NJBIA: Your Voice in Trenton, Your Partner for Business Success

Robust resources offer members strategic economic advantages.

By Michele N. Siekerka, NJBIA President & CEO On Jan 1, 2019

Entrepreneurs and business owners know a key metric of success is earning a positive return on investment. That’s why the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) is making sure you get the best return on your NJBIA membership, which in 2019 includes even more money-saving programs that allow you to spend less time on back-office tasks and more time on growing your business.

Our members already know the value of having NJBIA, the nation’s largest and most powerful statewide business association, fighting on their behalf for pro-business policies in Trenton. They also know that NJBIA’s conferences and educational seminars are valuable opportunities to meet directly with high-ranking state officials, network with other business people, and even earn professional certifications.

What some don’t realize, however, is that NJBIA also delivers a wide array of additional member-only programs, information and support that make running a business easier – including savings on payroll processing, health benefit solutions, prescriptions, free legal hotlines, shipping discounts, lower credit card processing fees, free payment technology, savings on state-mandated disability insurance, discounted office supplies, and energy savings and efficiency solutions.

For example, a business with 24 employees could save up to $20,000 if it takes advantage of all the programs NJBIA offers. And we’re constantly expanding these programs to reflect the services that members tell us are important. In 2019, we’ve added even more money-saving options to NJBIA’s member toolkit. 

Easier, Less Expensive Payroll Processing

Our members have told us they’re looking for cost-effective payroll and human resources management tools – including access to background checks. Our newest partnership with Primepoint HRMS & Payroll provides all that and more. Primepoint offers a fully integrated suite of cloud-based technology tools, including payroll and tax processing for small and large businesses, employee time-management tools, online and mobile conveniences for employees, and a full suite of HR systems that allow employers to manage their businesses more effectively. 

NJBIA members receive 10 percent off Primepoint’s regular payroll processing fees, free direct deposit, a free base payroll processing module, and a $50-per-month credit toward an additional HR module, such as employee background checks. NJBIA recently switched its own payroll processing to Primepoint and is now realizing a 40 percent savings from what we paid our former payroll provider.

Prescription Savings

New for 2019 is our partnership with Inside RX, which offers NJBIA members and their employees a savings averaging 40 percent on certain medications for humans and pets. (Yes, pets too!) Even if you already have a prescription benefits plan, you may find that certain medications are actually less expensive at the pharmacy if you show the Insider Rx prescription savings card. Go to the InsiderRX.com website and search by the drug’s name and your ZIP code for a list of local pharmacies and the Insider RX prices for both human and pet prescriptions.

Competitive Health Benefit Solutions

Qualifying NJBIA members also have the opportunity to secure competitively priced, self-funded group health benefits with all the advantages of network services and modern claims administration. The Association Master Trust (AMT) is a unique not-for-profit benefits trust combining employer units from NJBIA and 16 other independent trade associations, to maximize claim stability, administrative efficiency, and costs savings in self-funded health and dental benefit programs. 

AMT offers a full selection of health benefit plans, including Direct Access, EPO, HSA and AMT OMNIA designs. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey provides AMT with medical claims processing and managed care services, as well as member access to the Horizon provider networks. Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey provides AMT with dental claims processing services and access to its provider networks.

Best of all, AMT pays annual dividends when appropriate and has returned more than $16 million in dividends to eligible policyholders in seven of the past eight years. The dividend for 2018 – NJBIA’s first full year with AMT – was 2.25 percent. Not surprisingly, the feedback from NJBIA members has been overwhelmingly positive, with many telling us they are now able to provide their employees with more comprehensive benefits at more affordable prices.

Free Legal Hotlines

NJBIA’s three free legal hotlines help you stop lawsuits before they happen. Attorneys from leading New Jersey law firms now provide NJBIA members with up to 90 minutes of free consultation each month – a $4,000 value – in each of three legal areas. Attorneys from Sills Cummis & Gross staff two free hotlines for business disputes and business transactions, and the Jackson Lewis law firm staffs a free hotline on employment matters. In addition, NJBIA’s own Member Action Center (MAC) is just a phone call away to help you navigate government bureaucracy and answer other questions affecting your business. 

More Money-Saving Programs

NJBIA members collectively saved more than $1 million last year with our discounted shipping program, which saves businesses 40 percent on UPS shipping and 75 percent off less-than-truckload freight shipping. 

Members are also able to reduce the expense of state-mandated disability insurance by switching to Arch Insurance, which offers special NJBIA-only discounts and faster claim payouts than the state’s plan. Some of our members have told us they’re saving 15 percent a year.

Our payment technology and merchant services program with Priority Payment Systems Local provides members with lower credit card processing fees and access to capital while keeping their businesses EMV compliant. Members report saving 10 percent, on average.

Our partnership with Office Depot offers members substantial savings on more than 30,000 online and in-store supplies.

Direct Energy will help NJBIA members manage energy costs with a wide range of electricity, natural gas and green energy solutions, including a price protection program.

Are you getting the most out of your NJBIA membership? Go to our website, www.njbia.org, and click on the “Resources” tab to read more about our exclusive member benefits and why it pays to be a member of NJBIA.

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

Related Articles: