The 3 partnerships that turn good businesses into great ones
The ABCs of business
Pay the bills. Keep the lights on. See if the thing you built can stand on its own. Those goals are simple enough for any business trying to make it work. But doing it can feel like a lonely road. Every decision, every risk, every problem to solve lands on you.
Unless you’re surrounded by the right people.
Other business owners. Local experts. The ones who’ve already made the mistakes you’re trying not to repeat. They help you see what’s coming and stay connected to the people who keep your business moving.
There’s no single way to build a business that lasts, but the ones that do have something in common: they didn’t do it alone.
A. B. C.
A is for associations
Every industry has a place where experience comes together. Associations connect people who do what you do to share what they’ve learned and help each other get better.
They keep you informed on your field through standards, trends, new ideas, and industry relationships that move your work forward. They make sure you’re not working in a vacuum.
What your industry association gives you:
- A clearer view of what’s changing in your field
- Real advice from people who have already made your mistakes
- Training and certification that keep your credibility strong
- A community that helps you grow instead of guess
An industry association is where professionals raise the bar together. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
B is for Better Business Bureau
Every business says it can be trusted. Better Business Bureau is where you find out which ones mean it.
For more than a hundred years, BBB has made trust something you can see. It verifies the businesses that do what they say they’ll do and gives customers a simple way to tell the difference. In a recent survey, more than 80% of people said they’d choose a BBB Accredited Business, even if another company has the same A+ rating (Source: IABBB Research, 2023).
Businesses that earn BBB Accreditation put their reputation on record and invite customers to check for themselves. It’s a choice to compete on character as much as on price, and it pays off every time someone decides to hire the business they feel sure about.
What your BBB Accreditation gives you:
- A seal customers recognize and trust the moment they see it
- Verified reviews that turn confidence into new business
- Support that helps you resolve complaints and protect relationships
- Tools that make it easier to manage feedback and reputation
When customers see the BBB Seal, they see proof. They see a business that shows up, stands behind its work, and earns its credibility the same way BBB has for more than a century.
C is for Chambers of Commerce
Communities have their own rhythm. Chambers of commerce keep you in step with it. They connect you with the businesses, leaders, and most importantly, opportunities that shape the place where you work and live.
Membership gives you a seat at the table where growth happens. You learn what’s happening before it happens and meet the people who can open doors.
What your local chamber gives you:
- A network of business partners and community leaders
- Advocacy that keeps small business priorities in front of local decision-makers
- Events and initiatives that create opportunities for growth
- A stronger local presence that helps people remember you
Chamber membership is good exposure and good citizenship. It roots your business in the place that helped build it, and keeps that connection growing stronger over time.
The power of three
Your Association makes you better at what you do. Better Business Bureau proves that you stand behind it. Your chamber reminds people why it matters.
When you surround yourself with the right support, you stop carrying the whole thing alone. You start building something that lasts.
That’s how good businesses become great ones.
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