- The right networking group depends on your stage and what you need; referrals, peer learning, or community. BNI suits established SMEs, EO suits founders with US$1M+ revenue, and Flying Solo or LinkedIn Local suit anyone starting out.
- Most Australian business networking falls into three formats: structured referral networks, open mixer events, and online communities. Each has a different cost, time commitment, and return timeline.
- Networking works best when your business foundation is already in place, a registered entity, clean accounts, and a clear pitch. Without these, opportunities that arise from networking conversations are harder to act on.
Australia has hundreds of business networking groups. The right one depends on your city, your business stage, and whether you want structured referrals, peer learning, or simply a room of like-minded founders.
This guide covers the top groups in Australia with costs, formats, and who each one is best for, so you can make a decision without spending weeks researching.
If you’re networking to grow a new business, it’s worth making sure your business structure is set up properly before attending events, pitching partnerships, or meeting investors. Having business registration and clear structure can make networking conversations more credible and commercially productive.
Before attending any networking event, update your LinkedIn profile and make sure it accurately reflects your current business and role. Most attendees will look you up before or after meeting you, and an outdated or incomplete profile undermines the impression you make in the room.
How to choose the right business networking group in Australia?
Not every networking group will be right for your business. Before committing time or money, four questions will narrow it down quickly:
- Stage fit: Are the other members solving the same problems you are right now, or are they five years ahead of you? A room of $10M revenue businesses is less useful to a pre-revenue founder than a group of people at your exact stage.
- Industry fit: Some groups are industry-agnostic and useful for cross-sector referrals. Others are vertical-specific and better for peer learning, partnerships, and staying across what is happening in your field.
- Format: Weekly in-person meetings require a serious time commitment. Online communities offer flexibility but less relationship depth. Know which you will actually show up for consistently before you pay a membership fee.
- Cost vs. return: Membership fees range from free to several thousand dollars per year. The right question is not whether the group is expensive, it is whether the referrals, relationships, or knowledge justify the investment at your current stage.
One other filter worth applying: check whether the group has an active presence in your city, or whether it operates nationally and online.
10 best business networking groups in Australia
This table covers the top business networking groups in Australia by city, format, and founder stage. Every entry has been verified for current operational status and approximate cost.
Group | City/Reach | Format | Best For | Cost (approx.) | Meeting Frequency |
BNI | National, 270+ chapters, 6,600+ members | In-person + online chapters available | Established SMEs seeking referrals | Varies by chapter | Weekly |
Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (EO) | Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth | In-person, peer forums | Founders with US$1M+ revenue | Fees vary by chapter | Monthly |
Business Chicks | National | In-person events + online | Women in business and allies | Fees vary | Events-based |
Stone and Chalk | Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide | In-person, hub community | Tech, fintech, and deep tech founders | Hub membership, contact directly | Ongoing |
Chamber of Commerce (state chapters) | State capitals + regional | In-person + online | SMEs, all industries | ~$300 to $800/yr | Monthly+ |
Flying Solo | National + online | Online community + events | Sole traders and micro-business owners | Paid Business Class memberships are available | Ongoing |
LinkedIn Local Australia | Multiple cities | In-person meetups | All founders and professionals | Free | Monthly |
Startmate | Australia and New Zealand, remote-first | Cohort-based accelerator | Early-stage tech and software founders | Equity-based, investment terms vary by cohort | Program-based |
LaunchVic events | Victoria | In-person + online | Victorian startup founders | Free to low cost | Events-based |
Brisbane Business Hub | Brisbane and Queensland | In-person + online | Queensland SMEs and startups | Free to low cost | Events-based |
The costs are subject to change. All costs should be verified directly with each organisation before committing. Membership fees are reviewed annually.
1. BNI (Business Network International)
Business Networking International is Australia’s largest structured referral networking organisation, with chapters operating across every state and territory. The model is highly structured, with weekly 90-minute meetings, referral expectations, and one member allowed per profession in each chapter.
BNI works best for:
- Established SMEs in professional services
- Trades
- Real estate
- Finance, and
- B2B industries where referrals are a major growth channel
It is generally less suited to early-stage startups still refining their offer or business model.
Membership fees vary by chapter and region, and online chapters are also available for businesses unable to attend in person regularly.
Best for: Referral-driven SMEs
Cities: National, including regional areas
Format: Weekly in-person and online chapters
2. Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (EO)
Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (EO) is a global founder network built around confidential peer learning. Its core offering is the Forum program, where small groups of entrepreneurs meet monthly to discuss business challenges, growth, leadership, and scaling.
- Membership is aimed at established founders and business owners.
- To qualify, members typically need to own or lead a business generating at least US$1 million in annual revenue.
- EO Accelerator is available for founders below that threshold.
