To BNI or not to BNI

BNI has been around a while. It's is a business referral network. The objective of BNI is to help small business generate referrals, leads (and introductions) for each other. 

This is achieved through the various BNI chapters who meet regularly (weekly). There is a well established protocol that members follow in asking and for getting help in these chapters. You can attend a few of these sessions as guests to get a feel of BNI and it's value.

There is a fee associated with being a part of BNI (About Rs. 30K-40K - including a one time fee and an annual fee). Please check with the organization for specific details.

• If your business is the kind of business that needs referral from people, then it is worth considering joining the organization.

• If your business gets leads from other channels (E.g. Internet) and/or you already have enough leads, it may not make sense to join BNI.

• There is a solid time commitment (that you have to attend the meetings regularly). Typically for breakfast. So, unless you think you can make time for this, you should not join the organization.

• It's not a MLM scheme that pays people based on the businesses they have generated. 

If you think you are up for it, explore by attending one (may be a few) of the sessions as a guest. Get an idea of the time commitment that you may have to put in (and the logistics around making it happen). When you attend the session, get an idea of the other members of that chapter to get  gut check on the quality of leads you might get. You can decide to commit based on that. 

Once you come back from the session, do share your opinions so that others benefit from the same.

Sources: 

Here are a few links that are worth going through to give you a background.

• http://www.enidhi.net/2014/06/bni-business-networking-international.html 
• http://grasshopper.com/blog/is-a-bni-membership-worth-it-for-you-and-you...  
• http://www.business2community.com/small-business/6-reasons-join-bni-grou...