FAQs

EFBC is distinctive in its mission of empowering entrepreneurs and family businesses leaders, and the people who surround them. Our members don’t give each other one-sided advice, instead, our community empowers each other to reach their own answers by sharing experiences complemented by the programs, tools and support they need to thrive. Our three core principles: Emotional Intelligence, Education, and Peer Connection, are all geared towards this mission of empowerment.

To become a member of the EFBC, there are several eligibility criteria that need to be fulfilled:

• The applicant must be a leader in a family business, and entrepreneur or a first-generation business leader
• The business must be privately held
• It should generate an annual revenue of at least $1 million
• The business is in operation for at least 5 years
• The business should NOT BE in competition with our Strategic Partners, which means businesses in the fields of Accounting, Banking, Human Resources, Insurance, IT, Law, Marketing, and Wealth Management are NOT ELIGIBLE
• The business is located in the Chicagoland area, Southern WI, or Northwestern IN

We offer three membership options to suit individual needs and preference. Whether you’re a family business or an entrepreneur, there’s a membership option that will provide you with the resources, support, and community you need to thrive.

1. Enterprise Membership – $4,725 / year
This option provides membership for your entire company, making it an ideal choice for larger businesses.

2. Add-on Membership (requires Enterprise Member at same company) – $1,181.25 / year
This membership allows key employees or family members to be added to the existing Enterprise membership, extending the benefits of EFBC to a wider circle within your organization.

3. Pro Membership – $2,363 / year
This membership is designed for one individual

For a detailed overview of what each membership entails, please visit our Membership Levels

We welcome your interest in becoming a member of the EFBC. To start your membership journey, please follow these steps:

• Step 1: Explore the membership options we offer HERE and choose the one that suits your needs

• Step 2: Once you’ve made your choice, please proceed to fill out our Membership Profile HERE

• Step 3: After you’ve filled it out, please send it to our Executive Director, Liz Fidanovski, at liz@myefbc.com

We’ll get back to you in 1-3 business days with additional information and next steps.

Yes, you can adjust your membership at any time by contacting our Executive Director Liz Fidanovski by email at liz@myefbc.com or by phone at (224) 610-9424

Membership is non-transferable and is specific to the individual or business that originally applied.

If you wish to cancel your membership, please contact our Executive Director Liz Fidanovski via email at liz@myefbc.com or by phone at (224) 610-9424 who will guide you through the process.

For all membership-related inquiries, please direct your questions to our Executive Director, Liz Fidanovski via email at liz@myefbc.com or by phone at (224) 610-9424

Being a part of the EFBC community is an experience unlike any other business organization. The majority of our members are part of a Full Forum or participate in Flex Forum. They attend educational and social events throughout the year. The EFBC CommunityHub online platform is another great way to engage with the community. This platform provides a space where you can connect with other members, participate in discussions, join groups based on your interests and have access to a variety of helpful resources. And they often rely on our Strategic Partners and programs at DePaul when specific business needs arise.

Our events include:
• Workshops that offer practical training
• Roundtables for open discussions, where members & member company can share their experiences and learn from their peers
• Panel discussions and Fireside Chat Series are another key event, where experts in the field share their insights and answer questions
• We also offer the Roots Curriculum, a comprehensive program that covers all aspects of entrepreneurship and family business management
• Our Breakfast Clubs provide a casual learning and networking platform
• Our Transition Preparation Assessment (TPA) helps members prepare for business transitions
• We also partner with other organizations to hold Community Events, aimed at serving the wider community

Click the button below to browse and explore our events

Events

By joining a small group called a Forum, you have the opportunity to connect, share insights, and learn from your peers within our vibrant community. Members have the option to choose between the Full Forum and the Flex Forum. The Full Forum is available to Enterprise and Add-on Members who meet consistently each month with the same group of members. Flex Forum is available for Pro Members and offers the benefit of peer group support without the commitment of monthly attendance. More details about Full Forum and Flex Forum can be found HERE

Absolutely! While being a member of EFBC provides full access to all exclusive programs and events, we also welcome non-members to experience the EFBC Community through selected events. Please visit our Event Page to explore EFBC upcoming events.

EFBC offers resources and programs to help family businesses plan for the future, including various workshops that help businesses understand the legal, financial, and emotional aspects of succession planning. Our Peer Network offers a platform for leaders to connect and share experiences with others who are navigating the same process or have successfully done so in the past. Additionally, EFBC’s Strategic Partners, who are experienced advisors, are on hand to provide expert guidance, ensuring a smooth succession planning process.

To register for the EFBC CommunityHub platform, please refer to our How to Sign In Guide. This guide will walk you through the registration process step by step. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please contact us.

Members can connect with each other through several ways:

• 1:1 or Group Chat: Utilize these chat options to communicate directly with other members.
• Member Directory: Search and browse the directory to find other members. Click into a member’s profile to find their email address and phone number for communication

Use the bottom right (on your mobile) and top left (on your desktop) menu navigation to access different sharing options.

• Discussion Boards: Explore and engage in discussion boards to share your ideas, ask questions, and offer insights.
• Groups: Join specific groups that match your interests and expertise to share your knowledge and collaborate with fellow members.
• Live feed: Create a post on the live feed and tag fellow members to share your content and engage with others.

Yes, you can browse the event page, register, and manage your event attendance all within the app. Simply choose the event you’d like to attend, click “Register for this event,” select your ticket type, fill in your information, and you’re all set!

• Privacy Settings: You have control over your privacy settings, allowing you to customize who can see your information and activity.
• Secure Login: The app uses secure login options such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Apple ID, and Gmail to protect your account.

For more information about how your data is protected and managed, you can read our detailed Privacy Policy. We take your privacy and security seriously and continuously work to ensure your personal information is safe on the EFBC CommunityHub Mobile App.

1. Check Your Internet Connection: Make sure your device is connected to a stable internet connection, either Wi-Fi or cellular data.
2. Restart the App: Sometimes, simply closing the app and reopening it can resolve issues.
3. Check Device Compatibility: Make sure your device’s operating system is compatible with the app.
4. Contact Support: If the issue persists, please contact us for assistance. Provide a detailed description of the problem, including screenshots if possible.