Find a Mastermind Group Near Me

(Updated November, 2024 by Jeremy Shapiro)

So you’re looking for a “Mastermind Group Near Me” and what do you find? A bunch of things calling themselves “Master Minds” but not actually a good nearby mastermind group.

Why is it so hard to find local mastermind groups? And what kind of group is right for you and your business?

What I’ve typically found – and I’ve been part of many Mastermind groups over the past few decades – is that Mastermind Groups fall into one of 3 major categories. No one type is good or bad, per se, but it does matter what you’re looking for.

You can go virtual/local with a near to you weekly “accountability” group, monthly with a full day hands on Mastermind locally, or to a destination Mastermind a few times per year.

What are the key differences and which group is right for you? Let’s take a look at each type of Mastermind group and explore some of the mastermind groups near me.

“Accountability” Mastermind Group Calls

The first kind of group you may come across is a group that meets up weekly for a one hour check-in phone call, Zoom, or coffee to cover accountability items or “hot seat” one or two people. These online mastermind groups can be found all over the internet. Meetup is full of these kinds of meetup “Master Minds” as is Facebook, Craigslist, trade groups, local professional organizations, and more. Sometimes these are no more than local networking events or the top of a consulting sales funnel…

Some of these networking groups don’t even meet regularly and are just a private facebook group where a group of people sometimes post and rarely comment. This online mastermind group format is more of a community at best and a small group at worst.

Cost wise, these so called “Master Mind” groups typically range from free to maybe $97/month.

As you can imagine, with only one hour to connect on a group call, you can’t get too deep into anyone’s individual business or challenge and there’s not really any time for a hot seat. Additionally, at such a no-to-low price point, there’s not much “skin in the game” and attendance is generally spotty at best.

Don’t expect to get much time to share resources, dig deep into any issues, or really have a chance to discuss topics in depth.

Before I knew better, I was part of a few of these groups over the years and they generally fizzle or have the same few folks showing up week after week with the same issue and nothing new.

(Side Note: When folks think about starting their own mastermind group, this is often where they start…)

Members are generally newer/younger/aspirational businesses and are often solopreneurs or very small business owners. You’ll even find members working a full time 9 to 5 J.O.B. somewhere else while trying to kick off their new side hustle new business that they talk about at the group.

High End “Destination” Mastermind Groups

The other extreme category of Masterminds you may find out there are typically part of an “Ascension” program within a larger community and not something you’re going to find online.

These higher end groups are run much like a country club with high fees keeping membership just to those members who can afford to “be in the room”. That’s not a bad thing, mind you, and it helps to screen members as part of a larger application process.

Cost wise, membership is typically in the $25,000-45,000 range per year and that doesn’t include travel or accommodations. Businesses are typically in the $3mm-20mm in annual revenue range.

Meetings are typically 2-4 times per year, often for 2 days, and usually somewhere far away. I’ve been parts of these high end Mastermind groups and destinations include private tucked away mansions, Caribbean resorts, luxury ski mountains, and other exotic cities around the globe.

Expect to spend at least one day traveling to and another day traveling from each meeting with anywhere from 2-5 days actually at your destination.

The caliber of members you’ll connect with is high, the time provided lets you go deep, and you have “down time” to get to know other members, too, which is valuable.

The frequency of meetings, however, being only two to four times per year, means that you’re typically not working on tactical changes and are usually more at the strategic level with a lot changing in each person’s business between meetings.

Lastly, these are typically “guru led” groups where everyone is in the room because they want to be around the group organizer specifically as they’ve read their books, taken their courses, attended their events, and want to learn more from them. The other group members – like you – are secondary.

Monthly Full Day In Person Mastermind Groups

The third category of Mastermind you’ll find out there are like our Bay Area Mastermind where we meet in person once a month for a full day of working ON your business.

The full day format allows enough time for each member to present on their business and dive deep while still providing downtime between each member session to network and connect with other members.

The monthly cadence provide enough time for implementation but not so much time that a business has completed a full pivot between meetings. There is accountability and the time to implement on the items that matter – both strategic and tactical.

Members are still investing in group membership – both financially and with their time – and are committed to growing their business. Membership in these kinds of groups typically ranges from $497-$1,297 per month.

These groups are sometimes “guru led” (see above), but are often far more about connecting with the other members in the group and the group leaders’ role is more about facilitation and connection.

