SMBiT Professionals

What SMBiT Professionals does

SMBiT Professionals is a not-for-profit peak industry association (incorporated as SMBiT Professionals Limited, a company limited by guarantee registered 8 September 2010 and operating from Kangaroo Point, Australia) representing Technology Service Providers (TSPs) across Australia and New Zealand who serve small and medium business customers. Eligibility is defined narrowly: at least 50% of a member's revenue must come from businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees, and members must agree to a published Code of Conduct. The association was formed through the 2010 merger of the Small Business IT Professionals Association (SBITPA) with SMBiT Professionals Victoria and the unification of state user groups that originated around the 2003 launch of Microsoft Windows Small Business Server. As of 2025 it claims 400+ members collectively managing IT budgets exceeding A$150 million.

The association's core offerings are membership, peer networking, education, and a public-facing member directory and vendor program — delivered through monthly chapter meetings across seven locations (Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Auckland, with Canberra flagged as a potential addition), an annual Next Level Conference (rebranded in 2026 from the previous National Conference, with the 2025 edition drawing 211 attendees), a members-only Community Hub, a Membership Portal, training programs, and a Code of Conduct framework. It is not a technology product company; technology is consumed rather than built, with no proprietary platform, SDK, MCP, or public API disclosed. Distribution is community-led: members join by meeting eligibility criteria, and growth is driven by word-of-mouth, peer referrals, and event-led engagement rather than traditional sales.

Revenue is generated through two streams: recurring membership fees from TSPs ranging from sole operators to 100+ employee firms, and recurring tiered sponsorship from technology vendors (Gold, Silver, Bronze tiers with capped sponsor numbers per tier). Major sponsors include Coro (Flagship main sponsor for Next Level 2026), Sophos, Manage Protect, Kaseya, N-able, Acronis, Huntress, Leader, Progress, TrendAI, Synology, Ninja One, and Atmos Group. Pricing for both memberships and sponsorships is not publicly disclosed; prospective sponsors are directed to contact the organization. The association is governed by an International Executive Committee led by Chair Scott Atkinson, Vice-Chair Mitch Colton, and Executive Officer Vivien Dehamer, with additional Non-Executive Directors drawn from the member firm community.

Name

SMBiT Professionals

Legal name

SMBiT Professionals Limited

Website

https://smbitpro.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SMBiT Professionals is a not-for-profit peak industry association representing 400+ Technology Service Providers across Australia and New Zealand who specialize in serving small and medium business customers, delivering them via membership fees, monthly chapter meetings, sponsorship programs, and the annual Next Level Conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kangaroo Point

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: SMBiT Professionals generates revenue through membership fees paid by Technology Service Providers. Members include sole operators to 100+ employee operations. Members receive access to business documentation, member-only pricing and discounts from vendors, and voting rights at the AGM.
2. Sponsorship: Technology vendors and solution providers sponsor the association at Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers. Sponsors contribute business and technical know-how, gain access to the members-only Community Hub, and host workshops at monthly chapter events. The organization has strict limits on sponsor numbers at each level to maintain member-led discussions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SMBiT Professionals is a not-for-profit peak industry association providing membership, peer networking, education, training, vendor programs, and chapter events for Technology Service Providers (TSPs) that serve small and medium businesses in Australia and New Zealand. Core deliverables include annual membership subscriptions granting access to the Community Hub, business documentation, vendor discounts, and voting rights, plus monthly chapter meetings across 7 cities and the annual Next Level Conference. Sponsorship from technology vendors (Gold/Silver/Bronze tiers) supplements membership revenue and drives industry engagement.

Product overview

SMBiT Professionals is a not-for-profit peak industry association representing Technology Service Providers (TSPs) in Australia and New Zealand. The organization operates as a unified membership-based community rather than a software product company. Its core offerings include membership access, monthly chapter meetings in six cities, the annual Next Level Conference (formerly National Conference), an online Community Hub, a Membership Portal, training programs, and a Code of Conduct framework. These services work together to provide advocacy, professional development, and networking for IT providers serving small and medium businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Next Level Conference: Annual international conference delivered by SMBiT Professionals, formerly known as the SMBiT Professionals National Conference, serving as the association's flagship annual event for Technology Service Providers across Australia and New Zealand.

Products and services

• SMBiT Professionals Membership Industry association membership for Technology Service Providers (TSPs) serving small and medium businesses in Australia and New Zealand. Members must derive at least 50% of revenue from businesses with under 1,000 employees and agree to the Code of Conduct. Provides advocacy, professional development, networking, community access, business documentation, member-only vendor pricing and discounts, and voting rights at the AGM.
• Chapter Meetings Monthly chapter meetings held across 6 Australian state capital cities and Auckland (NZ), featuring workshops, presentations, vendor showcases, and networking opportunities. Some training events are available to members only. Meetings run in the evening on consistent weekly schedules; the Auckland chapter is also live streamed.
• Next Level Conference Annual international conference for Technology Service Providers across Australia and New Zealand, formerly known as the SMBiT Professionals National Conference. Features keynote sessions, industry panels, workshops, exhibition hall, and networking experiences. The 2025 conference attracted 211 attendees; Next Level 2026 is scheduled for 23-24 July at Western Sydney Convention Centre.
• Community Hub Members-only online community platform where Technology Service Providers can network, share knowledge, discuss challenges, and engage in ongoing peer conversations between in-person events. Vendors / sponsors also have access to the Community Hub.
• Membership Portal Online portal for joining SMBiT Professionals, registering for events, accessing training, business documentation, and member-only content and discounts.
• Training Programs Business and technical training events offered to members and IT professionals, including both member-only and publicly accessible training sessions.
• Code of Conduct Framework Standards of professionalism, diligence and integrity that all members agree to and are held accountable to. Provides security and peace of mind for customers and enables members to display the SMBiT Professionals Registered Member logo as a credibility signal.
• Vendor Sponsorship Programs Tiered sponsorship packages (Gold, Silver, Bronze) for technology vendors and solution providers. Sponsors contribute business and technical know-how, host workshops at monthly chapter events, and gain access to the Community Hub. Sponsor numbers per tier are strictly limited to maintain member-led discussions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ members managing budgets beyond $150 million
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, gold, silver and bronze.

