What does the association give to business?
Business associations are one example of people coming together to achieve a common goal based on a common interest. In ancient times, these were trade caravans, ancient unions of artisans, medieval guilds, guilds and corporations. Today, business associations are chambers of commerce, trade and industry groups, professional associations, federations of manufacturers, associations of small and medium-sized businesses and other similar organizations.

Their appearance indicates the maturity of a particular area of business. This means that its representatives perceive each other not only as competitors, but also as colleagues, and are aware of the existence of common goals and interests, which are easier to defend together.

The Association is a kind of "church" of the industry, uniting entrepreneurs into something more than just a group of businessmen. It becomes a conduit for ideas that give the existence of a business a higher meaning (or the appearance of this meaning - which is also not bad).

And of course, this is a platform for communication, exchange of opinions, ideas and news.

In addition, the association is engaged in the development and implementation of projects that unite, cement the business, define and support its ideology: an industry publication, an exhibition, a training center, the creation of industry standards, etc. (we will dwell on this area of activity in more detail below).

The Association acts as a coordinating and guiding force, taking on contacts with government agencies, monitoring the stability and security of business, as well as shaping its image in the eyes of society.

But business is too general a concept, and therefore, speaking about it, it is difficult to avoid general phrases. The conversation will be more substantive if we turn to what participation in the association gives to individual companies or entrepreneurs.

What does the association give to its members?
By joining the association, candidates expect to receive both "political" benefits (for example, to establish themselves in the market as a civilized player), and the possibility of "behind-the-scenes" solutions to certain issues, lobbying for their own interests. And, of course, to win financially - due to savings in the cost of participation in its projects (preferential prices for participation in the exhibition and placement of advertising materials on the websites and printed publications of the association, free access to information resources, etc.).

By uniting, enterprises, especially small ones, become able to do what they alone would not have the strength or the means to do alone. It is also important that, by introducing common "rules of the game" for business, creating industry standards, the association will first of all take into account the interests of its members.

Here are just some of the benefits they can count on:

Creation of projects for members of the association (industry magazine, exhibition, training center, etc.).
Lobbying the interests of members of the association.
Assistance and collective support of the association in working with clients, fiscal authorities and third firms.
The ability to resolve disputes and conflicts with partners and among themselves directly or through the executive bodies of the association.
Prompt receipt of information about unscrupulous market participants.
Support when participating in tenders, intermediary services when reaching partners and government agencies.
Support in negotiations with foreign partners.
Consultations on business, advertising, legal and other issues.
Assistance in staff training.
Access to the results of market research and objective information about its participants.
Advertising and information support.
Additional discounts on goods and services provided by members of the association.
Preferences and benefits on commodity loans and payments in relations with members of the association.
Using the image of the association.
Most of these advantages are the result of the joint work of the members of the association on the implementation of its projects. Having worked together on them, members of the business community have every right to take advantage of the fruits of their labor.
What does the creation of an association give to the organizers
Of course, it would be strange if, creating such a useful thing for everyone as a business association, its organizer would not think about his own benefit. "Perhaps I will even be awarded. Posthumously, "- reasoning in the spirit of the disinterested Semyon Semenych Gorbunkov is not suitable for a business person. What is the "carrot" for which it is worth "harnessing" and carrying the difficult burden of organizational work?

First of all, these are resources. The association allows you to accumulate the amount of human and financial resources that are not comparable with the capabilities of one company, and makes it possible to solve issues that previously seemed fundamentally insoluble. This is something akin to the realization of a childhood dream of "becoming a magician" and realizing the desires of a huge number of people. Of course, the association is not a magic wand, but it can also be used to create a lot.

Secondly, the possibility of developing your own project. If the "crystallization center" of the business community is not an enterprise, but a project: a website, a magazine, an exhibition, a training center, a marketing agency, an information network, etc., the most fantastic prospects open up for its development. For the exhibition, the association can become an analogue of the council of exhibitors (in fact, the organization of the association can begin with the creation of such a council), for the magazine the community will become a constant source of information content and at the same time funding, the information network will receive a huge client base, the project for the development of industry standards will receive a large number of experts. There can be many options.

Thirdly, favorable conditions for your own company. If the organizer of the association is the owner or head of the enterprise, then he gets the opportunity to create the most favorable conditions for his activities. The main thing is that these advantages do not contradict the statutory documents of the association and the interests of its members.

Finally, it is a source of income and career opportunities. With prudent business management, an association can become a permanent source of income. It consists of two components - membership fees and a share from the implementation of various projects.

Of course, the person who initiated the creation of the association will not necessarily be at its helm all the time. But he is also not in danger of losing his job: after all, he is perhaps the most knowledgeable person about the state of affairs in the industry. Moreover, not only does he know everything and everyone, but everyone knows him. The latter, however, will benefit only those who, during the leadership of the association, were not seen in something reprehensible (for example, did not sacrifice the public - in favor of an exclusively personal one).