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How does Midlantic Business Alliance (MBA) differ from other groups?
First, it is larger than most regional groups and certainly more wide-ranging than local groups such as chambers, town business associations, etc. Second, MBA is a trade group for owners of small and moderate sized companies and their senior managers. Unlike other forms of business groups, MBA is not torn between the sometimes-opposing objectives of small and large businesses. Lastly, MBA is a trade group for owners and it never loses sight of that mission. All of its advocacy programs are geared to the rights of owners. We are not an employee rights group.
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Don’t all groups offer the same services and benefits?
Certainly not. Many groups are extremely limited in their offerings. Some only offer monthly luncheons and evening business card exchanges. MBA offers free workshops, free breakfasts, low cost business card exchanges, free consultations in legal, financial, marketing, and start-up matters, free conference rooms, free legal hot line, and a full range of benefits for employers and employees....and our events are geared to our membership. For instance, monthly luncheons are difficult for small business owners who cannot leave their businesses in the middle of the day, so MBA schedules most events before or after work.
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I just need health insurance. Why do I need all the other services of a business group?
Most insurance plans do not allow groups to form specifically or solely for the purpose of obtaining health insurance. Associations must offer a wide range of services to businesses that allow them to compete in the marketplace. MBA offers the widest range of needed small business benefits plus many free services to compliment them. It only makes sense to take advantage of as many as possible.
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Why is being regional of any real importance? Doesn’t the Internet take care of that?
To a large degree, small businesses do not take advantage of B2B services over the Internet. However, small businesses today take advantage of telecommunications and fulfillment resources to serve a wider geographical clientele. You can position yourself within this larger target market through MBA activities, events, and media opportunities.
And in spite of its larger regional presence, MBA is very definitely a local organization. It has existed for more than 25 years in the five county metropolitan area. Until recently its name was the Small Business Association of Delaware Valley (SBADV). Most member companies are from Delaware, Chester, Philadelphia, Bucks, and Montgomery counties in PA, Camden County in NJ, and northern Delaware.
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I’m not from those areas. How do I benefit?
You many want to do business with the more than 4,000 companies in the Alliance. That is more easily accomplished when you are a participating member with access to that market. You also can take advantage of significant discounts on various forms of media positioning. MBA is also now evaluating several joint ventures in North Jersey, New York, and Maryland. This will expand our physical presence to new regions within the Mid-Atlantic region of the country.
MBA will be participating with its association administrator (TAI, Inc.) in the establishment of a virtual association in the near future. This will be open to companies throughout the country. It will be a true virtual meeting place in that all business interactions from networking to purchasing to benefits to voting will be possible. You may want to tap into this future resource now. The value of a virtual association tied to a brick and mortar entity such as MBA hold many advantages over the typical dot.com business services offerings.
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How will you promote my services to other members?
We will make your services available through our Consultants Network. With the exception of our Business Connections Groups, all of these resources are free. Any of our 4,000 members seeking services can receive free referrals from MBA. Your only obligation is to offer a minimum of one half-hour free consultation by phone or in person (your choice). You can also become a subject matter expert by conducting a workshop for MBA members. If your presentation is accepted your offering will be publicized through electronic bulletin boards, our newsletter, The Alliance Report, on our website, and discussion at all other workshops. MBA will arrange for a location and cover any cost for that site. Members always receive preference over non-members.
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What are Leads Groups?
MBA's Business Connections Groups (previously known as Leads Groups) are small groups of members who meet regularly to promote their businesses. The unique aspect of this group is that you are the only member of your group to offer your particular type of service or product. Members are obligated to bring guests to these groups who are seeking services provided by one or more members of the group.
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Can my employees also attend workshops for free?
Yes. Not only are all seminars free for MBA members and their employees, but there is a menu of benefits that you can allow your employees to access without charge. This allows smaller businesses to offer benefits without any additional cost. These include legal consultation, workshops, counseling on management problems, and membership breakfasts.
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Are conference rooms really free?
The use of conference rooms is without charge with regards to the facility, tables, and chairs. If you request beverages, you are charged at cost. If you request use of the room during times when we are closed, there is a charge, at cost for the employee who is required to remain on premises while you are meeting. Meetings must end by 9 PM. To reserve a room you simply call us and if the facility is not being used, you may have it. Meeting room #1 holds 10 comfortably and meeting room # 2 holds 20 comfortably.