• Coro (Main Sponsor)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerCoro serves as the main sponsor for Next Level 2026 conference. Provides cybersecurity solutions for MSPs with automation, multi-tenant management, and ease of deployment. Supports partners in scaling services while maintaining simplicity. Contributes to industry conversations around practical, accessible cybersecurity and partner enablement.
• SophoscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSophos participates in Next Level 2026 with Aaron Bugal co-presenting cybersecurity pre-day alongside Alex Tilley and presenting on the main programme about threat landscape, agentic AI risks, and modern risk evaluation techniques.
• Manage ProtectcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAustralian-owned business supporting the community since 2008. Sponsor of Year 2025, recognized for outstanding support through highest new member referrals. Returns to Next Level 2026 to discuss AI, trust, and channel enablement.
• KaseyagoldGTM or Marketing PartnerGold tier sponsor providing IT management solutions for MSPs.
• N-ablesilverGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver tier sponsor offering remote monitoring and management solutions.
• AcronissilverGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver tier sponsor providing cyber protection solutions.
• HuntresssilverGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver tier sponsor offering managed detection and response for MSPs.
• LeadersilverGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver tier sponsor, proudly Australian technology company.
• ProgresssilverGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver tier sponsor offering application development and deployment solutions.
• TrendAIsilverGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver tier sponsor focused on AI solutions.
• SophosbronzeGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze tier sponsor (also appears in conference programming).
• SynologybronzeGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze tier sponsor providing network-attached storage solutions.
• Ninja OnebronzeGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze tier sponsor offering IT management software for MSPs.
• Atmos GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPeople's Choice Award winner 2025, voted by members as the sponsor who best supported, engaged, and contributed across the conference.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CompTIA: Global IT industry trade association offering vendor-neutral certifications, advocacy, and member communities across the IT channel. Comparable to SMBiT as a membership-based trade association serving IT professionals, but CompTIA operates globally and across all IT segments (enterprise, SMB, vendors) rather than exclusively SMB-focused MSPs.

Direct peers

• HTG Peer Groups: Peer-group organisation for MSPs and IT service providers running peer advisory groups, an annual summit, and vendor partner programs. Closest functional peer to SMBiT Professionals — both run peer-led communities for MSP operators — though HTG is US-based and works through facilitated peer groups rather than geographic chapters.
• ASCII Group: US-based membership community for MSPs, VARs, and IT solution providers, offering peer meetings, vendor programs, and the ASCII IT Summit. Comparable to SMBiT as an MSP-only community and member organisation, though focused on the North American market.
• MSP Alliance: International association for managed services and cloud computing providers, offering standards, certifications, and member programs. Comparable to SMBiT Professionals as an MSP trade association with a code-of-ethics/standards function and a credentialing logo analogous to SMBiT's Registered Member mark.

Emerging players

• Robin Robins Technology Marketing Group: Marketing education and peer community for MSPs and IT solution providers, with events, training, and member programs. Comparable to SMBiT as a peer-development and business-skills community for MSPs, addressing the same "tech skills + commercial savvy" gap SMBiT highlights.
• IT Nation (by ConnectWise): Global MSP community and conference series operated by ConnectWise, serving TSPs with peer content, awards, and vendor programming. Directly comparable to SMBiT's Next Level conference and Community Hub, though anchored to a single major vendor (ConnectWise) rather than vendor-neutral.

Others

• Pax8: Cloud distribution marketplace for MSPs with a partner community, Pax8 Beyond event series, and vendor-agnostic tooling. Comparable to SMBiT as a community-and-content platform serving the same ANZ/international MSP buyer base, though Pax8 is a for-profit vendor rather than a not-for-profit association.
• ChannelPro Network: Media and events company serving MSPs, VARs, and IT solution providers with peer content, awards, and ChannelPro events. Comparable to SMBiT as a community-and-information layer for the same SMB IT audience, though ChannelPro is media-led rather than member-governed.
• The Channel Company (CRN): Media and events group operating CRN, Channel Futures, and the XChange conference series for IT channel partners. Comparable to SMBiT as an information/events provider for the SMB MSP segment, but globally focused and vendor-adjacent rather than member-governed.

Regional players

• MyCISO: ANZ cybersecurity-focused advisory and standards body for SMBs, with the SMB1001 cybersecurity framework overlapping SMBiT Professionals' emerging standards work. Directly comparable as an ANZ-based, SMB-focused cybersecurity standards body that the SMB1001 Steering Committee (led by SMBiT's Wayne Small) intersects with.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smbitproanz
• Facebookfacebook.com/SMBiTPro
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smbit-professionals

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 SMBiT Professionals