Membership

Get the resources you need to:

· Lead now.

· Plan for the future.

· Grow into the next generation.

The challenges you face can be solved within our community.

Communication Challenges

Breakdowns can plague family businesses by impeding decision-making, hindering productivity, and straining relationships among relatives.

Succession Planning

Succession planning in family businesses can be complicated by conflicts of interest, generational differences, and emotional dynamics.

Family & Non-Family Roles

Balancing familial and non-family roles with professional responsibilities can create challenges in decision-making and hierarchy.

Leadership Transitions

Family businesses can face hurdles during a transition, such as conflicts over succession, differing visions among family members, and resistance to change.

We have made it our mission to equip your family business to succeed – whatever that looks like for you and the business, right now.

What is PFBA?

Prairie Family Business Association is an outreach center of the University of South Dakota that helps family businesses thrive through generations. We provide a resource network for family business success.

A membership at Prairie Family Business Association gives you access to family business programs and events throughout the year, so you can gain education on family business topics, learn best practices, network with other families in the same situation as you, and plan for the future of your business.

Members do not need to be affiliated with USD to join.

Who is it for?

PFBA is for family businesses of all sizes, all industries, and all generations who want to lead well, plan for the future, and successfully grow into the next generation.

Our memberships are designed to best benefit family businesses in which:

  • The family has majority ownership in the business.

  • One of more family members work in the business.

  • The family expects to continue ownership and/or management of the business in the future.

Checkup on your family business.

Take 5 minutes to see how you’re doing in 3 key areas, plus see which of our programs can help boost your scores.

Join hundreds of family businesses benefiting from PFBA.

What to Expect as a Member

step one

Connect

About Us / About You
Program Overviews
Discussions with Team & Board
New Member Social

step two

Engage

Watch a Webinar
Participate in a Live Case Study
Attend a Conference or Retreat
Join a Peer Group

step three

Apply

Apply What You’ve Learned
Family Cohesion & Harmony
Growth & Profitability
Longevity in Succession Planning

Hear from our members.

After every PFBA function, we thought to ourselves, we need to be doing more and more because we found such value in the networking & connection aspect.

Being able to talk with other families who are going through the same unique family business issues is almost reassuring because we know we are not alone in going through these same types of issues.

– Andrew Towle, Watertown Box

Prairie Family Business Association is a great resource for all things family business.

From providing concrete strategies in daily operations to help navigating delicate situations that can sometimes arise within family dynamics, PFBA is committed to helping family businesses succeed."

– Melissa Johnson, Oh My Cupcakes!

Prairie Family Business has been great – both in the content they send out and the seminars. The biggest value was the board school.

Succession planning and networking with other family businesses, the friendships and learning from others who are like us – different challenges, but also similar challenges.

– Peter Matthaei, DakotaMB

Membership Options

for Family Businesses

 

 
  • Member Newsletter  
  • Webinars (6 per year)  
  • Live Case Study  
  • Affinity Peer Group  
  • Retreats  
  • Conference  

Basic

$405-975* PER YEAR
  • Member Newsletter  Included
  • Webinars (6 per year)  Included
  • Live Case Study  Included
  • Affinity Peer Group  $1,250/person
  • Retreats  Member Rate
  • Conference  $999/person

Non-Member

Variable PER EVENT
  • Member Newsletter  Not Included
  • Webinars (6 per year)  $25 / Webinar
  • Live Case Study  Not Included
  • Affinity Peer Group  Not Included
  • Retreats  Not Included
  • Conference  $1,599/person

 

 
  • Member Newsletter
  • Webinars (6 per year)
  • Live Case Study
  • Affinity Peer Group
  • Retreats
  • Conference

Basic

$405-975* PER YEAR
  • Member NewsletterIncluded
  • Webinars (6 per year)Included
  • Live Case StudyIncluded
  • Affinity Peer Group$1,250/person
  • RetreatsMember Rate
  • Conference$999/person

Non-Member

Variable PER EVENT
  • Member NewsletterNot Included
  • Webinars (6 per year)$25 / Webinar
  • Live Case StudyNot Included
  • Affinity Peer GroupNot Included
  • RetreatsNot Included
  • Conference$2,999/person

*Basic Membership costs are determined by number of full-time employees: 1-20: $405,  21-50: $705,  51+: $975

Professional Advisor Membership

$1,499 / year

Membership For:

Attorneys, consultants, insurance professionals, financial advisors, business consultants, etc.

Includes Access:

Two representatives from your organization can access ALL educational programs, including participation in Live Case Studies.

300+ family businesses

Access to our private membership directory, attend member socials, and benefit from a resource network of family business owners

Frequently Asked Questions

Prairie Family Business Association provides a network of resources for family businesses to help family businesses thrive through generations. We connect their family and their business leaders with education, new opportunities and trusted advisors to support you in planning for your business’ future.

Any business that is privately held by one or more families are welcome to join. Many of our programs cater to situations with multiple members of the same family working within the business, but we encourage long-term planning so if you will have family members joining the business in the future – now is the perfect time to start working on a plan!

Don’t take our word for it, listen to our members: “Prairie Family Business Association has allowed our company to work through the tough topics in family business and has provided opportunities to network with others who are in the same situations. The Association is invaluable to a small family business.” – Mallory, 3rd Generation

We provide an annual membership. Your membership will be active for a full year from your sign-up date.

Your membership will not automatically renew at the end of the year. If you aren’t satisfied with the value, simply email us and you will not receive a renewal notification.

You get access to our family business and advisor directory, free access to webinars, member rates for the annual conference and access to peer groups, family retreats and more!

All-Inclusive members receive four (4) registrations to the annual conference with membership. They can also register additional people at a discounted rate. Standard members will pay full member price for conference registrations.

Our Platinum membership includes all the benefits of our All-Inclusive level, plus access for up to three (3) individuals to participate in an Affinity Peer Group (APG) at no extra cost beyond the cost of the membership. Platinum members are also able to register additional APG participants at a discounted rate.

Standard and All-Inclusive members pay full member price for each APG participant from their business. 

Not at all! Many of our opportunities, including webinars, the annual conference and peer groups can be fully accessed remotely.

We welcome all advisors into membership who play a role in supporting, guiding and planning for family business longevity. Our advisors can be involved by connecting with members through events, sharing knowledge, and learning how to best serve family businesses.

Free Family Business Resources

Get started with our free downloads, member stories, and education.

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