What to Expect

Before You Visit

Visiting a local BNI chapter meeting is the first step in finding your new referral network. You’ll find BNI members to be welcoming and excited to meet you to learn more about you and your business. Click here to see BNI's Core Values.

bni-nz-chapter-referral-network-meeting-online

Photo by Tareq Branney - HOWIE

BNI MEETING

Visit a chapter in your area

Visit Us

Your First Meeting

Find a Local Chapter

Your first step is to find a local chapter and register for a meeting. We have more than 10,640 BNI chapters all over the world with over 125 in New Zealand. You can register to visit, and you will receive emails from the local BNI chapter leadership team with information about the meeting.

What to Expect

Visitors like you attend chapter meetings all the time. Members are excited to meet you and make every effort to make the experience fun and productive for you. There is a proven agenda used worldwide to make the most of your time.

Proven Agenda

During the meeting, you will hear from the members of the chapter, who they are and what they do. You will have the opportunity to share your name, your business, and how you help your clients.

Relationships and Referrals

You will see networking in action. Members will be building relationships and sharing referrals to help each other grow their businesses.

Member Mindset

The most successful chapters of BNI are comprised of a team of people who are sincerely committed to helping one another.

As a Member

As a BNI member, you are part of an exclusive network dedicated to helping grow your business. By building relationships with fellow chapter members you will create a supportive network that will extend beyond your weekly chapter meetings.

What can happen after you attend a BNI meeting?

When members agree you are a good fit for the chapter, you will be invited to apply for BNI membership.

Photo By Hardest Working Ginger

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore answers to frequently asked questions about our organisation.

Can anyone join a BNI chapter?

We only take one person per professional classification. So, if you are a residential real estate person and we already have one, we can refer you to another chapter or you may be interested in helping to start a new chapter. Of course, if you are a commercial real estate person, you may be eligible to join this chapter.

How do I find a chapter?

Finding a chapter in your area is as easy as using our Find a Chapter List. From this feature, you can find out where and when the chapter meet and directly contact the Leadership Team to organise a visit.

How do I join a chapter?

Visiting a chapter is the first step in finding your new referral partners. Once you have visited a chapter that you believe will be a good fit for you, you can apply for membership through the Membership Committee of the chapter.

How do I get an application, and can I apply online?

You can receive a paper application directly from the Membership Committee of the chapter that you are hoping to join. Or apply online via the online application link for the chapter you are hoping to join.

Do new members need to be sponsored to join?

No, being sponsored is not a requirement to join. Upon joining a chapter, a new member may be assigned a mentor within the chapter, who will help coach them in developing relationships and in growing professionally and personally using BNI resources.

How do you know new members are reputable?

The application process includes reference checks allowing our members to know that the new members of their network are in good standing in their profession. Members are also encouraged to have One-to-Ones with new members so they can get to know each other and better identify the strengths and weaknesses of their businesses, ensuring the best referrals can be passed.

What occupations benefit the most from networking?

Any occupation that can accept referrals can benefit from networking.

Are members encouraged to bring visitors?

Of course! Visiting a BNI meeting is the best way for someone to decide if they are interested in becoming a member. Inviting someone to visit your chapter adds fun and energy to the meeting and the prospect of more referrals, not to mention it can be instrumental in helping your membership grow. Members are also welcome to invite others from their profession to visit, while they cannot be in the same chapter, the visitor may be interested in joining another chapter in the area.

If I specialise in a field within my profession, am I expected to be an expert in all aspects of my profession?

BNI does not expect any member to be an expert in all aspects of their profession. On the contrary, being a subject-matter expert in your field and primary area of focus can help the rest of the chapter better learn what you do and how to best refer you.

Return to the top