Cory Barnes founded Chattanooga Small Business Networking in May 2018 hoping to build his own digital marketing business and help others make useful connections. By the end of 2020, the organization's private Facebook group had more than 23,000 members, its subscription-based preferred vendor network had grown to 130 businesses, and the group had launched a branch in Huntsville, Alabama.
For the first 18 months, Chattanooga Small Business Networking hosted in-person gatherings and training events that bloomed from a dozen people in spring 2018 to a couple hundred by winter 2019. But then COVID-19 hit, and Barnes had to think fast.
"In 2019, we hosted over 75 live networking events," he says. "It was an adjustment."
The challenges of the pandemic meant supporting small businesses became more urgent than ever, and Barnes shifted his focus to developing online resources for members, he says.
"I knew that the group could be a great source or platform to help these small businesses during turbulent times," Barnes says.
The relationships and business partnerships that have developed through the network have become essential for some entrepreneurs, he adds. The group provides a reliable conduit for finding reputable service providers vetted by the network.
"That's what our group's built around is asked recommendations," Barnes says. "There's a lot of businesses that depend on our group to pay their bills. We've done $12 million in exchanged revenue in the first 18 months."
They've also brought in about $200,000 in revenue through the preferred vendor network, and Barnes has brought on a full-time employee and started focusing all his energy on Chattanooga Small Business Networking, with plans to expand it to more cities.
Free training on everything from resume development and online marketing to building websites and setting up Facebook pages is part of the mission of the group, which aims to be accessible and supportive, Barnes says.
"My mentor says give away all the good, juicy stuff first - don't pitch, don't sell, just help more people achieve their dreams," Barnes says.
Chattanooga Small Business Networking
* Online: csbnconnect.com and a private Facebook group with 23,000 members* Costs: Membership and most resources are free. Business owners can buy an entry-level membership plan for $10 a month, or preferred vendor plans priced from $100 to $600 a month.* Leadership: Cory Barnes founded the group in May 2018.