If you have a question about Fresh, check out our most frequently asked questions below.
Whether it’s a question about what to expect for your guests, getting the most out of your membership, or leadership queries, hopefully you’ll find the answer here.
GUEST QUESTIONS
How many visits can I do
You’re welcome to visit twice – that could be the same hub twice, or two different hubs, but no more than two visits in total. After that, if you want to keep seeing us, we’ll ask you to ‘put a ring on it’ and become a member.
How much is membership
Membership of our Cafe or Online hub is $1749 inc GST and for our Dual Pass is $2358 inc GST for your first year, which includes a joining fee and the Fresh Academy program. After the first year, Cafe renewal is $1584 inc GST and Online hub renewal fee is $1331 inc GST and Dual Pass is $2193 inc GST per year.
What hubs are available for my category
To see which hubs are looking for your category, search our Business Categories Available listing
Can two people from the same company fill the position
No – the position is held by a single member. If you cannot attend a meeting, one of your colleagues can attend in your place however this should be done on a permanent basis.
What hubs can I visit when I am a member
It depends on your membership category. If you are a Cafe Member, you can visit any other cafe hub. If you’re an Online Member, you can visit any online hub. If you have a Dual Pass membership, then every hub, café or online, is open to you.
Which hub should I join
The hub you join will depend on: a) where there is a vacancy for your category b) whether you want to join a cafe or Fresh National hub c) if you’re planning on joining a cafe hub, a location that you and your guests can get to for meetings every fortnight. Note members are required to be a member of their hub for a minimum of 12 months before requesting a transfer out of respect to the hub members who invest time in building relationships with a new member.
What are my payment options
You can pay by electronic funds transfer or credit card, whichever is easiest for you (there is a surcharge for credit cards).
To assist with cashflow, you may choose a payment plan option of 3, 4, 5 or 6 months which is paid via direct debit. (Note surcharges between 5-20% apply – more details on the application form).
Can I do a 6 months membership
No – we ask all members to commit for a year as we know in networking it takes between 8-10 months to start establishing relationships (6 months is just not long enough to see any reward for your efforts). Also the hub members are equally putting in the effort to get to know you therefore we seek this minimum commitment for all parties to benefit.
Can I pay monthly
You can pay by electronic funds transfer or credit card, whichever is easiest for you (there is a surcharge for credit cards).
To assist with cashflow, you may choose a payment plan option of 3, 4, 5 or 6 months which is paid via direct debit. (Note surcharges between 5-20% apply – more details on the application form).
There is no option to pay monthly over the whole year.
What do I need to contribute as a member
As a member, your commitments are:
- Attend every meeting of your hub, with energy and engagement
- Bring guests to your hub
- Meet with your fellow hub members one to one
- Engage in ‘Fresh Activity’ outside of hub meetings and have at least 3 things to report at each meeting. Fresh Activity could be visiting another hub, meeting a fellow member or guest, attending a Fresh event, making an introduction, making a referral, closed business received.
- Be willing to participate in a leadership role in your hub, your hub success is determined by the contribution of it’s members.
Collaboration vs competition - clash of categories (what the process is)
Collaboration is part of our ethos. Fresh offers plenty of opportunities to collaborate with businesses that are your natural referral partners. Within the hubs, we offer you category protection, meaning that you will not have a direct competitor (someone who does exactly the same category as you) within your hub.
We understand that businesses may have crossover of services e.g. accountants may provide bookkeeping and CFO services, they cannot have all 3 categories, therefore they need to choose the area of expertise they would like to focus on and be known for. This is also the same in the legal and marketing professions, the member is required to choose their primary focus and only promote this at their hub meetings. A member cannot monopolize an industry otherwise it prevents the hub from growing, ultimately reducing connection opportunities for hub members.
We believe that this is the best approach to foster collaboration without you having to compete for your category within your hub.
Substitutes
If you cannot attend a meeting, you are expected to invite a substitute to take your place. Your substitute delivers your one-minute pitch and represents your business.
Expectation around attendance
You are expected to attend all meetings of your hub. Everyone needs holidays though, and of course sometimes we are unwell, so you do have the flexibility to miss no more than two meetings every six months. Wherever possible, you should arrange a substitute to take your place.
Expectation around guests
Guests are the lifeblood of Fresh, giving our meetings energy, interest, vitality and business opportunities for your hub mates. So we do ask you to aim for at least one guest a month, with an absolute minimum of eight per year. An offer of renewal is assessed on this KPI.
I would like to open a hub, what do I need to do
If you see a gap that a Fresh hub could fill, the first thing to do is to complete a New Hub Expression of Interest form. We’ll support you with marketing to get interested people along. We recommend you have a minimum of 8 people to start a hub.
Can I be a member of more than 1 networking organisation
Yes, absolutely. We encourage anything that expands your network and develops your networking skills. Other networking groups are a great source of guests for Fresh too! Just remember to provide referral opportunities to your fellow Freshies if you are expecting same.
What is the application process
Firstly, you complete an application form. Then the facilitator (or co-facilitator) of the hub you’ve applied to will contact you for a ‘Fresh Audition’. Don’t worry, there’s no singing involved, it’s simply a set of questions about your expectations and experience of networking, what you’ll bring to the hub and how
What is the cooling off period.
