State Guide: Chambers of Commerce

As a small business owner in the U.S., it is important to be familiar with your state's chamber of commerce. A chamber of commerce is a local organization of businesses designed to help protect and promote business interests. Some say they are essential to the economic growth of a community. 

However, if you own a small business, your membership in a chamber of commerce is not mandatory. Businesses are essentially voluntary paying members of a chamber, paying dues to belong and they in turn expect to receive the benefits of membership as long as they continue to invest in the organization. There are many minority chambers that seek to assist local business owners with their more specialized needs such as African-American, Asian, Latino, women’s chambers, LGBTQ chambers, and other collectives. 

Below are links to state chambers of commerce, the primary business advocate on all issues affecting employers in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. To suggest a resource for this section, please contact us.

Next Steps

If you are seeking legal advice for your small business, contact a skilled business law attorney in your area who may be familiar with the local practices of your state's chamber of commerce. A respected attorney will be able to help you get the answers you seek to all your small business law questions.