Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce

What Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce does

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) is a privately operated, non-profit membership-based chamber of commerce serving 11 communities in the Barrington region of northeastern Illinois — Barrington, Barrington Hills, Lake Barrington, North Barrington, Port Barrington, South Barrington, Deer Park, Inverness, Kildeer, Long Grove, and Tower Lakes. The organization provides networking opportunities, marketing services, community events, and business resources to local small and medium businesses, with sub-brands including Women's Biz Net (WBN), BARN (Barrington Area Resource Network), R-Network, Barrington Service Contractors, and the Barrington Young Professionals Group. Its core technology infrastructure is built on the ChamberMaster/GrowthZone membership management platform, which handles event registration, business directory, and member management.

BACC's business model is a hybrid of subscription recurring membership dues, transaction-based event fees, and advertising/sponsorship revenue. Revenue streams include annual membership dues (standard tier and Chairman's Circle premium), event revenue from signature gatherings (Pepper Road Fest, Family Fest, Golf Classic, WBN OWL Awards), marketing services (directory listings, hot deals, member marketplace), and corporate event sponsorships from local institutions including Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington Bank & Trust, Northern Trust, and Wickstrom Auto Group. The chamber operates a community-led go-to-market model, acquiring members through networking events, referrals, community programming, and direct outreach to local businesses. Pricing varies by membership tier and event, with Golf League fees ranging from $65 (member) to $100 (non-member), and the Butterfield Golf Outing priced at $800 per individual or $3,000 per foursome. The organization is actively operating with a current website, event calendar, and ongoing member services, but does not publicly disclose financial information.

Name

Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce

Legal name

Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce

Website

https://barringtonchamber.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BACC is a non-profit membership-based chamber of commerce serving 11 communities in the Barrington, Illinois region, providing networking, marketing, community events, and educational programs to local small and medium businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Barrington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing access to networking groups, marketing opportunities, directory listings, and chamber events. Tiers include standard membership and Chairman's Circle for premium members.
2. Event Revenue: Fees from signature events, networking gatherings, golf leagues, and community festivals. Includes event sponsorships and vendor booth fees.
3. Marketing Services: Hot deals, member marketplace listings, promotional products, and advertising opportunities within the chamber community and regional publications.
4. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for signature events including WBN Awards, Golf Classic, Family Fest, and community festivals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) is a nonprofit membership-based trade organization that sells annual chamber memberships to local businesses across 11 northeastern Illinois communities. Its core service package includes access to category-exclusive networking groups, a searchable online business directory, member marketing platforms (Hot Deals, Member Marketplace, Job Openings), signature community events, ribbon cutting ceremonies, educational programming, and advocacy representation on local government affairs.

Product overview

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) operates as a membership-based trade organization offering a unified platform of networking, marketing, and community services. The core offerings include a searchable business directory and member management platform (powered by ChamberMaster/GrowthZone), complemented by multiple specialized networking groups (R-Network, BARN, Barrington Service Contractors, Am Spirit Biz Builders, Women's Biz Net), recreational programs (BACC Golf League), signature community events (Pepper Road Fest, Family Fest), educational programming (BACC Summer Leadership Series), and member promotion services (ribbon cuttings, hot deals, job postings). The chamber serves the Barrington, Illinois region including Barrington Hills, Lake Barrington, North Barrington, Port Barrington, South Barrington, Deer Park, Inverness, Kildeer, Long Grove, and Tower Lakes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Women's Biz Net (WBN): A BACC networking group dedicated to gathering professionals to inspire, enrich and empower women in business.
• BARN
• R-Network
• Barrington Service Contractors
• Barrington Young Professionals Group

Products and services

• Chamber Membership Annual membership providing local businesses with access to networking groups, business directory listing, marketing platforms (Hot Deals, Member Marketplace, Job Openings), event registration, and government affairs advocacy. Sold in tiered levels including standard and Chairman's Circle.
• Women's Biz Net (WBN) A professional networking group for women in business in the Barrington region, offering structured networking, recognition through the OWL Awards, and leadership development programming.
• R-Network Weekly Referral Group A category-exclusive weekly referral networking group limited to one member per business category, meeting Wednesdays at 7:30am to generate member-to-member business referrals.
• BARN (Barrington Area Resource Network) A midday networking and referral group meeting weekly for member-to-member business referrals within the Barrington area.
• Barrington Service Contractors Network A members-only networking group for contractors and service providers in the Barrington area, limited to one member per business category to ensure exclusivity.
• Barrington Young Professionals Group A persona-based networking group for young professionals in the Barrington area focused on career networking, professional development, and community involvement.
• BACC Golf League A 9-hole golf league with weekly Friday morning play, open to chamber members and non-members of all skill levels, with separate league fees and weekly green fees.
• Signature Community Events Annual community festivals and events including Pepper Road Fest, Barrington Family Fest, BACC Golf Classic, Summer Celebration After-Hours Mixer, and legislative breakfasts, offering vendor booths, sponsorships, and consumer engagement opportunities.
• BACC Summer Leadership Series A 6-session personal and professional growth educational series covering topics such as AI productivity, communication styles, messaging, networking skills, and goal execution.
• Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies Ceremonies hosted by the chamber to celebrate grand openings and anniversaries of member businesses, generating community buzz and member visibility.
• WBN OWL Awards Luncheon A ticketed luncheon event through the Women's Biz Net honoring outstanding women leaders in the Barrington region, supported by major regional corporate sponsors.
• Butterfield Golf Outing An annual golf outing and Brunch & Browse event held at Butterfield Country Club in partnership with Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, offering individual and foursome golf entries plus Brunch & Browse table options.
• Lil Volleys Instructional Program A 10-week youth volleyball instructional program for children in kindergarten through 8th grade, offered at $250 per 10-week session.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 networking opportunities annually resulting in business referrals and new customers