10 days from date of invoice.
Can I get a refund once paid (cooling off period)
Yes – a full refund is available within the cooling off period less an administration fee of $110 inc GST. After the cooling off period there are no refunds.
What is expected of me when i come as a guest to a meeting
Come prepared with an introduction to your business (you’ll have 30, 45 or 60 seconds depending on the meeting agenda). Listen and engage with the others in the meeting. Be open-minded and fun.
Do I have to pay for breakfast / meal when i attend a cafe meeting as a guest?
Yes – the venues offer us the room free of charge, on condition that everyone attending buys a breakfast.
Spamming policy
We ask all members and guests not to spam anyone in the room. That means not sending out mass unsolicited emails, or adding people to your mailing list. Of course it’s fine to connect on LinkedIn, or to ask someone for their contact details for a follow up meeting.
What happens when I turn up to a Cafe hub meeting (guest registration, pay for breakfast)
The hub meet and greeter will be expecting you (from your online registration) and will note that you are there, so that you can be welcomed in the meeting. You’ll be asked to order your breakfast (which comes out once everyone is seated) and the meet an greeter will introduce you to people for informal networking before the formal meeting starts.
When do I get my zoom link for the online hub meetings
The link is sent out the night before, 2 hours and 10 mins before the meeting. So don’t worry if you don’t have it the night before, it will be in your inbox by the morning.
What if I need to cancel my ticket for an event
That’s no problem, you can cancel your ticket directly via Eventbrite or if you have enough notice, it is courteous to let the facilitator know that you can’t make it. Don’t forget to book for the following meeting!
How long do I need to be in business?
There is no fixed time – we have start ups and we have people with long-established businesses. It is more about your network, your attitude to connecting and giving referrals, and the quality and professionalism of the service you offer.
Think Fresh First
This means that if someone asks ‘Do you know someone who…’, your first thought is to refer a Fresh member. If there’s someone in your hub that fits the bill, great. If not, you can use the Fresh Members’ Directory to find someone in the right category, or you can post a request on the Members Only Facebook page.
If you sell, you will repel
Networking isn’t about selling. It’s about building genuine relationships based on trust and liking. If you come to a Fresh meeting determined to deliver a sales pitch, you probably won’t get very far. Our members are most interested in getting to know you.
Payment terms
Once your membership has been approved, full payment is due within 72 hours of your invoice date. You can spread payments over the first 3,4,5 or 6 months of your membership – surcharges apply. (please refer to What are my payment options above)
BUSINESS NETWORKING
What is business networking?
Business networking is the practice of connecting with like-minded business professionals to grow their network and form trusted relationships for referrals and business support. An example of business networking is when businesses gather to meet through formal or informal groups in their local area on a regular basis, sharing ideas and meeting new people.
How does networking impact a business?
Networking grows sales through the engagement of connections that are known and are trusted.
When should someone network in a business situation?
When the business needs to generate referral based sales and nurture potential future customers.
How do I find a business network?
A simple business networking google search will deliver networking events in your local area.
What are the 4 types of business networks?
1. Networking groups such as Fresh Networking
2. Online/Social Media Networking such as LinkedIn
3. Trade or professional groups
4. Community clubs
How do you network with other entrepreneurs?
The most important criteria for networking with entrepreneurs is to be genuine and to have a giving mindset.
How are business networks formed?
Business networks are formed by like minded individuals who take the time to get to know each other so they can have a trusted network that refers to and receives referrals.
SMALL & LOCAL BUSINESS NETWORKING
How do I network locally?
In most metropolitan areas you can attend a local networking group as a guest where you can meet businesses from your local area by scheduling one to one meetings and or catch ups.
Why should small businesses network?
For most small businesses, networking is the cheapest and most effective marketing strategy because you are meeting interested and engaged potential customers or referring parties.
How do I network my small business?
By being an active and giving networker that ‘gives to get’. Being active is about attending and contributing to meetings while a giving mindset builds engagement and trust.
Where do small businesses network?
Small businesses network in their local area in organised groups. You can also find local area networking groups on social media that are great to build connections with.
How can I connect to local business?
Networking groups are the perfect way to connect with local businesses because everyone is there to do the same thing. Inviting non members as a guest is also a great way to show value for local businesses.
ONLINE BUSINESS NETWORKING
What is online business networking?
Online business networking is networking using virtual meeting software like Zoom, Teams or Google Meets.
Why should online businesses network?
Online businesses need to engage in the real world to form trusted relationships just like any business. With online networking you can connect your online business with referral partners and potential customers in an efficient manner.
How do I do business networking online?
Business networking online is now popular since the Covid pandemic due to the lack of travel, cost and the ability to get to more networking events online. Sign up to a group that does online networking and get engaged with social networking sites like LinkedIn that will grow your business and profile significantly.
How do I find an online business network?
Simply search on Google and an online business network in your area will display. You can attend as a guest and ask people for recommendations before committing to a group.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
If you’ve checked out our FAQs and you still haven’t found the answer to your burning question, get in touch.
WANT TO CHECK OUT A MEETING BEFORE JOINING?
We’d love to you come along as a guest and experience a Fresh meeting for yourself. You can be sure of a warm welcome and some great connections.