Charles County Chamber of Commerce

What Charles County Chamber of Commerce does

The Charles County Chamber of Commerce is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(6) membership-based business association founded in 1956 and headquartered in La Plata, Maryland, that operates as the recognized "Voice for Business" for Charles County and the broader Southern Maryland region. Its core product is tiered annual membership — priced from $25 (Junior Chamber, business owners 18 and under) to $1,135 (100+ employees), plus specialty rates for nonprofits ($190), real estate agents ($150), and first-year SoloPreneurs ($150) — augmented by a Pay It Forward corporate sponsorship ladder ranging from $500 (President's Circle) to $20,000 (Diamond, inclusive of membership). The Chamber serves primarily small and mid-sized local businesses, with secondary outreach to solo entrepreneurs, nonprofits, large enterprises, women leaders, and young professionals through programs such as Women Who Lead and the Young Professionals Group.

Service delivery relies on in-person engagement (12 free monthly networking mixers, ribbon cuttings, golf tournaments, Chamber 101 orientations, and legislative events), committee participation across 13 volunteer committees, and a GrowthZone-powered digital platform that provides a searchable business directory, Hot Deals marketplace, member-to-member offers, job postings, RFP board, customizable member pages, and email eBlasts. The Chamber monetizes primarily through recurring subscription membership dues, corporate sponsorships, event sponsorships, and directory/advertising add-ons, with a one-time $35 application fee per new member. It does not operate a proprietary technology platform; GrowthZone is licensed as its CRM/CMS backbone.

Revenue is supplemented by Financial Partner sponsorships of legislative advocacy communications (SMECO, Exelon Generation, GenOn Energy, Scott Law Group LLC) and Major-tier community partnerships (Kaiser Permanente), supporting weekly Legislative Committee meetings during the Maryland General Assembly session and ongoing legislative alerts. The organization is led by President & CEO Kathy Guzman and governed by a staggered Board of Directors drawn from local member businesses across healthcare, financial services, utilities, real estate, and small business ownership. The Chamber holds no patents, has no disclosed AI/ML capability, and operates within a regional footprint restricted to Charles County and Southern Maryland.

Name

Charles County Chamber of Commerce

Legal name

Charles County Chamber of Commerce

Website

https://charlescountychamber.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Charles County Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) business association founded in 1956 and based in La Plata, Maryland, that provides tiered membership, networking events, legislative advocacy, and a digital business directory to small and mid-sized businesses across Charles County and Southern Maryland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

La Plata

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues based on business size, ranging from $25 for junior chamber members (business owners 18 and under) to $1,135 for businesses with 100+ employees. Also includes $150 for real estate agents, $150 for individual non-business members, $190 for nonprofits, and $150 for single employee solopreneurs (first year only for new startups).
2. Pay It Forward Corporate Partnerships: Sponsorship program with tiers: Diamond ($20,000 includes membership), Platinum ($10,000 includes membership), Gold ($5,000), Silver ($3,000), Bronze ($2,000), Chairman's Circle ($1,000), President's Circle ($500).
3. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorships available for Chamber events and programs at affordable rates for members to gain visibility and public recognition.
4. Advertising and Enhanced Listings: Print and online directory advertising, website advertising opportunities, and enhanced member directory listings available for additional fees.
5. Application Fee: One-time application fee of $35 for new members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Charles County Chamber of Commerce is a coalition of area businesses, industries, organizations, and professionals who pool their talents and resources to improve the economic, civic, and cultural climate of the Charles County community. Its core offering is tiered membership (annual dues based on employee count) that delivers networking events, legislative advocacy, business referrals, a member directory, marketing tools, and professional development via 13 volunteer committees.

Product overview

The Charles County Chamber of Commerce operates as a coalition of area businesses offering a membership-based service organization. The core product is Chamber Membership, which provides access to networking events, legislative advocacy, marketing opportunities, and business referrals. The organization offers supplementary programs including the Pay It Forward Corporate Partnership Program for sponsorship tiers, Women Who Lead networking club, Young Professionals Group, and thirteen volunteer committees. Additional services include a business directory, Hot Deals marketplace, job postings, ribbon cutting ceremonies, website advertising, and hyper-local advertising. The Chamber facilitates legislative advocacy through weekly committee meetings during the Maryland General Assembly session and issues periodic legislative alerts. No technology platform or SaaS product is offered—the Chamber functions as a traditional business association providing in-person and digital services to its member businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Women Who Lead: A club for women leaders to connect, socialize, and support each other with monthly engaging topics.

