What are normal expenditures for a chamber of commerce?  How much should it spend for rent, committee expenses, salaries, and so on?  Here again the answers are found in local needs and circumstances.   Certain items deemed essential in the budget of one chamber may not be necessary in the budget of another.  For instance, rent may be thought of as a basic item but many smaller chambers operate from the office of the secretary and there is no charge for rent.

Some basic items that should be considered for inclusion in a budget are as follows:

• Telephone and fax line
• Office supplies and printing
• Postage
• Travel
• Dues and subscriptions
• Committee expenses
• Secretary’s honorarium
• Delegate to provincial and national convention
• Chamber bulletins
• Luncheons (guests)
• Stenographic assistance.