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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, major and minor.

• GrowthZone (ChamberMaster)coreTechnology or IntegrationMembership management software platform used for event registration, member directory, directory management, and chamber operations
• Advocate Good Shepherd HospitalmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor event sponsor for WBN Outstanding Women Leaders Awards (OWLS); healthcare provider supporting community wellness events
• Barrington Bank & Trust Co., N.A.majorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor event sponsor for WBN OWL Awards; local financial institution supporting chamber events
• Northern Trust BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor event sponsor for WBN OWL Awards; regional wealth management firm supporting chamber initiatives
• Wickstrom Auto GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor event sponsor for WBN OWL Awards; local auto dealership supporting community events
• Rotary District 6440coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly Mental Health Monday Speaker Series presented jointly; community wellness and mental health advocacy partnership
• Lake Zurich Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-chamber collaboration; Lake Zurich Chamber members welcome to join BACC Golf League at member rates
• Turning Pointe Autism FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHost of annual golf outing and Brunch & Browse events at Butterfield Country Club; nonprofit providing autism services
• ElderwerksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts caregiver support groups and senior wellness events; senior care resource organization

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce: Arlington Heights Chamber runs the same SMB membership-plus-events-plus-advocacy model for a nearby northwest suburb. Both chambers compete for corporate sponsorship dollars from regional brands and operate signature community festivals of similar scale.
• Schaumburg Business Association: SBA serves Schaumburg, a larger neighboring suburb, with a similar chamber-of-commerce model for SMBs including networking events, marketing exposure, advocacy, and signature community events. It is a regional scale competitor with overlapping corporate sponsor pools.
• Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce: Palatine Chamber serves an adjacent suburban Chicago community with a comparable model: tiered SMB membership, networking groups, signature events, business directory, and advocacy programs. It competes for the same small business member dollars in the northwest suburban Chicago corridor.
• Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce: The Lake Zurich Chamber is BACC's nearest geographic peer and active cross-promotion partner. Both organizations run similar SMB membership programs, networking groups, signature community events, and golf leagues for suburban Chicago-area businesses — serving overlapping but distinct member bases.

Others

• GrowthZone: GrowthZone (formerly ChamberMaster) is BACC's core technology vendor providing the membership management, event registration, and directory platform that powers the chamber's operations. It is an enabling technology peer rather than a competing chamber, but is materially relevant as the operational backbone.

Regional players

• Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce: Oak Park-River Forest Chamber runs the standard SMB chamber model in a near-western Chicago suburb. Comparable structure and member mix (local SMBs, professionals, contractors) but in a distinct geographic market.
• Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce: Crystal Lake Chamber operates the standard SMB chamber model for a community northwest of Barrington. While geographically distinct (McHenry County vs. Lake County), it represents a structurally identical chamber format and competes indirectly for regional sponsorship and referral network mindshare.
• Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce: Elgin Chamber serves a Fox Valley-area community with the same membership, networking, events, and advocacy formula. It is a comparable suburban Illinois chamber model though in a different sub-market from BACC.
• Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce: Naperville Area Chamber is a larger-scale Illinois chamber with the same model (membership dues, networking, signature events, advocacy) but operating at significantly greater scale in a more populous western suburb. Useful as a scaled-up version of the same format.
• St. Charles Chamber of Commerce: St. Charles Chamber runs the same SMB chamber model — membership dues, networking groups, signature events, festivals — for a western suburban Chicago community. Comparable in structure and revenue mix, though serving a different geographic catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bacc_tweet
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjfQ1LjqIVbk2iC4RjXAQ6g
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/barrington-area-chamber-of-commerce
• Instagraminstagram.com/barringtonareachamber
• Facebookfacebook.com/BarringtonAreaChamberIL

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce