Latin Business Association

What Latin Business Association does

The Latin Business Association (LBA) is a private non-profit business association established in 1976 in Los Angeles, California, that represents the business interests of over 800,000 Latino-owned businesses in California. The organization describes itself as the premier and largest Latin business organization in the United States and serves Latino-owned small and medium businesses seeking growth opportunities, supplier diversity contracting access, and advocacy representation, alongside corporate members seeking engagement with the Latino business community. LBA delivers its value through five tiers of annual membership (Basic at $250, VIP at $495, Elite Corporate at $2,500, Elite Corporate Plus at $5,000, and Exclusive Package at $10,000), an eight-week Supplier Diversity Procurement Boot Camp providing 32 hours of training, an in-person event calendar anchored by the annual Women's Conference, the Sol Business Awards Gala, and Legislative Day in Sacramento, and a member e-Newsletter.

LBA's core technology stack is minimal — the organization explicitly characterizes itself as a non-technology entity, with operations centered on member enrollment (via Google Docs application, email, and phone), in-person training delivery, and digital communications rather than a proprietary platform. The LBA Institute, a wholly-owned subsidiary established in 1998, provides adjacent business development and startup facilitation services. Revenue is generated primarily through membership dues, event ticket and sponsorship sales, and Boot Camp registration deposits, with a two-sided model that connects paying SMB members on one side with elite corporate sponsors (iHeartMedia, SoCalGas, US Bank, T-Mobile, Edison International, Metro LA, Northrop Grumman, and Alibaba) on the other.

The organization is led by Chairman & CEO Ruben Guerra, who has held the role for twenty years, and governed by a Board of Directors drawn from member companies across media, construction, marketing, technology, and public affairs. The LBA holds institutional relationships with the MBDA Pasadena (federal Minority Business Development Agency), LAUSD, LADWP, and the LA County Sheriff's Department, and maintains international connections through Mexican business organizations and Alibaba cross-border programming. Headcount is reported at 1-10 employees, reflecting a lean operational footprint that outsources scale to its partner and sponsor ecosystem.

Name

Latin Business Association

Legal name

Latin Business Association

Website

https://lbausa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Latin Business Association is a Los Angeles-based non-profit founded in 1976 that supports Latino-owned small and medium businesses in California through tiered membership, supplier diversity training, networking events, and advocacy, while connecting them with elite corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees across five tiers ranging from $250 to $10,000, providing recurring revenue. Higher tiers include additional benefits such as advertising opportunities, event tickets, and sponsorship visibility.
2. Training Program Fees: The Supplier Diversity Boot Camp Training Program is offered free of charge but requires a $250 refundable deposit, demonstrating commitment. This program supports business development services.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from signature events including the Women's Conference, Sol Business Awards Gala, and networking events. Higher-tier members receive complimentary or discounted event access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Latin Business Association (LBA) is a non-profit trade association that sells tiered memberships (Basic, VIP, Elite Corporate, Elite Corporate Plus, Exclusive) to Latino-owned businesses and corporate sponsors, delivers the Supplier Diversity Procurement Boot Camp Training Program (launched 2007), runs the LBA Institute for business development, hosts networking events including the annual Women's Business Conference, Sol Business Awards Gala, and Legislative Day, and distributes the LBA Members Newsletter. It also conducts advocacy and policy work on behalf of Latino-owned businesses in California.

Product overview

The Latin Business Association offers a platform of membership-based services and programs for Latino business owners. The core offerings include the Supplier Diversity Procurement Boot Camp Training Program (an 8-week course with 32 hours of instruction), five tiers of membership (Basic at $250, VIP at $495, Elite Corporate at $2,500, Elite Corporate Plus at $5,000, and Exclusive LBA Package at $10,000), networking events, annual conferences (Women's Conference, Sol Business Awards Gala, Legislative Day), and the LBA Members Newsletter. The organization represents over 800,000 Latino-owned businesses in California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LBA/LBA-Institute Supplier Diversity Boot Camp Training Program: An eight-week course designed to provide business owners with the tools they need to secure major supplier diversity contracting opportunities, with thirty-two hours of individualized instruction.
• LBA Institute

Products and services

• Supplier Diversity Procurement Boot Camp Training Program A structured training program designed to prepare Latino-owned businesses to become certified diverse suppliers and compete for corporate and government contract opportunities. Delivered to small and mid-sized Latino-owned businesses seeking access to procurement channels.
• LBA Membership Annual membership in the Latin Business Association, offered across five tiers (Basic, VIP, Elite Corporate, Elite Corporate Plus, and Exclusive) to Latino-owned businesses and corporate sponsors, providing access to networking events, the LBA Members Newsletter, advocacy, recognition programs, and the association's claimed network of more than 800,000 businesses.
• LBA Institute Business development subsidiary of LBA that delivers training, capacity-building, and development services to Latino-owned businesses, complementing the association's advocacy and membership offerings.

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered elite sponsor, corporate sponsor, strategic partner, community partner and corporate member.

• iHeartMediaelite sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerElite sponsor providing media and marketing support to the Latin Business Association. Represents one of the premier corporate sponsors engaged with the Latino business community.
• SoCalGaselite sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerSouthern California Gas Company as elite sponsor supporting LBA programs and events. Utility company engaged in supplier diversity initiatives.
• US Bankelite sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational financial institution as elite sponsor supporting LBA initiatives and Latino business community engagement.
• T-Mobileelite sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerTelecommunications company as elite sponsor with interest in diverse supplier relationships and Latino community outreach.
• Metro (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority)elite sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerLA Metro as elite sponsor supporting transportation-related business opportunities and supplier diversity for the Latino business community.
• Edison Internationalelite sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerEdison International as elite sponsor engaged with supplier diversity programs and Latino business community support.
• Northrop Grummanelite sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerAerospace and defense contractor as elite sponsor supporting diverse supplier initiatives and Latino business outreach.
• Alibabacorporate sponsorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational e-commerce platform as LBA sponsor, providing cross-border trade and business opportunity resources for Latino entrepreneurs.
• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)corporate sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal utility as corporate sponsor supporting supplier diversity and local business development programs.
• New York Lifecorporate sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance and financial services company as corporate member engaged with Latino business community programs.
• AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group)corporate sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports and entertainment company as corporate sponsor supporting LBA events and business networking opportunities.
• MBDA Pasadena (Minority Business Development Agency)strategic partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency partnership working with LBA to benefit the Latino Business Community through collaborative programs and resources.
• Los Angeles County Sheriff's Departmentcommunity partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerLA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva stated that the partnership with LBA serves to strengthen the economy, even in tough times such as the pandemic.
• LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District)corporate memberGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor public school district as corporate member engaged with supplier diversity and local business community.
• Health Netcorporate memberGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare insurance provider as corporate member supporting diverse business community engagement.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Asian Business Association: Los Angeles-based Asian American business association that serves an overlapping geography and similar SMB/mid-market member base. Comparable mission and community-based trade association structure.
• California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Statewide Hispanic business association serving California, overlapping with LBA's core California footprint. Comparable in mission and member profile, with broader geographic ambition across the state.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce: Established LA-based general business chamber that competes for the same corporate sponsor relationships and member businesses in Los Angeles. Broader and more established than LBA but does not specialize in the Latino business segment.

Direct peers

• National LGBT Chamber of Commerce: National chamber advocating for LGBT-owned businesses with a similar certification, networking, and corporate sponsor-driven revenue model. Direct comparable in structure and value proposition, just for a different minority business community.
• U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. National advocacy and development organization for Black-owned businesses that competes with LBA for corporate supplier diversity sponsorships and minority-focused advocacy positioning. Highly comparable nonprofit membership-association model.
• National Minority Supplier Development Council: National nonprofit that drives minority business inclusion through certification, corporate matchmaking, and supplier diversity programs. Highly comparable to LBA's Supplier Diversity Boot Camp value proposition and corporate sponsor base, but operating nationally across multiple minority demographics.
• United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: National Hispanic business chamber that mirrors the LBA's mission of advocating for and connecting Latino-owned businesses to corporate and government opportunities. Both organizations compete for the same corporate sponsor dollars and minority business development mandate at different geographic scopes.
• Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce: LA-focused Latino business chamber with overlapping mission, geography, and member profile to LBA. Direct competitor for the same Latino-owned SMB segment and corporate sponsor attention in Los Angeles.

Others

• Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA): U.S. federal agency that supports minority-owned business growth and is an active strategic partner of LBA via MBDA Pasadena. Not a competitor, but the public-sector counterpart shaping the supplier diversity funding and policy environment in which LBA operates.

Emerging players

• Women's Business Enterprise National Council: National nonprofit certifying and connecting women-owned businesses to corporate supplier diversity programs. Operates an analogous membership/certification/supplier-diversity model to LBA, but focused on a different minority demographic.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LBA
• Facebookfacebook.com/LBAUSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/latin-business-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Latin Business Association