FAQs

What is Chix in Business, Inc.? Who is in the group?

Our group is comprised of women who are business owners, business proprietors, partners, independent contractors, agents and supporters of Chix in Business, Inc.

What is the mission of Chix in Business, Inc.?

Chix in Business, Inc. is a Triangle-area (Raleigh, North Carolina) network of passionate women business owners who support and educate each other through building personal and business relationships, information sharing, seminars, mentoring and philanthropic activities.

What are the requirements for becoming a member?

* Reside and /or transact business in the state of North Carolina.

* Demonstrate high standards of business, professional and social leadership and must exhibit high ethical standards.

* Sponsored by a minimum of one current member in good standing or two professional and/or business references.

* Apply for membership.

* Upon application for membership, agree to Membership Terms and Etiquette.

* Pay non-refundable annual dues.

* Participate by volunteering hours each year for events and gatherings sponsored by Chix in Business, Inc.

* Attend a minimum of one (1) Chix event or meeting per year.

How do I apply to become a member?

You may apply for membership on our website, www.chix.clubexpress, and click on Membership in the top menu.

When can I join?

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Each application will be reviewed within 30 days of submission. New members are added once membership has been approved and membership dues have been paid.

What are the membership requirements?

To become a member, you must meet the general Chix membership requirements:

Chix Member

To be considered a member you must meet one or more of the criteria below:

 

• Controlling or equal interest in ownership of a business and have the power to make policy changes within the business
• In a position that is considered to be an independent representative or agent of a larger business entity
• Have a plan to establish controlling or equal interest in ownership of a business, and have the power to make policy changes within the business
•  Have an interest in supporting the Corporation

What are the benefits of being a member?

Chix in Business, Inc. networks, supports and educates women business owners through building personal and professional relationships, information sharing and participating in philanthropic activities. Visibility is provided to members and the general public through monthly meetings, a member email communication list and through our Web site, www.ChixinBusiness.org. The organization provides the opportunity to make direct connections with other women in business in our community and provides on-going strategic business support from other members. Our grassroots organization not only takes a different approach to networking and creating relationships, but also positively impacts women and the way they do business in our community.

When (and where) are meetings held? Can I bring a friend?

Meetings are held monthly in Raleigh and Chapel Hill. You must RSVP to the Programs Committee and pre-pay before each meeting. The Programs Committee will notify the group when guests may attend; a guest fee will apply.

How much does it cost to join?

Dues are billed annually.

Chix - $125

Are my dues tax deductible?

Yes, business owners may deduct the membership dues since Chix in Business, Inc. provides professional development skills for members. If you do not own a business, dues are a miscellaneous itemized deduction subject to the limitations on Schedule A of your personal income tax return.

Why should I support locally owned businesses?

Here are several reasons why you should support locally owned businesses:
1) Local Character and Prosperity
In an increasingly homogenized world, communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character have an economic advantage.

2) Community Well-Being
Locally owned businesses build strong communities by sustaining vibrant town centers, linking neighbors in a web of economic and social relationships, and contributing to local causes.

3) Local Decision-Making
Local ownership ensures that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions.

4) Keeping Dollars in the Local Economy
Compared to chain stores, locally owned businesses recycle a much larger share of their revenue back into the local economy, enriching the whole community.

5) Job and Wages
Locally owned businesses create more jobs locally and, in some sectors, provide better wages and benefits than chains do.

6) Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship fuels America's economic innovation and prosperity, and serves a
s a key means for families to move out of low-wage jobs and into the middle class.

7) Public Benefits and Costs
Local stores in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure and make more efficient use of public services relative to big box stores and strip shopping malls.

8) Environmental Sustainability
Local stores help to sustain vibrant, compact, walkable town centers-which in turn are essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss, and air and water pollution.

9) Competition
A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.

10) Product Diversity
A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based, not on a national sales plan, but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, gua

May I attend a Chix in Business event as a guest before deciding whether to become a member?

Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it. Guests may attend a total of three Chix in Business meetings (two daytime and one evening) before applying for membership.  Guests pay for lunch plus an additional guest fee of $10.00.