Expect to be around local, vetted, like-minded members like you who more identify as entrepreneurs, founders, and business owners (vs. “solopreneurs” or “small business owners”).

Fellow members are growth focused, have team members supporting them, are profitable, and typically have revenue in the $500k-$5mm/year range.

Format wise, at the Bay Area Mastermind, for example, each member has a dedicated presentation slot during the day where they cover four main topics:

• What’s Changed Since Last Time (i.e. accountability)
• What’s Working Well (with resources to share)
• What’s Not Working (and lessons learned)
• Where They Need Help (i.e. biggest challenge)

This meeting format was very much inspired by Napoleon Hill and his “Master Mind Alliance” concept discussed in his book Think and Grow Rich.

Some months may even feature a sourced guest expert speaker on a topic that the group is looking to learn more about. At the Bay Area Mastermind, for example, past experts have run workshops with us on topics from Exit Strategies, PPC Marketing, Book Authoring, Crypto, Email Marketing, Hiring, Financial Planning, Membership Sites, and so much more.

Between these business mastermind meetings, members ideally have an ongoing support network to get instant feedback.

Choosing The Right Mastermind Group Nearby

So how do you choose the right Mastermind group “near me”?

You’re likely looking for a group that is:

• Local and nearby so you can drive in and back the same day
• Focused on businesses of a similar size to you looking for peer advisory
• Discerning in members with a good vetting process and membership investment
• Able to provide enough time to go deep into each member’s business / challenge
• Focused on long term goals and can help you set goals
• Comprised of different people from various industries
• Generous with time to connect with fellow members for deep connection

Once you’ve found a mastermind group, ask if you can meet some of the members in a “test drive” and actually participate in the Mastermind for a day.

When choosing to join a mastermind, it’s so important to make sure the mastermind group members are a good fit for you and your business. Mastermind members also need to vet you!

While in your prospective Mastermind, ask good questions of your group. Participate. Challenge what doesn’t make sense. Share resources. Be open and honest. Provide feedback and input in your area of genius.

Worse case, you meet other local business owners like you that “get you” and understand the challenges that you’re facing – members who’ve “been there, done that” and can provide unbiased feedback. And you walk away with some new ideas and input on the ideas and challenges you already had.

Best case, you find the community you never knew you were missing, your second family, “your people.”

“Yes! I want to Test Drive a Mastermind Group Near Me!”

Want to join a Mastermind? The best way to get access is to find our about our next meeting and apply to test drive the Bay Area Mastermind to see if there’s a fit!

What Others Have Shared about the Bay Area Mastermind

You can deep dive into our Mastermind reviews, but if you’d like a sample of what some like minded people have shared about the business network they’ve found in their great mastermind group, here you are!

“Joining the Bay Area Mastermind is one of the best things I have done for myself and for my business.  The one day a month completely recharges my entrepreneurial juices and I have a virtual advisory board available by email for the in between time.   I take away so much actionable information that I regularly apply to my business. As a result my business has grown by 60% and profits have grown by 400% since I joined.”

Ryan Crownholm

Author, Investor, Founder

“The Bay Area Mastermind has been a great experience for me as a current member. The group has provided me with invaluable insights into various business operations and helped me to gain a better perspective on working on my business, rather than in it.

One of the things I appreciate most about the group is the diverse range of businesses that get shared and covered. This has enabled me to gain a broad understanding of different industries and has provided me with the tools to develop and grow my own business.

Furthermore, the other members of the group have been a valuable asset. Everyone brings their own unique perspectives and experiences, which have helped me to gain new insights and ideas. Jeremy, the leader of the group, has done an incredible job of keeping us challenged and encouraged, ensuring that we continue to grow and develop.

I highly recommend Bay Area Mastermind to anyone who is looking for a supportive and challenging group of like-minded business owners. The group has been a tremendous asset to me, and I’m confident that others will find it just as valuable.”

Bronwyn

“Navigating through the struggles of a small business owner is an extremely daunting task. Especially when you know the success of your company relies solely on you. Prior to joining the Bay Area Mastermind group, my Father and I struggled to determine the next major step to better our business. Smothered by the countless amount of issues at hand, we had little idea of what to focus on. After becoming a part of this team, the unique experiences of every individual have helped guide me to take that next step.”

Jake Nguyễn

The Flying Locksmiths of San Jose

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