How RPP started
Based in Lancaster, PA, Referral Partners Plus is a business referral organization that brings together business owners and representatives for the purpose of getting to know and trust each other so that we can feel confident in giving referrals that help our fellow members grow their businesses.
Online networking is popular, but in-person networking is much more valuable, and RPP provides regular opportunities to meet fellow business owners and to get to know them. Within RPP, many members form strategic partnerships. For example, a roofer and a painting contractor can give each other referrals on a regular basis. So can a realtor, a mortgage lender, and a title insurance company.
RPP began when some business professionals who had benefitted from membership in a different referral organization decided to make a good thing even better by starting a new referral group, a group focused entirely on businesses in Lancaster County. RPP is now 8 years old, and our growth has been steady.
Where RPP is Now
We started with 4 chapters and now we have 11, with a total of 151 members. RPP is a non-profit organization, and in addition to generating referrals, we donate money and time to local non-profit organizations. Ten of our chapters are in Lancaster County, and, at the request of some business owners in York County who learned about the value of our networking group, we’ve now crossed the Susquehanna and started a chapter on the west side of the river.
“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.”
– Amy Poehler
Where RPP is going
While much of the world is now virtual and often impersonal, RPP uses in-person human collaboration to build relationships and friendships. At our meetings and social events, members can spend time together and get to know each other. Then, because we know that a fellow member is a person of skill and integrity, a person who provides excellent professional services, we can feel comfortable when we give a referral, just like the ones that Dr. Tierney has received.
Still Have Questions?
Different chapters meet either weekly or bi-weekly, and it’s important for our members to have good attendance so that we can all get to know each other. That way, we can feel comfortable in giving referrals.
We currently have 11 chapters, and each chapter has its own meeting place. 10 are in Lancaster County, and wherever you may be in the county, you can find a meeting fairly close to you. We also have a chapter that meets in Manchester, York County.
Absolutely. In fact, we strongly encourage our members to make the rounds of all the chapters. Visiting other chapters can be especially beneficial if your category is not filled in another chapter. For example, if you happen to become the only person in your category in RPP, you’ll certainly benefit from introducing yourself to all the RPP members.
Yes. Our annual dues for RPP are currently $250, and different chapters have fees for meals and for rental of meeting spaces. These vary from chapter to chapter.
Yes. Within every RPP chapter, each member has exclusive claim to his or her category. That means that if you’re a roofing contractor, you’ll be the only roofing contractor in your chapter. Other roofing contractors may join RPP, but you will have exclusive claim to the roofing category within the chapter that you join.
The purpose of our business networking group is to give referrals. So, we have an expectation that each member will give at least 2 referrals every month.
No one, and everyone. Referral Partners Plus is non-profit referral group, and all of our board members are volunteers.