BNI Singapore began in 1999 and launched its first chapter, BNI Pinnacle, in 2000 with 22 members. As more business owners established new chapters, BNI Singapore expanded. Due to core values that guided member interactions and goal achievement.

By December 2023, the organization had grown to 37 chapters. Today, BNI Singapore boasts over 1371 members. As well as generating more than S$73 million in referral value in the past year.

This solidified its position as one of Singapore’s leading business networking organizations.

Benefits in becoming a BNI member

You’ll discover a wealth of benefits awaiting you as a member if you can spare some time to attend BNI Meeting. Be it morning or evening, attending a BNI meeting will prove worthwhile.

1. Getting word-of-mouth referral

The underlying philosophy of BNI is the concept of Givers’ Gain. By giving business to others; you will get business in return. 

2. Professional Development

There are many courses to take. Go to BNI Connect to choose the course you like. There are leadership, networking courses for example. You also get a chance to hone your presentation skills when you present your business weekly.

3. Networking Opportunities

One of the most appealing aspects of BNI is the networking opportunities. Each week, members will bring guests to the meeting to mingle and learn more about your trade.

4. Showcase your Expertise

When you join as a member in a chapter, you will be the only person representing your trade. There will not be a duplication of the same trade. So everyone in the chapter will see you as the go-to expert in your industry.

How to join BNI Singapore?

Joining BNI  is straightforward:

1. Identify a preferred chapter and attend one of its weekly meetings.
2. Express interest in joining during the post-presentation session with the hosting team.
3. The Chapter President evaluates suitability for membership and trade availability.
4. If eligible, a private meeting will be arranged to complete the application. There will be a membership fee for joining BNI.

What happens after you become a member?

After you join BNI, you begin a journey that impacts your business networking and growth. Here’s what usually happens after becoming a BNI member:

Orientation: Attend an orientation session to familiarize yourself with the chapter and its members.

Introduction to Chapter Members: Network with fellow members during regular meetings, fostering professional relationships.

Participation in Meetings: Actively engage in chapter meetings, showcasing your business and exchanging referrals.

One-to-One Meetings: Schedule one-to-one meetings with fellow members to deepen relationships and explore referral opportunities.

Education and Training: Take advantage of BNI’s educational resources to enhance your networking skills and referral generation efforts.

Referral Generation: One of the primary objectives of BNI membership is to generate and exchange referrals with other members. As you build trust and credibility within your chapter, you’ll likely start receiving and providing referrals that can lead to new business opportunities.

Leadership Opportunities: As you become more involved, consider taking on leadership roles within your chapter.

Attendance and Accountability: Maintain regular attendance and participation, contributing to the success of your chapter.

Membership Renewal: Renew your membership annually to continue benefiting from BNI’s networking opportunities.

How to get the most out of BNI?

To get the most out of your BNI membership and maximize the benefits for your business, consider the following strategies:

Attend One-to-One “Dances”:

• In BNI, one-to-one meetings are sometimes informally referred to as “dances.”
• Regularly schedule these “dances” with fellow BNI members outside of the weekly chapter meetings.
• Treat these meetings as opportunities to learn more about each other’s businesses, exchange ideas, and explore potential referral opportunities.
• Building strong relationships through one-to-one “dances” can lead to increased trust and more effective referral exchanges.

Participate Actively in Weekly Meetings:

• Attend weekly BNI chapter meetings consistently and actively participate in the networking activities and discussions.
• Use your time during the meetings to showcase your business through presentations, testimonials, and referrals.
• Take advantage of the structured agenda to engage with other members and maximize your networking opportunities.

Attend BNI Training Sessions:

• Take advantage of the educational resources and training sessions offered by BNI.
• Attend workshops, webinars, and other training events to improve your networking skills, learn best practices for referral marketing, and stay updated on industry trends.
• Apply the knowledge gained from training sessions to enhance your networking efforts and generate more referrals.

Ensure Traffic Light is Green:

• BNI often uses a traffic light system to track members’ activity levels and referral generation.
• Make sure your traffic light status is green by meeting attendance requirements, actively participating in chapter activities, and generating referrals for other members.
• Green status indicates that you are fully engaged and contributing to the success of your BNI chapter, which can lead to increased visibility and referral opportunities for your business.
  Image Credit: BNIConnect

BNI Jargons

In BNI, there are some jargons you’ll hear repeatedly. Here’s some of them:

Leadership Team:

Refers to the group of members who hold leadership positions within a BNI chapter. This may include the President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Membership Committee, and other appointed roles responsible for the smooth operation of the chapter.

60 Seconds:

A portion of BNI meetings where each member is given 60 seconds to give a brief presentation about their business. It’s an opportunity for members to showcase their services or products, share recent successes, and request specific referrals from other members.

One-to-Ones (Dances):

One-to-one meetings or “dances” are informal meetings between two BNI members outside of regular chapter meetings. During these meetings, members get to know each other’s businesses better, exchange information, and explore potential referral opportunities.

RAPs, Caps, and Referrals:

• RAPs stands for “Results Acceleration Program,” a structured approach used by BNI members to track and improve their referral generation efforts.
• CAPs refers to “Closed Activity Points,” which are earned when a referral or business is closed between BNI members.
• Referrals are recommendations or introductions provided by one BNI member to another member’s business or contacts, with the goal of generating new business opportunities.

Givers’ Gain:

The core philosophy of BNI, emphasizing the concept that by giving business to others, you will receive business in return. It highlights the importance of building mutually beneficial relationships, where members actively support and refer business to each other, ultimately leading to collective success.

BNI Singapore Fun Facts

Chapter with Most Number of Members

BNI Synergy

Chapter that have Weekly Evening Meeting

BNI Esprit

Chapter that Only Accept Ladies

BNI Venus

Chinese Speaking Chapters

BNI Affluent 丰盛
BNI Brilliant 恒丰
BNI Action 宝丰
BNI Prosperity 瑞丰
BNI Summit 盈丰
BNI Zenith 顶丰 （oldest chinese speaking chapter)

In summary, BNI Singapore presents an unparalleled opportunity for business professionals to expand their networks, enhance their skills, and achieve their goals within a supportive and dynamic community.

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WHAT’S IT LIKE TO JOIN BNI IN SINGAPORE