I think of a networking group as a good event that happens again.
That's the whole difference. A one-off event is a night. A group is a date on the calendar that people can count on. If you want the one-off version, I wrote up how to host a networking event. This page is for what comes after the first one.
How do you start a networking group?
Pick a repeating date, text five people to see if they'd come, and run the same simple format every time.
That's it. You don't need a website, a membership fee, or a name. I host Claude Code meetups, and I have found that there's a very low bar for hosting a good meetup. You get a room, a few supplies, and a plan for the first 20 minutes.
Here are the steps in order.
1. Decide who the group is for
A networking group needs a reason for people to come back. Pick one group of people and one reason.
It could be freelancers in your city, remote workers, people building with AI, or small business owners on your block. A woman I interviewed in Austin started Momentum Mondays because she worked from home and dreaded Sunday nights. She met other people at a cafe from 8 to 10 on Mondays to start the workday together. It grew into a weekly group, and the cafe was happy to have the business.
That's her story, not mine, but I love how small it is. One cafe. One time slot. One reason.
Keep your pitch to one sentence. "Monday morning coffee for people who work from home" tells people exactly what to expect.
2. Pick a date and a repeating time
Open your calendar and pick a date three to four weeks out. Not this Friday. You need time to collect yeses.
For the day, I suggest a Tuesday or Wednesday evening. I call them green-level days for hosting, because Friday and Saturday are socially competitive and you're more likely to get last-minute cancellations. When you host, you're competing with somebody staying home to watch Netflix. That competition is much lighter midweek.
Start times depend on your city. When I lived in New York, 7 to 9 or 8 to 10 was common. In Austin, people start work earlier, so 5 to 7 or 6 to 8 works. Set an end time and stick to it. I like to end when things are going well, so people leave wanting more.
If your crowd works business hours, try a morning. I wrote up how to host a breakfast networking event, and there's a video diary of a morning coffee meetup in NYC too.
Pro tip: Once you've picked a slot, keep it. A group is easier to remember when it's always the same weekday and the same hours. It saves everyone a scheduling text.
3. Get five yeses before you announce anything
Don't post it publicly yet. Send a one-to-one message to five people you know.
Here's the script I give people:
Hey, I'm thinking about hosting a [type of meetup] in two or three weeks. We'll just hang out, talk, and share what we're working on. If I do it, would you come?
The phrase "if I do it, would you come?" does the work. It's a low-pressure question, and a yes feels like a small promise. You're looking for at least five yeses. Once you have five yeses for the date and time, you can go off to the races and post it wider to groups.
Most people do what I call spray and pray. They blast out invites and hope. I've never been successful with that, especially for a first-time host. Your five yeses are your core group, and they make sure the room isn't empty.
If you're new to town and don't have five people to text, give yourself a four-week runway. Go to events where you can meet people, like a class or a sports team. You can only really meet one person in the five or ten minutes before and after. And lean on "I'm new to town." People respect it, since it's a vote in favor of their town.
4. Run the same format every time
Your first 30 minutes should be the same at every meeting. That's what makes it a group instead of a coincidence.
Here's the format I use:
- Name tags. Name tags with first names only, written in big block letters. They signal that this is a safe place to say hi.
- A round of intros. About 30 minutes in, once most people have arrived, ask everyone to say their name, what they're working on, and one thing they like to have for breakfast. It sounds childish. It works, and it gives everyone a way into the room. I cover more questions in icebreakers for adults.
- Keep it moving. If you do icebreakers, mix the room up, use name tags, and go fast, you're already ahead of most meetups.
- A group photo before the food. Faces and the table look better before people eat. Set a reminder so you don't forget.
For a networking crowd, here's a small twist. I did this at an event I hosted for Andrew Wilkinson with a room full of business owners. Name tags, first names only, and for the first 20 minutes nobody is allowed to talk about business. Everybody connects as people first. The business talk comes naturally after.
Grab the free 2-page party checklist.
5. Keep the room half new and half repeat
Invite about half new people and half people who've been before.
The repeat guests know what to expect. The new ones keep the group from turning into a clique. I tell people one phrase: "there's new people every time." It makes new guests feel welcome, and it means nobody expects a guaranteed invite to the next one.
If somebody feels left out, schedule your next two dates in advance. Then you can invite them to the second one. That works for busy people too, since you can hand them two chances.
To find new faces, pull from different buckets of your life. Maybe clients, neighbors, parents from your kid's school, and people from your hobby. I hear all the time, "I can't believe those two got along." You're the common thread. A good list of your friends will connect in ways you can't imagine.
Once you've run a couple of meetings, the room settles at around 18 to 22 people. That's a nice size to talk to everyone.
6. Decide how often you'll meet
Every six weeks or so is what I tell most people. Once a quarter is fine if you're busy, and it's what I'd recommend to most entrepreneurs. A repeatable formula beats a perfect party you'll only do once.
Some people go faster. One reader, Lewis, moved to Phoenix, started a software business, and hosted almost every month to build his network. He had a lot of success. It's also a lot of work, so don't start there.
Pick the pace you can keep up for a year. The compounding is the point.
7. Collect your people
Every time you meet someone good, invite them to the next one.
Here's how I think about it. When you host regularly, you go through almost every social interaction through the lens of, "do I want to talk to this person again? If yes, let me invite them to one of my next events." That's a very easy way to build and maintain a network of acquaintances.
Keep a running list of everyone who came, with their name and contact. After each meeting, send the group photo and the date of the next one. That's how a list turns into a group.
An event page makes this easier. Mixily is the tool I recommend. You make an event page that people can RSVP to, and it sends updates and reminders to your guests, so you aren't chasing everyone by text.
FAQ
How do I start a networking group from scratch?
Pick a date three to four weeks out, text five people one-to-one, and ask "if I do it, would you come?" When you have five yeses, announce it more widely. Run the same format at every meeting.
How many people do you need to start a networking group?
Five yeses to launch. After a couple of meetings, aim for around 18 to 22 people in the room. That's small enough to talk to everyone.
How often should a networking group meet?
Every six weeks or so works for most people. Once a quarter is fine if you're busy. Some hosts go monthly, but that's a lot of work to sustain.
Where should a networking group meet?
Somewhere simple. A cafe works, as the Momentum Mondays group showed. A bar, a coworking space, or your home also work. Pick one that lets you stay a little late and doesn't cost you much.
How do you keep a networking group from becoming a clique?
Invite about half new people each time, and tell guests "there's new people every time." Nobody walks into an established circle, and nobody expects a guaranteed spot at the next one.
What if only a few people show up?
Lock in your core group first, then ask them to arrive five or ten minutes early. The room already has some energy when the rest walk in. Two or three people in an empty room feels worse than a full small one, so start small and invite your five.
Start with one date
Open your calendar and pick a weekday three weeks from now. Text five people. That's the whole first step.
Then do the same thing six weeks later. Good luck! This will be fun.
