Devoted to small businesses and those who run them

Just about all of us have figured out that joining the local Chamber of Commerce can be beneficial for the small- or home-based business owner.  After all, where's the first place you should start creating your network of colleagues?  Locally.  Whenever anyone asks me how to start meeting other business owners and where to find others who can partner and cross-promote, that's at the top of my list of suggestions.

Other options abound, however.  There are companies and organizations that cater specifically to small business owner/operators, home-based businesses or the self-employed.  There are also groups that focus on minority business owners and freelancers, such as artists and writers.  Over time, we'll ferret out dozens of these groups together.  Obviously I can't belong to each and every one of them, so you tell me what groups you have chosen to (or plan to) join and why.

Let's start with the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE).

According to their website, the NASE is "the nation's leading resource for micro-business".  They've partnered with SBTV.com, a tv network on the web devoted to all things small business, and it looks like there are some pretty interesting videos on tap.  (Side note here...we'll be discussing branding for your small business later this week, so you might want to pop by and watch this video to prepare.)  Women in business should check out their "Women's Resource Center".  And it looks like they are pretty active on the political scene too.

It all looks mighty interesting to me...what say you?  Are you a current or former member of the NASE?  If so, post a comment with your thoughts about how they have (or have not) benefited your business efforts.  As the saying goes, "knowledge is power".  Share the wealth with your fellow SmallBizMentor visitors!