Frequently Asked Questions - Local Business Networking
Local Business Networking is a professional community for small and medium business owners, based on Sydney's North Shore, where we meet in person in Hornsby. We host face-to-face networking events where local business owners connect, exchange referrals, share expertise, and grow their businesses through trusted relationships. Additionally, a key focus area is on education on all things related to SMBs ranging from business advice, coaching, mentoring through to using AI productively in your business.
- Exclusive Category Ownership — Only one business per category is admitted to each chapter, so once you're in, you're the only physio, IT provider, or business coach in the room. Every internal referral for your specialty comes to you, not a competitor.
- A Referral Network That Works For You — Fortnightly meetings build the kind of trust that turns fellow members into an extension of your sales team — people who understand what you do well enough to spot the right opportunity and send it your way.
- Real Referral Generation — LBN is built to generate quality leads from people who already trust the person referring you, helping turn conversations into closed business.
- Sharper Pitching and Presenting — Regular presentations to the group are a low-pressure way to sharpen your elevator pitch, public speaking, and sales and marketing skills.
- Ongoing Business Education — Workshops on the topics that matter to SMBs — compliance, marketing, digital strategy, process optimisation, and general business skills — keep members learning long after they join.
Visit www.localbusinessnetworking.com.au and sign up for membership. You’ll gain access to regular in-person networking events, a local business directory, and referral opportunities specifically for North Shore Sydney SMB owners. New members are welcome anytime. Meetings are held every 2 weeks. Please also check the open business categories for membership.
Members typically experience:
- A steady pipeline of qualified & genuine business/sales referrals
- Access to trusted local suppliers and service providers across the North Shore
- Mentorship from experienced Sydney North Shore business owners
- Increased visibility within the local North Shore community
- Opportunities to speak at events and build authority in your industry
Our focus on local, face-to-face relationships leads to sustainable business growth for North Shore SMBs.
We meet every 2 weeks at The Momos Café, Florence Street Hornsby. You can register your interest in attending a meeting (as long as your business category is not already taken up), at: Local Business Networking.
While BNI and LinkedIn serve national or global audiences, we prioritise local North Shore relationships, local referrals, and industry-diverse groups that reflect the Sydney North Shore market. Additionally, while we follow a structured meeting agenda, Local Business Networking does not impose prescriptive requirements on its members, e.g. must attend a minimum of X number of meetings or must give referrals at every meeting. We only ask our members to be genuine, trustworthy and willing to help each other.
Bring:
- Business cards
- A 30-second pitch about your business
- An open mind and willingness to listen
- Questions about other attendees’ businesses
Arrive 10-15 minutes early, be genuine, and focus on helping others first. Follow up within 48 hours to strengthen new connections.
Membership costs: One-time joining fee of $100 + GST and monthly membership fee of $50 + GST. This covers your seat in the group for your business category, entry to fortnightly meetings, and a listing in the online member directory. Because we're a small, independent North Shore group rather than a national franchise, our fees are set locally and kept accessible for sole operators and small business owners. Enquire about membership for current pricing and what's included.
Yes — prospective members are welcome to attend as a visitor before committing to membership, as long as your business category isn't already held by an existing member. This gives you a chance to meet the group, see how a meeting runs, and decide if it's the right fit before signing up. Contact us to arrange your first visit.
Local Business Networking allows only one business per trade or professional category at a time, so members aren't competing with each other inside the group and every referral sent is a genuine, non-conflicted introduction. Before you enquire, check the Open Business Categories page to see which categories are currently available. If your category is taken, we can let you know if it becomes available or discuss a closely related category that isn't.
Members span a wide range of trades and professions across the North Shore, from tradies and IT services through to coaches, consultants, and allied health providers such as physiotherapists — one business per category. The exact mix changes over time as categories open and fill. See the current member directory and open categories list to check where you'd fit.
No — while meetings are held in Hornsby and many members are based in Hornsby and Wahroonga, membership is open to SMB owners across Sydney's Upper North Shore who service the local area or want to build relationships with North Shore businesses. Even if your business is outside of Sydney's North Shore, you are very welcome to come along. What matters most is that you can attend fortnightly meetings and are genuinely interested in local, face-to-face relationships rather than your exact postcode. Get in touch if you're just outside the area and want to check fit.
Meetings run fortnightly at The Momos Café in Hornsby and typically combine structured member updates, a short presentation or education segment on a business topic, and open networking time. Each member gets an opportunity to speak about, their business and what a good referral looks like for them, and there's dedicated time to connect one-on-one with other attendees. Meetings run fortnightly from 7:00am to 8:30am at The Momos Café in Hornsby and follow a structured agenda.
- Open networking: informal networking before the meeting starts.
- Member and visitor profiles: each member and visitor gives a 45 to 60 second presentation about their business.
- Education segment: a short session on a business topic.
- Business referrals: members pass on referrals and introductions.
- Member spotlight or workshop: a longer session featuring one member, or a workshop.
See Upcoming Events for the next meeting date.
Yes, in most cases — for solo operators and tradies especially, a local referral network can generate a steady stream of warm, pre-trusted leads without the ongoing cost of paid advertising. Because Local Business Networking only allows one business per category, the referrals you receive aren't shared with competitors, and the relationships built over regular fortnightly meetings tend to convert better than cold leads. Results vary by category and effort put in — read member testimonials or enquire about membership to ask category-specific questions.
Referral marketing is a structured approach where members actively send each other qualified introductions, whereas general business networking (like a chamber of commerce mixer) is typically looser, one-off relationship-building with no expectation of referrals. Local Business Networking sits closer to the referral-marketing model — members meet consistently, get to know each other's businesses in depth, and pass on genuine referrals — but without the strict quotas some referral groups impose. This mix of structure and flexibility is a big part of what makes fortnightly meetings worthwhile rather than a one-off event.