What Are The Tangible Benefits Of A Chamber?

Every chamber is different, and the menu of tangible benefits depends on its size and its community. If you're a member and not using them, you're leaving money on the table.

Ribbon cuttings and grand openings. A chamber ribbon cutting brings photographers, local officials, fellow business owners and often the newspaper to your door. That's FREE  publicity at the moment you need it most.

Directory and website listings. Chamber directories, both printed and online, are where residents, newcomers and visitors look when they need a service. A listing with a link to your website also helps people find you in online searches.

Referrals. Chambers field calls from people looking for a contractor, a caterer, a florist or a place to stay. Those calls go to members. One good referral can cover a year of dues.

Advertising and promotion. Magazines, Newsletters, social media posts, member spotlights, email blasts and event programs give members low-cost or no-cost ways to reach local customers. We also offer sponsorships that put your name in front of hundreds of people at a time. Best of all, as members in the Tri-State Marketing Alliance, we can provide our members with ads that reach over a million people, for a vastly reduce cost not available anywhere in the region.

Networking events. Networking  luncheons put you in a room with potential customers, suppliers and partners. You won't find a cheaper sales call.

Training and workshops. We host Lunch-n-Learn sessions FREE to members on marketing, social media, hiring, taxes, investing, cybersecurity and now artificial intelligence. These are free to members and they're taught by people who understand small business.

Booth space at community events. Festivals, expos and holiday events draw crowds. Members get first choice of vendor space and reduced booth fees.

Group Health Benefits. The McDonald County Chamber offers access to group health plans that can save businesses thousands each year.  Coming soon will be a 401K option as well that would be difficult for small employers to cover and negotiate alone.

Certificates of origin. If you export products, we are able certify the paperwork your shipment needs to clear customs overseas.

Meeting space and resources. Need a conference room for an interview or a board meeting? With the construction of our new Business Center, you can utilize this resource at no cost.

Job postings and workforce help. Our chamber provides job boards, job fairs and student programs connect employers with local talent, which is one of the biggest challenges small businesses face today.

Policy updates you can use. Our Chamber is a member of NFIB, and with their help, we  track new regulations, licensing changes, tax deadlines and grant opportunities, then translate them into plain language. Knowing about a grant in time to apply is a tangible benefit.

Visitor exposure. Our Chamber has also been tasked to develop the Tourism plan for McDonald County. This allows us to provide visitor guides, maps, and steer travelers toward member businesses.

There's also measurable evidence that membership itself carries weight with customers. A national study found that when consumers know a small business belongs to its local chamber, they are 49 percent more likely to view it favorably and 80 percent more likely to buy from it in the future.¹ Put the chamber logo on your door and your website.