EO is widely regarded as one of the highest-value networking communities for experienced founders, particularly those scaling teams and revenue.
Best for: Established founders and scaling businesses
Cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth
Format: Monthly forums, events and retreats
3. Business Chicks
Business Chicks is one of Australia’s best-known professional communities for women in business. The network runs regular events, speaker sessions, conferences, workshops, and online programs across major Australian cities.
The community primarily attracts founders, executives, professionals, and business owners looking for connection, inspiration, and personal development alongside networking opportunities.
It is less referral-focused than groups like BNI and more community and content-driven.
Best for: Women founders, professionals and executives
Cities: National
Format: In-person and online events
4. Stone & Chalk
Stone & Chalk is Australia’s largest innovation community, focused on startups, fintech, climate tech, cyber security, and emerging technology businesses.
Its hubs in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide combine co-working, startup programs, mentor access, corporate partnerships, and investor connections. Networking happens organically through the broader startup ecosystem rather than structured meetings.
It is best suited to founders building scalable or high-growth businesses within the technology sector.
Best for: Tech startups and innovation founders
Cities: Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide
Format: Innovation hubs and startup programs
5. Flying Solo
Flying Solo is one of Australia’s largest online communities for sole traders, freelancers, consultants, and micro-business owners.
The platform includes:
- forums,
- articles,
- business resources,
- member discussions, and
- networking opportunities designed specifically for small independent businesses
Paid memberships offer additional visibility and community features.
Flying Solo is particularly valuable for founders who work remotely, operate solo, or prefer flexible online networking over formal in-person groups.
Best for: Sole traders and micro-businesses
Cities: Australia-wide and online
Format: Online community
Consistency matters more than volume in networking. Showing up to one group regularly over six months builds stronger relationships and more referrals than attending ten different events once each. Choose one or two groups that fit your stage and commit to them before adding more.
6. LinkedIn Local Australia
LinkedIn Local is a community-led networking format built around casual in-person meetups organised through LinkedIn and Eventbrite.
- There are no membership fees, referral obligations, or formal structures.
- Events are usually free and attract a mix of founders, professionals, recruiters, freelancers, and small business owners.
It’s a strong starting point for people new to networking or those wanting low-pressure business connections.
Best for: Casual networking and early-stage founders
Cities: Multiple Australian cities
Format: Community meetups
7. Startmate
Startmate is one of Australia and New Zealand’s best-known startup accelerators, supporting early-stage technology founders through funding, mentorship, and founder education programs.
- Its accelerator and Launch Club community connect founders with investors, operators, and startup mentors across the ANZ ecosystem.
- The program is remote-first, with events and founder connections across major cities.
It is designed specifically for startup founders pursuing scalable, venture-backed businesses.
Best for: Early-stage startup founders
Cities: Australia and New Zealand
Format: Accelerator and founder community
8. Chambers of Commerce
Every Australian state and territory operates Chamber of Commerce networks that run business events, industry forums, policy discussions, and local networking sessions.
These organisations are less referral-focused than BNI but provide strong access to local business communities, government engagement, and cross-industry connections.
They are often a practical starting point for SMEs wanting broader business exposure without highly structured networking commitments.
Best for: SMEs and local business networking
Cities: National and regional areas
9. LaunchVic
LaunchVic is the Victorian Government’s startup agency supporting founders, investors, and startup communities across Victoria.
It regularly runs startup events, founder programs, networking sessions, workshops, and ecosystem initiatives designed for early-stage businesses.
The community is strongest for technology, innovation, and startup founders based in Melbourne and Victoria.
Best for: Victorian startup founders
Cities: Victoria
Format: Startup programs and events
10. Brisbane Business Hub
Brisbane Business Hub provides free business support, workshops, events, and networking opportunities for Brisbane and Queensland businesses.
It is designed for small businesses, startups, and early-stage founders wanting accessible education, local connections, and practical business support without a large financial commitment.
Best for: Queensland startups and small businesses
Cities: Brisbane and Queensland
Format: Workshops, events and networking
Best industry-specific networking groups in Australia
If a general networking group is not the right fit, these vertical communities are worth knowing about alongside the main groups listed above.
1. Professional services and finance
- The Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA) and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) run industry-specific events and networking for their respective professions.
- State Chambers of Commerce also serve professional services businesses well for cross-industry connection and government advocacy.
2. Women in business
Women’s Network Australia (WNA) is a national organisation focused on professional development and peer networking for women across industries, with state chapters and regular events.
It sits alongside Business Chicks as a dedicated option for women in business.
3. E-commerce and online businesses
The e-commerce networking ecosystem in Australia is largely online.
