That is, organisations that represent commercial enterprises of all shapes and sizes. A trade association generally covers one specific trade or commercial activity, such as the Carpet Foundation (a forum for carpet manufacturers) or the National Hairdressers' Federation (whose membership should be obvious).
Whatever industry you're in, there's probably an association with your name on (or something close to it). Some of them are very specific, such as the Road Emulsion Association or the Adhesive Tape Manufacturers' Association.
The purpose of these associations is usually to share knowledge and good practice across their industry, and to represent their sector in the media. They may well provide guidance on standards along with training or directories of resources, and perhaps networking opportunities and even social events.
Associations can be a huge benefit to those going into business for themselves. In addition to the resources on offer, they can also provide the encouragement needed by a sole trader when they're wondering why they ever embarked on that path. Self-employment can be a lonely and frustrating way of earning a living, particularly in the early days, and making contact with an association can help relieve this.
So if you haven't already, how about taking a moment to see if there's a group that represents your trade, and spend some time investigating, to see whether it's worth joining.
Directories of trade associations can be found on the websites of the Trade Association Forum or British Services.
