San Mateo Chamber of Commerce

As a member of the SM Chamber for over 12 years I can highly recommend it. It has been a consistent source of business referrals and friends. I have evaluated most of the chambers on the Peninsula and find that the SM Chamber consistently has the best mixers and provides the best opportunity to network. If you are looking for a way to generate more business the SM Chamber is a good choice. But let me warn you, do not expect the SM Chamber to make you a success. You have to work at networking. I go to each mixer with the goal of setting up one or two coffee meetings with potential referral partners the next week. You have to leverage the opportunity. You have to be out going. Paying your dues will not get you business. This is true of all Chambers in my opinion. So if you are looking for a Chamber check the San Mateo Chamber out.

Having been a member for the past two years I can say from an insider’s perspective that this chamber has a lot to improve. On the plus side, the twice a month mixers are quite good but that’s mainly due to the hard work of the hosts. I also get a lot out of being in a great Business Referral Networking group on Monday mornings that has really improved my business. Negatively, the communications has really gone downhill the last two years. The website is a mess with many overlapping categories and empty ones as well. The membership drives are quite disorganized. There is very little support for the members or the BRN groups. If I were not a BRN member I would not continue my chamber membership.

I would not recommend this chamber of commerce. They have extremely poor customer service. It took over 2 weeks after joining in order for me to have my listing on their website. And then I called in to find out the benefits of membership and I was told that I was demanding. I am sorry for trying to find out how my membership in their chamber could help my business. I guess that they want people to join, pay them money, and then leave them alone. There are other chambers in the Peninsula that are much more friendly.

The San Mateo Chamber has moved to new digs on El Camino. It’s the same krew with the same great services for small businesses.