7:00AM - 8:45AM at Club 101 on Park Avenue and 40th Street. Each weekly meeting is diverse, attended by core members and guests alike.  

These are some of the chairs currently open in our chapter. See the full list for more professions.

 
  • Office Equipment
  • Computer Trainer
  • SEO
  • Copywriter
  • Wedding Planner
  • Travel Agent
  • Private Chef
  • Credit Repair
  • Psychiatrist
  • Podiatrist
  • Home Interior Staging
  • New Jersey Realtor
  • Office Suites
  • HVAC
  • Image Consultant
  • Bankruptcy Attorney

If you don't see a vacancy for your profession above, contact us to find out more information on other BNI® chapters that have availability.

Why join BNI?

Membership Perks:

  • Increased exposure to many other people and businesses

  • Build solid business relationships that will last for the rest of your life

  • Tools to network more effectively, including educational workshops and mentoring

  • Visibility, credibility and profitability for each of our members

And much, much more!!!

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Details:

  • 52 networking breakfast meetings per year with members and new visitors each week

  • Bi-monthly newsletter with curated list of educational material on networking, public speaking, sales and business development

  • Entry in national business tradeshows with opportunities to network and market your business

  • Rotating set of workshops and guest lectures on special topics of interest and business trends

  • Social events to build relationships and explore NYC every month. Check out BNI 12's news and events.

  • New Member Welcome Kit including: "Formula for Success" orientation presentation, a badge, a vinyl card holder to carry members' business cards, referral slips, marketing materials for your chapter

What you should know

Membership Commitment:

  • Weekly meetings last for 90 minutes.
     
  • Members need to arrive on time and stay for the entire meeting.
     
  • Only one person from each professional specialty is accepted into a chapter of BNI®.
     
  • All participants must represent their primary occupation.
     
  • Attendance is critical. If you cannot attend a meeting, you may send a substitute.
     
  • Participation is key to the success of a group. Members can participate by bringing bona-fide referrals and/or visitors to weekly meetings
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Membership Investment: 

There is an initial application fee, annual membership dues, and chapters may have a venue fee. Please see the chapter Secretary/Treasurer for exact information. When you apply to participate in BNI your application will be reviewed by the chapter's Membership Committee and you will be notified of the status before the next meeting. 

FAQ

Here are some of the most common questions we get about BNI, it’s purpose, membership, and how to find and join a chapter. 

As a participant in BNI, you are responsible for complying with the policies and guidelines of the organization. You can also review the full BNI policies to better understand how we work.

What is BNI?

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.

Where does BNI 12 meet?

Our chapter meets at Club 101 in Manhattan, New York. The address of Club 101 is 101 Park Avenue (at the corner of 40th Street).

When does BNI meet?

Our chapter meets every Tuesday at 7:00AM until 8:45AM. We also have several extra events throughout the month. Take a look at our calendar for more information on upcoming events.

Why visit and join BNI?

Because “what goes around comes around!” people that GIVE business referrals GET business referrals! Visit and see BNI in action!

How do you benefit from BNI?

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.

Can anyone join a chapter?

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.

What occupations benefit the most from networking?

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.

How many members are in a “typical” BNI chapter?

A good mature BNI chapter typically has between 20 and 25 members. Some BNI chapters have as many as 45 members! Our chapter, BNI 12, has 85 active members - making us the largest in Manhattan.

Are there any other events besides the weekly chapter meetings?

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.

Are members supposed to bring visitors?

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.

If all of the current chapters have someone in my profession, what do I do?

Contact the local director. You will then be given information on how to start your own chapter.

How do I go about starting a new BNI chapter?

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!

How do you know new members are reputable?

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.

What if a member gets a referral and does poor work?

This is a very rare situation. In the event this happens, 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.

How much does it cost to join BNI?

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.

Grow your business over breakfast.