Products and services

• Chamber Membership Tiered annual membership program for businesses of all sizes, priced from $25 for Junior Chamber Members (ages 18 and under) to $1,135 for businesses with 100+ employees, plus a one-time $35 application fee. Benefits include 12 free networking mixers per year, legislative advocacy, business directory listings, referrals, Hot Deals, member-to-member discounts, and ribbon cutting ceremonies.
• Pay It Forward Corporate Partnership Program Sponsorship and partnership program with seven tiered levels: Diamond ($20,000), Platinum ($10,000), Gold ($5,000), Silver ($3,000), Bronze ($2,000), Chairman's Circle ($1,000), and President's Circle ($500), providing marketing visibility, public recognition, and event sponsorship benefits to corporate partners. Diamond and Platinum tiers include Chamber membership.
• Networking Events and Monthly Mixers Regular in-person and virtual networking events including 12 free monthly mixers per year, the annual Chamber Golf Tournament, inaugural ceremonies, ribbon cutting ceremonies, and legislative events designed to connect local businesses and generate referrals.
• Online and Print Business Directory Searchable online membership directory and annual printed Business Directory and Community Guide that list Chamber members by business name, category, and representative name, with enhanced advertising and customizable member page options available.
• Legislative Advocacy Services Weekly Legislative Committee meetings during Maryland General Assembly session, periodic legislative alerts, position papers on bills, and direct connections to state and local elected officials, providing the business community with a collective voice in Annapolis and Charles County government.
• Women Who Lead Monthly networking and development club for women leaders featuring engaging topical discussions, refreshments, and open bar; open to Chamber members and non-members.
• Young Professionals Group (YPG) Networking and professional development group for young professionals in Charles County providing career advancement, mentorship, and peer networking opportunities.
• Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Ceremonies Celebration ceremonies for member businesses moving into new spaces, undergoing major rebranding, or marking significant milestones, with publicity and community recognition provided by the Chamber and its Ambassadors.
• Job Postings Online job posting service allowing member businesses to post employment opportunities on the Chamber website, providing hiring visibility within the Charles County business community.
• Hot Deals and Member-to-Member Offers Discount and deal posting platform where Chamber members can post special offers and discounts for other Chamber members, supporting member-to-member commerce and visibility.
• Request for Proposal (RFP) Services Platform allowing businesses to access and respond to Requests for Proposal within the Charles County business community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 63% of consumers more likely to do business with Chamber members (Study conducted by Schapiro Group for Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, 2012)

Named customers19 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Small Business Development Center at CSMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partnership with the Small Business Development Center at College of Southern Maryland, recommended to startups for business planning assistance.
• Charles County Economic Development DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for economic development initiatives, including guiding startups on location and licensing requirements and providing market information.
• Town of La PlatacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with local government for business licensing guidance and community development activities.
• Town of Indian HeadminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Indian Head municipality for business licensing and economic development support.
• Tri-County Council for Southern MarylandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership for workforce development and employment assistance, guiding businesses on hiring and training qualified employees.
• Charles County GovernmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partnership with county government for legislative advocacy, economic development, and community initiatives.
• SMECO (Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLegislative Alert sponsor and community partner supporting the Chamber's advocacy efforts through financial sponsorship of the legislative committee communications.
• College of Southern Maryland (CSM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CSM's Small Business Development Center and potential P-TECH school program involvement for workforce development.
• Kaiser PermanentemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth and Wellness Expo sponsor and community partner; purchased 23-acre site at 4149 Crain Highway in Waldorf with approximately 300 staff members.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Prince George's County Chamber of Commerce: Larger neighboring Maryland Chamber of Commerce with similar programs—membership tiers, legislative advocacy, networking events, and corporate sponsorships. Larger scale than Charles County but directly comparable in operating model.
• Calvert County Chamber of Commerce: Adjacent county-level Chamber of Commerce in Southern Maryland with very similar membership tiers, networking mixers, legislative advocacy, and tiered corporate sponsorship structure. Closest direct comparable given shared geography and member base overlap.
• St. Mary's County Chamber of Commerce: Another Southern Maryland county-level Chamber offering nearly identical products: tiered membership dues, monthly mixers, advocacy, and a business directory. Direct geographic peer serving the same regional market.
• Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce: Another Maryland county Chamber providing identical core services (tiered membership, mixers, advocacy, directory). Larger scale, useful as a size-growth benchmark for Charles County Chamber.

Broad incumbents

• Maryland Chamber of Commerce: State-level business association covering all Maryland businesses with broader legislative advocacy and statewide programming. Functions as the umbrella body alongside county Chambers like Charles County.
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: National federation of Chambers of Commerce providing brand standards, accreditation, and national-level policy advocacy. The umbrella peer organization for local Chambers like Charles County.

Regional players

• Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland: Regional economic development and workforce organization that partners with the Chamber on workforce development and employment assistance. Adjacent regional peer with overlapping business-community role.
• Charles County Economic Development Department: Government counterpart that partners with the Chamber on economic development, business licensing guidance, and startup support. A complementary regional peer rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cccoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/ccmdchamber
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/charles-county-chamber-of-commerce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Charles County Chamber of Commerce