As a small business owner you need to carefully pick and choose where your hard-earned money is going to go. Maybe you've considered joining your local business association but aren't sure it's worth the cost of the yearly dues, or maybe you simply don't know enough about the benefits such an association can provide.

Annual dues for membership vary from association to association. Generally they range from $25.00 to $250.00. But, you get what you pay for, which means those with higher fees offer more benefits. Dues are used to pay for speakers, meeting rooms and special events, as well as cover any administrative and printing costs (for newsletters and other publications). They usually include a listing in the association's directory, subscription to the monthly newsletter, and sometimes, one (business size) ad in the newsletter.

Ultimately, deciding to join your local business association is up to you, but understanding the benefits such associations provide will help you make that decision.

Ask what your local association offers in the way of:

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