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Is membership in MBA tax deductible?
Yes, membership in MBA is a valid business expense. If you can show that you are involved in a genuine business venture, than the expense is deductible. It is a good practice to insure that you are conducting your business in fact as a business and not as a hobby. For more details on this email us through this site.
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Can I get one-on-one free counseling on business matters?
You can get consultation on legal, accounting, human resource and marketing matters. You can also get a free evaluation of your business plan or your startup ambitions. These services are provided by our members who are interested in establishing their credentials with new members of the business community.
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Does MBA have a lobbying function?
MBA is not a registered lobbyist group. It is an extremely active advocacy group in that it uses membership size and intelligent media management to pursue issues with state and federal officials. MBA was a major participant in the 1993 efforts to curtail imposed mandatory health care obligations on small business owners. Its position paper was introduced on the floor of the United States House of Representatives and the Alliance battled the administration on radio and television shows throughout the country. MBA was also prominent in the effort to get the GAO to implement standards insuring that small businesses were paid for work within 90 days. On a local level it has been very effective in getting municipalities to lower performance bonds for small businesses.
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Why is this Employee Assistance Program so important?
Employee Assistance Programs, or EAP's, allow employees to seek help confidentially from professionals without having their employers involved. The stress in employee's home lives does not abate just because they come to work. As stress increases, so do violence, productivity slides, and illnesses. Until now, these programs were simply not available to small employers at any cost. Through the purchasing power of our administrator, The Administrators, Inc, we have been able to attain this benefit from a major provider. We believe this is the first opportunity anywhere in the country for those small businesses to be able to participate. Cost is extremely low and the services can be available to any affiliated association in the country within 90 days of request. In view of the new pressures now impacting all Americans, this program takes on additional importance. See "Employee Assistance Program" on the menu bar for more detailed information.
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Why is Midlantic Business Alliance leading a campaign to criticize the media?
The Alliance has been examining stress and violence in the workplace
since last March. It will be hosting a free conference on the topic in April
of 2002. We believe that the current media frenzy relative to the campaign
of terror against this country is greatly affecting stress levels in society
and consequently in the workplace. The paradigm of stress leading to
violence in the workplace is convincing. We believe that irresponsible media
reporting amounts to incitement and adds to the understandable stress
generated by the attacks. The Alliance is simply lobbying for responsible
press coverage.
Members are invited to submit their critiques of reporting that they find
offensive for consideration.
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What exactly is MBA?
Since 1979, Midlantic Business Alliance has functioned as a trade group for business owners and entrepreneurs. It is based locally in Broomall, PA and serves the five-county Greater Philadelphia Region-Delaware, Philadelphia, Chester, Bucks, and Montgomery Counties-in Pennsylvania, as well as South Central New Jersey and parts of the state of Delaware.
It offers the benefit of being local while also being the largest entrepreneurial group in the region.
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Why not just join my local chamber?
There is nothing wrong with your local chamber, but it deals with issues of concern only to your neighborhood or immediate vicinity. Chambers are also often torn on issues that affect large and small companies differently-the government effort to mandate owner payments for health insurance in the early 90's is one example. MBA also offers you access to a larger trading region. Given today's markets and the availability of marketing over the Internet, many local businesses need that type of market to survive. MBA also gives you access to the Philadelphia market that is crucial to almost all the area's small businesses today.
All surveys show that people join a group for two main reasons- networking and employee benefits such as health insurance and education. It does not matter if it is a chamber, a local business organization or a regional one. No organization provides more extensive and varied resources in all areas than MBA.
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Can you quickly summarize the benefits for me?
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The largest entrepreneurs' group in the region with more than 4,000 local businesses
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Free seminars for owners and their employees
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Free networking breakfasts
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Free consultation on business plans, marketing, PR, HR, legal and accounting matters
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Health, life, disability, workers' comp, dental, vision, supplemental cash and employee assistance programs for owners and employees
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Free meeting rooms
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Business Connections Groups for only $25 per year compared with several hundred dollars with other groups
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Introductions to banks in our Banking Relationships Program
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Newsletter The Alliance Report
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More businesses with whom to network and who need your services
- Lowest membership dues in the region for a full-service group
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