Active communities include:
- Shopify Meetups,
- Flying Solo forums, and
- Various industry Facebook groups for Australian online sellers
There is no dominant in-person group equivalent to BNI or EO for this vertical.
4. Sole traders starting out
If you are a sole trader not yet ready for a structured or paid group, Flying Solo’s free membership tier is the lowest-friction starting point available in Australia before committing to anything else.
Referral networks vs open events vs online communities: which is right for your business?
Most Australian business networking falls into one of three formats. Here is how they compare:
Aspect | Referral network | Open mixer events | Online communities |
Time commitment | High, weekly meetings, ongoing attendance expected | Low, turn up when relevant, no obligation | Flexible, engage as much or as little as you choose |
Financial commitment | High. $1,500 to $2,500+ per year | Low to none, most are free | Low to none, most have a free tier |
Lead generation potential | High, structured referral pipeline once established | Low to medium, relationship-dependent | Low, indirect, long-term |
Best stage | Established SME with a clear service offering | Pre-revenue to early-revenue founders | Any stage, especially sole traders and remote founders |
Onboarding time before you see returns | 3 to 6 months | Immediate, value from first event | Ongoing, compounds over time |
Geographic requirement | Must be in a city with an active chapter | Must be in or near the event city | None, fully accessible remotely |
Best for foreign founders? | Only once physically based in Australia | Once based in-city | Yes, ideal before arriving in person |
Examples in Australia | BNI | LinkedIn Local, Chamber events, LaunchVic, Brisbane Business Hub | Flying Solo, Startmate community, LinkedIn groups |
A practical starting point for most early-stage founders: begin with one free open event to test the waters, join an online community for ongoing peer support, and only commit to a structured referral network once you have a clear service offering and can articulate exactly who you want to be referred to.
What to prepare before attending business networking events
The most effective networkers walk into every event with their fundamentals in order. A conversation at a networking event can move fast, a potential client, a referral partner, or an investor introduction can come from anywhere. If your business is not properly set up when that happens, you lose the opportunity.
Before your first event, run through this checklist:
- A registered business entity. A registered Pty Ltd signals credibility and permanence to other business owners in a way that a sole trader ABN often does not. If you are planning to take on clients, partners, or investors, understanding what a Pty Ltd company is and whether it is the right structure is worth doing before you start handing out business cards.
Read more: What Is the Best Business Structure in Australia?
- A professional email address. A Gmail or Hotmail address at a networking event signals that your business is not yet fully set up. A domain-based email takes an afternoon to configure and changes the impression you make immediately.
- A clear one-sentence pitch. What do you do, for whom, and what outcome do you create? If you cannot answer that in one sentence without hesitation, networking will feel harder than it should.
- Clean accounts and bookkeeping. If a conversation leads to a client inquiry or investor introduction, you need to be able to move quickly. Disorganised finances slow everything down. Accounting services for Australian businesses that keep your books current mean you are always ready for the next opportunity.
- Payroll in order if you have staff. If someone refers a potential employee your way, you need payroll services for Australian businesses that can onboard them properly.
Following up within 24 hours of meeting someone at a networking event significantly increases the likelihood of converting that contact into a business relationship. A short personalised message referencing your conversation is enough, most people do not follow up at all, so doing so immediately sets you apart.
How Sleek helps founders stay focused on growth
Networking creates opportunities, but turning those opportunities into real business growth requires the right setup behind the scenes. Sleek helps founders manage the operational and compliance side of running a business, so they can focus on clients, partnerships, and growth.
- Company registration: Set up your Australian Pty Ltd correctly from day one, including ASIC registration, ABN, GST, and tax registrations.
- Accounting and compliance: Keep bookkeeping, BAS lodgements, payroll, and company tax obligations organised in one place, with ongoing support as your business grows.
- Support for overseas founders: If you are starting an Australian company from overseas, Sleek can also help with resident director requirements and ongoing ASIC compliance.
- Clear pricing: Straightforward pricing with no hidden fees or unexpected add-ons.
Ready to build your business in Australia? Start with a compliant company structure and the right support behind it. Book a consultation call now!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are there free business networking groups in Australia?
Yes. LinkedIn Local events run monthly across multiple cities at no cost. LaunchVic (Victoria) and Brisbane Business Hub (Queensland) run free or subsidised founder events. Flying Solo offers free membership with access to forums and community discussions.
What are the best business networking groups in Australia?
BNI for structured referrals, EO for established founders with US$1M+ revenue, Business Chicks for women in business, Flying Solo for sole traders, and state Chamber of Commerce chapters for broad industry networking. The right choice depends on your stage, city, and what you want from networking.
Can foreign founders join Australian business networking groups?
Yes. Most groups are open to foreign founders. Flying Solo and LinkedIn Local are accessible before you arrive in person.
