Federation of Small Businesses Reviews 716

I have been a member of the FSB for more than half a decade and they have honestly always been among the most valuable membership organisations I have used. The FSB have a deep understanding of SMBs and represent our interests to government, as well as offering loads of member-led initiatives and services. Markel Law themselves are excellent, the FSB Legal and Business Hub is worth its weight in gold. FSB Insurance is also stellar. Unlike most places, the FSB is always just a phone call away and they have membership advisors across the country - often having run their own businesses for decades themselves.

I've been an FSB member for a while and the legal protection and employment support is genuinely useful. However, trying to find the right contract templates on their website today was a really frustrating experience. The system has clearly been redesigned and it is now harder to navigate than before, not easier. Finding a simple self-employed contractor agreement took far longer than it should have.
The deeper problem is this. If I cannot find and use their contract templates, then the legal cover that comes with the membership may not apply if there is ever an employment dispute. That effectively renders the majority of the membership value pointless. For small business owners who are time-poor, this is a serious issue, not just an inconvenience.
I am now actively considering cancelling my membership as a result. The core product has genuine value. The digital experience urgently needs fixing before more members reach the same conclusion.

Very insightful webinar, full of valuable information waiting to be put into business action! If you’re a small business owner, you would do very well to be a part of FSB!

Attended a great Marketing webinar which was incredibly helpful. FSB provides amazing support opportunities.

As a proud member of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Wolverhampton, I’ve had a truly positive experience. I really enjoyed taking part in the FSB Bootcamp and the West Midlands online events, which were both informative, supportive, and full of useful insights for small business owners.
The Disability Networking sessions with Rob have been especially valuable to me. They provided a welcoming space to connect, learn, and share experiences with others in a similar position.
I also enjoyed creating an FSB PowerPoint, and throughout my membership, the FSB staff have been incredibly supportive and kind. Their professionalism and friendliness have made me feel valued and included.
I’m genuinely glad to be an FSB member, and I highly recommend joining to anyone looking for a community that truly supports small businesses.

Great hosting by Karen Howell at today's Women in Business virtual meet-up. Well executed break out rooms and 2 great speakers. Time well spent.

Staff have rude telephone manner, I had to call to cancel my membership as a written email wasn't enough! Very rude and patronising when you try to cancel however she did cancel and I got a refund as I was in my 28 days right.

After 6 years of membership which auto-renewed without notice (red flag 1), I found I could not cancel online (red flag 2) but had to call. The person I spoke to gave me a pushy, hard sell (to the point of passive aggression), trying to dissuade me from cancelling (red flag 3) and only agreed to cancel after I was obliged to push back.

Over the years I found I had little to no use for all the services offered by the SFB. My only real interaction was a little while ago when I called for legal advice. The so-called legal expert was rude, disinterested and dismissive, telling me to 'go a solicitor'. I doubt she even listened to what I had to say (red flag 4) and couldn't end the call fast enough.

After I cancelled my membership, I was then sent repeating auto-emails (reg flag 5) asking me to complete a customer survey. I eventually completed the survey just to stop the emails but I leave it to the readers this review to infer the tone of my response.

I highly recommend joining the FSB.

I started my business in June 2021 and joined the FSB as strongly advised by my government relationship manager.

Membership comes with many benefits. For example, I have used their Legal Advice Line a few times. There is also a Legal and Business Hub that offers valid documents and templates, like contracts.

I used their exclusive discounts to open a business bank account with the Co-operative Bank.

Now, four years later, I enjoy attending both virtual and in-person networking meetings. The members are supportive and genuinely interested in the progress of my business and my well-being.

There is nothing negative I can say about the FSB, so what do you have to lose?

Online networking and opportunities to speak are good. I've not been able to make any of the in person events as of yet - nor had cause to use any of the other services ... but I only hear good things.

Life is about connection - and when you are a solo business owner it's easy to get lost in the alone. FSB creates community

Fantastic opportunity to network and receive advice from intelligent, like-minded and friendly people. Thanks so much FSB!

I joined the FSB earlier this year when I decided to start my own HR Consultancy service after being made redundant.
As a sole trader trying to grow a business you need to wear a lot of "hats" including sorting insurance, marketing and networking. The Federation of Small Businesses have helped me with all this and so much more, all in one place!
For me, the real benefit comes from having a regional support team who I can contact with any questions I have.
I would highly recommend them!

I was a speaker at the SUPERNetworking event in York, and the FSB were a pleasure to work with — receptive to ideas, highly responsive, and extremely well organised.

The event was busy, engaging, and thoroughly enjoyed by delegates thanks to the thought and planning that went into it. There was a real buzz in the room with plenty of exciting conversations, and the feedback online since has been overwhelmingly positive.

10/10 — I strongly recommend the FSB and the events they facilitate and host.

I am delighted to recommend Tracey Carter in her role as Development Manager for FSB Surrey. Having worked with Tracey (both directly and observing her work across our region), I can say with confidence that she is one of those rare people who feels less like an external stakeholder and more like a natural extension of your own team.



Tracey is warm, approachable and genuinely easy to speak to. When you engage with her, she listens—not just to respond, but to understand. She has a gift for taking what she hears, interpreting it thoughtfully, and converting it into ideas that have real impact. Whether concerns from small business owners, suggestions from local councils, or challenges raised in networking forums, Tracey doesn’t merely pass them on—she crafts them into action.



Her experience is both deep and wide. As FSB Development Manager in Surrey, Tracey stays on top of business support needs, funding opportunities, and regional initiatives. She keeps the business community informed, connected, and heard. She is well-connected across local government, business improvement districts, educational bodies, and the SME community throughout Surrey. These connections are not just for show: she leverages them to open doors, convene meaningful discussions, and drive concrete outcomes.



One of the things I admire most is her creativity. Tracey is full of ideas—both inside and outside the usual remit of FSB. She sees possibilities others might miss, and is proactive in generating initiatives, whether that’s about supporting SMEs with grants, organising networking events, or consulting on policy changes that affect local businesses.

Quite simply, the business community needs more Traceys!

FSB has an enormous range of support and benefit for small business. They have been very helpful in terms of education and networking and are extremely generous with their expertise and knowledge.

The website is very poor.
I recently tried to renew and eventually found online the correct place to pay. I paid £345 as instructed by the website. It is also the price listed on their membership page
Small employer (5 - 10 employees) £295.00
Larger small business (11 - 20 employees) £345.00
Larger small business (21 - 50 employees) £445.00

However then I was called and told they wanted £351 which isn't listed anywhere as a membership price! They wanted to process a refund for the £345 so they could charge the mystery £351. Lost a member of 34 years standing, well done. Incompetent.
***
This has been amicably resolved

The Federation of Small Businesses has been invaluable. The support they provide, the people behind it, and the events they run are all excellent. It’s inspiring to connect with other business owners who genuinely want to see you succeed.

I was reassured by the professional advice I was given in a timely manner - my adviser was very supportive and listened to the details of my issue and clearly outlined the steps I needed to take. We have been members since I purchased my business 8 years ago and I can’t recommend them enough.

Just attended a fantastic health and wellbeing webinar with some wonderful speakers. Thanks FSB for organising it!

Really great bunch of people. Elles is a great host! will definitely be attending again.