15 LinkedIn Groups Every Entrepreneur Should Belong To

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Starting a business isn't easy, and it's even harder to do it without a support group. That's why networking is so important for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Growing your network means more valuable connections to other entrepreneurs and, therefore, more resources. These connections are great for getting feedback on your ideas, finding funding, recruiting employees and more.

Many professionals attend networking events in their free time, but busy entrepreneurs can also easily network by joining LinkedIn groups. These groups give you access to thousands of like-minded individuals, fellow entrepreneurs and professional resources without ever stepping away from your computer.

Not sure where to start? Check out these 15 LinkedIn groups dedicated to entrepreneurs and small business owners:

: With over 145,000 members, this is the largest members-only (you have to request to join) and moderated LinkedIn community for startups, founders, mentors, investors and small business experts.

: This group describes itself as "a nonprofit organization of, by and for entrepreneurs," and it provides support on topics like legal help, human resources, public relations, technology and more. The group is open (meaning anyone can join) and has over 17,000 members.

: Founded in 2007 and now boasting over 11,000 members, this group aims to facilitate discussion and idea-sharing among entrepreneurs all over the world.

: This private group has over 575,000 members and is dedicated to the digital marketing landscape. It covers topics from mobile marketing and SEO to online PR, email marketing and more — all things that entrepreneurs need to know.

: Whether you're looking for funding to start a business or grow your existing company, this open group could help. It has a network of over 7,000 entrepreneurs and investors.

: Founded in 2008, this open group has over 16,000 members. It's dedicated to current and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to network and ask and answer questions.

: This group describes itself as a place to "connect with fellow trend hunters, corporate visionaries and future thinkers" in industries such as marketing, product development, brand management and more. The private group has over 308,000 members.

: A good entrepreneur is also a good leader, and with over 124,000 members, this open group is a place for professionals to learn and discuss leadership concepts and practices.

: A private group with over 6,000 members, LInked Business Strategists is dedicated to "exchanging knowledge and helping entrepreneurs and startups find and evaluate the right strategies for their business worldwide," according to the group's profile.

: This open group has over 400,000 members, making it the largest entrepreneurial startup group on LinkedIn. It is dedicated to discussing marketing, financing, operations, hiring and all other things small business.

: With over 206,000 members, this private group describes itself as a "leading community of private equity, M&A [mergers and acquisitions] and venture capital professionals coming together to share best practices, articles, books, events and deal flow." It's perfect for entrepreneurs seeking or looking to learn more about funding.

: This group is dedicated to social entrepreneurs, and "[brings] together some of the world's most accomplished visionary leaders and conscious business experts," according to its profile. The open group aims to empower social entrepreneurs, and has over 12,500 members.

: With nearly 1 million members (over 991,000 to date), this is the largest and most active open LinkedIn group dedicated to social media marketing. It also has an active subgroup, "Entrepreneurs in Social Media," with over 14,000 members.

: Dedicated to female entrepreneurs and women in business who want to build their networks and share resources, this private group was founded in 2008 and has over 15,000 members.

: With over 10,700 members, Young Entrepreneur Connections is "designed to benefit all young entrepreneurs," according to its profile. The group is open and is a great opportunity for young professionals and entrepreneurs to network with small business owners, consultants, advisors and more.