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For small business, an large enough representative organization can help represent small business in government, and help us to have a voice where we may otherwise be drowned out by big business. Acquiring the necessary numbers to qualify for group insurance can be another benefit of the larger business organizations. At a more local level, sharing ideas, successes, and what we learn from our less-than-successful business adventures can help us all grow. Also on the local level, getting to know your fellow businesses helps to build a great resource pool of "people you know" when it comes time to shop for goods or services which are outside of what your own business provides. In some cases it can even provide an opportunity for interested parties to barter for goods and services.

Bottom line it comes down to having a greater voice in numbers, than a single small business can achieve on its own, and that is generally a positive position to be in.