[Pittmonkey]

I've been invited to one again!!!

Been on one a few years ago for BNI (not for window cleaning) and didn't really get a good vibe about it.
Business for Breakfast apparently do things a little different. Had a look at their www and can't see what the difference is.

Only interested as I'm very bored and currently looking at growing the Biz. Ideally more into the commercial sector and also employing.

Anyone had any success with these Networking Setup's?


Thanks
Wayne

[Tom White]

One of my customers tried to get me to one of these.  There was a cost involved (first was free), but then you've got to fork out something like £200 a year.  She swears by it though; she runs a small cake making business (The Chepstow Cake Making Company (or something)) and she says it's completely changed the way she does business.  She's even been on the radio a couple of times for interviews.

She says as a minimum, many of the people who attend run businesses and they have offices, and those offices have windows and there's a good chance I could get to clean 'em.  Also they have a wide range of business types who attend; my customer tells me they've even got a psychic who does some 'majic' or something!? Rolly eyes.

The £200 joining fee didn't thrill me though, after I've forked out so much for a van, system, and poles, but I may consider it.

[colin purewater]

id go to the 1st one ( which will be free)
hand some cards out and see what you get
then take it from there
 could get tons of work could get nowt but either way you get a free breaky

[Pittmonkey]

Nah!! £10 for breaky 

Two free visits if I want.

Then if you join its around £500 + vat
They are franchise's so it's there to make money aswell.

Just been reading a few older threads. Seems like they can work but they aren't for everyone.

I worked in sales in the past and I consider myself to be a people person. Knocked on doors and all that stuff in the past so think I could handle the presentations and pitch's you're supposed to do.

The BNI felt a bit to corporate for me and came across quite formal. Me with my broad northern accent felt a bit intimidated with the lawyers in pin stripe suite's with their posh Uni accents. 

[Tom White]

but either way you get a free breaky

Nope.  I think it's then £15 for your breakie!  

[Pittmonkey]

I normally only have a Mars Bar 

[Lee GLS]

i got invited to one near me a few months ago, the price was £400 plus vat for a year, plus breakfast £7 a week and you had to have a 75% attendance rate.

I dont know what they would do if you didnt attend regularly, especially if you have paid for a year?

[Blue Frog Systems]

Ok guys, im a bit of an expert on networking groups and i've never been to one... read on ....

My wife runs 4 networking groups in Staffordshire & Worcestershire, hense i know so much about them.

The key to these networking groups is to build relationships with others in the group. Not find the fittest woman and drool over her, but make friends with them. Pass business their way and you will get it in return.

Anyone walking into a group, handing out cards and sitting back waiting for the work to roll in WILL be dissapointed.

Why would the others in the group reccomend you if they dont know you ?

Would you reccomend a tradesman that you didnt know or never used there services ? you wouldnt would you.

Granted that most networking groups are a franchise and out to make money, but you wouldnt believe how much work goes into running each group. Its like us window cleaners... people often dont think about the behind the scenes work that goes into what we do (purifing water, keeping onto of debts, keeping equipment running etc)

There are quite a few different groups out there with different prices.

[bobby p]

imagine youd get a big belly once you started going along to it regularly

[Mike #1]

i attended 3 meetings about 2yrs ago but as blue frog said you need to and make friends  which might take about 2 months i got fed up of having to start late and been pushed to fork out over £500.00 , not for me but it works for others like people who need new custys all the time

were as with us windys we have a customer base of people who have there windows cleaned on a regular basis , and we can gain more custys and build the business .

people going to these meetings need new contracts coming in all the time they need to network most of us dont

[Londoner]

Its a business same as any other. The person who runs it is out to make money. Go along by all means but understand the set up.

[Pittmonkey]

That's a very good point Prowindow.

I've picked up a lot of work this year all recommendations. No advertising. I cant imagine getting that amount of referals from a breakfast.

My main interest would be the commercial side.

[basiljohn]

I was invited to one and went along a few weeks ago in Sheffield, £10 for breakfast per week and £450 + VAT, wanted you to send a substitute if you didnt attend all in all looking at best part of £1000 per year.
 
Quite a few seemed to be doing well and receiving a few referals but like some one else has said it is a franchise and they like to make money.

Decided it wasnt for me but we can all network for free just chat to your customers and ask them to recommend you to friends and neighbours if they are happy with your work, it works for me.

[Londoner]

Quite a few seemed to be doing well and receiving a few referals but like some one else has said it is a franchise and they like to make money.

I think actually it is a franchise. The owner buys into a national scheme. Really its a lonely hearts club for aspiring business people . You recommend their businesses and they recommend yours.

[basiljohn]

Vince dont know why you have quoted my comment when I have said its a franchise or am I missing something?

[Ian Rochester]

I've just come out of our local BNI after 18 months, overall it worked reasonably well for us, most cleaners get a reasonable amount of work from it as it's pretty easy for someone to find a referral for a window cleaning or carpet cleaning job.

We have had around a 4 x return on investment and that's not including repeat work and contracts that will hopefully run for a long time.

The only reason I have left is because of the expectations that are put on the members to find new members, that's not something I do well or have the time to do.  If the Directors did that part of the job, went out looking for trades and professions to invite along then I would still be in.

I'm keeping in contact with most of the business people I have met and have just picked up a job from one for pressure washing worth £240 which I wouldn't have got without being a member.

It is a big committment, not necessarily in monetary value, but in your own time attending the meetings each week.

[G Griffin]

The burning question has to be- what`s for breakfast?

[Londoner]

Vince dont know why you have quoted my comment when I have said its a franchise or am I missing something?

You are missing that I am agreeing with you

[Pittmonkey]

It is a big committment, not necessarily in monetary value, but in your own time attending the meetings each week.

That was the the impression I also got from the BNI. I've been told that BforB are a little more relaxed.

[Londoner]

Is it a bit like Amway and the like. They are always pushing you to bring in more people. They want you to do their recruiting for them.