The US Chamber of Commerce now apparently has more members than any other small business association. This can be an important resource when it comes to your business. They offer members all kinds of advice about starting and maintaining a business, and even have workshops you can go to. They also help their members get discounts on various products and services, from office supplies to health insurance.
Look around your area for other small business associations before joining the Chamber of Commerce. There may be other associations better suited to your needs.
The SBA (Small Business Association) has been around since 1953. http://www.sba.gov/ They have helped provide many small companies with business loans and other professional advice. Definitely worth checking out their website.
http://www.score.org/findscore/ This is an outstanding association.The SCORE Association is a national nonprofit organization. SCORE’s 10,500 volunteers provide small business counseling and training through a network of 389 chapters, 800 branches and its Web site is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. According to their website:
SCORE’s mission statement says that “SCORE provides professional guidance and information, accessible to all, to maximize the success of America’s existing and emerging small businesses.”
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