FAQ - Questions

Table of Contents for Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of belonging to Business Referrals?
How often does Business Referrals meet?
What happens at a typical meeting?
What is a business referral? Is it the same as a lead?
Do I need to attend all the meetings?
When and where are the meetings?
Do we ever meet on other days or evenings?
How much does it cost to join Business Referrals?
What are the ongoing costs of membership?
How do I pay the quarterly fees?
Can I bring friends or business associates?
Who presides over the meetings?
Do we take turns as officers? Is there a vote? How often do the officers change?
HOW DO I JOIN?

What are the benefits of belonging to Business Referrals?

Get to know other business people in the area
Good way for others to get to know you
Better understanding of how other businesses work
Added value for your customers by referring them to business
associates you know
Great place to pick up new ideas on how to run (or not run)
your own business
Great place to find new business
Broaden your resources

How often does Business Referrals meet?

Weekly a.m. meetings with quarterly evening social get-togethers. When and where.

What happens at a typical meeting?

A typical meeting begins with 30-second introductions of each
member and his or her business.
Each member passes referrals to other business associates.
Two members each week provide ten-minute presentations about
their businesses to enable the group to become more familiar with
them and their products and services.
Announcements and reminders; old business/new business.
The meeting concludes with another round of 30-second business
promotions.
Oh, and we eat a great breakfast!

What is a business referral? Is it the same as a lead?

Each member takes any opportunities that arise during the week in his or her normal business and personal interactions to recommend or refer people to member businesses. We all keep a supply of one another's business cards for this purpose.

Is this the same as a lead? Can be. However, pre-sales work is not the point. Qualifying referrals as ready-to-buy customers is not the point. Advertising one another's businesses and recommending them is the point.

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Do I need to attend all the meetings?

If you don't attend, you do not receive the referral benefits. Business Referrals, Inc. is a face-to-face networking group that meets weekly except for several holidays.

Each member has the opportunity for planned absences (12 per year), as well as 6 unplanned absences if needed.

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When and where are the meetings?

Business Referrals, Inc., meets every Friday, except for pre-planned holidays, from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m.

We meet at:

Sara's Place
3501 Channahon Road
Joliet, IL

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Do we ever meet on other days or evenings?

Each quarter of the year we plan an evening social get-together at a business or home.

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How much does it cost to join Business Referrals?

Membership fees include $30 to join, and the first quarterly fee is added.

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What are the ongoing costs of membership?

In addition to buying your own breakfast every week, Business Referrals collects $30/quarter from each member.

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How do I pay the quarterly fees?

Write a check payable to Business Referrals, Inc., in the amount of $30.00 each quarter and give to the treasurer at a weekly meeting. You may pay for more than a quarter at a time. For instance, some members pay by the year instead of by the quarter. You will receive a receipt at the meeting.

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Can I bring friends or business associates?

Business Referrals is kept vibrant and growing by members bringing new potential members to weekly meetings. Business Referrals has no more than 35 members at a time, however, and only one member per business category (one lawyer, one realtor, one mortgage broker, etc.).

Therefore, if we are under 35 members and your business associates are in professions that are not yet represented in Business Referrals, great! Bring them.