When as a small business owner, you struggle to keep your own business afloat and flush with opportunities, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that competition is the only way to survive and thrive. After all, every day feels like a race to land the next big client, create the most unforgettable event, or secure a coveted contract.

But what if the real key to long-term success isn’t just outshining your competitors—but collaborating with them?

In a space where connections are everything, collaborating with fellow small business owners can be one of the most strategic moves you make. By working together, rather than against each other, you can expand your reach, strengthen your offerings, and create win-win solutions that benefit everyone involved.

How do collaborations create expansion?

1 - Shared Resources Mean Bigger Wins

One of the biggest advantages of collaboration is the ability to pool resources—whether it’s expertise, equipment, or client contacts. Small business owners often work with limited budgets, but by teaming up with others, you can expand your access to resources that might otherwise be out of reach.

For example, if you’re an event planner who has a fantastic client relationship but needs AV support that you don’t have in-house. Rather than losing out on the job or scrambling to find a costly vendor, partnering with another small business that offers AV services can create a seamless solution. You get the support you need to deliver for your client, while your collaborator gains new business. Win-win!

Tip:  Identify businesses that complement your services and suggest a partnership where both of you bring something valuable to the table.

2 - Collaboration Expands Your Reach

One of the most powerful benefits of collaboration is access to new clients, markets, and opportunities that you may not have been able to tap into on your own.

When you collaborate with other small business owners, you essentially share each other’s networks. This can open doors to a wider audience, allowing you to reach potential clients you might not have been able to connect with otherwise. For instance, co-hosting a workshop, webinar, or industry panel with another business owner can give you exposure to their client base, and vice versa. It’s an effective way to double your reach while sharing the workload.

Tip: When choosing collaborators, look for partners with different, but complementary, client bases to maximize your impact.

3 - Innovation Thrives on Collaboration

Two heads (or teams) are always better than one when it comes to brainstorming and solving problems.. By working together, small business owners can leverage each other’s expertise, creativity, and experience to push boundaries and deliver outstanding results.

Take co-created content, for example. Whether it’s a joint blog post, podcast episode, or industry report, combining your expertise with someone else’s allows you to create something richer and more valuable than what either of you could have produced alone. You can offer your audience deeper insights, more comprehensive advice, and innovative event solutions.

4 - Collaboration Fosters Stronger Relationships

The meetings and events industry is built on relationships. When you work with other business owners, you’re cultivating a relationship based on mutual respect, trust, and shared goals. Over time, these relationships can evolve into long-lasting partnerships that drive repeat business, referrals, and ongoing support.

Tip: Approach collaboration with a long-term mindset. Focus on building trust and delivering value, and your collaborators will be more likely to refer you to their clients and networks.

5 - It’s Not a Zero-Sum Game

Perhaps the biggest mindset shift needed to embrace collaboration over competition is the understanding that the meetings and events industry isn’t a zero-sum game. Just because someone else is succeeding doesn’t mean there’s less success for you. In fact, by supporting one another, small business owners can create a stronger, more thriving industry for everyone involved.

When you collaborate, you’re contributing to a community where everyone rises together. It’s about creating a culture of abundance rather than scarcity—where the success of one business is celebrated because it often leads to opportunities for others.  After all, when we work together, we all win.

Do you feel collaborations will work for you and your small business? Check out MPI’s Small Business Owners Community for more opportunities to collaborate, share resources, and grow your business.