South Carolina's Premier Business Networking Dinner Club

Small Business
Dinner Club
South Carolina

Where South Carolina's most driven professionals come together — twice a month, over dinner, to build the relationships that move things forward.

Florence Sumter Orangeburg Columbia Charleston
Request Your Seat $49.99/month  ·  Members-only  ·  Cancel anytime
Discover
Why Small Business Dinner Club

The most valuable meetings
happen over dinner.

Conferences are crowded. Mixers are forgettable. Cold emails go unanswered. But a well-set table — with the right people, in the right city, on a consistent schedule — that's where real business relationships are built. Small Business Dinner Club SC brings together business owners, corporate professionals, and nonprofit leaders from across South Carolina's most dynamic markets for curated, twice-monthly networking dinners. No agendas. No PowerPoints. Just purposeful connection.

The Experience

Simple by design.
Powerful by result.

01

Apply & Get Matched

Complete a brief intake survey about your profession, goals, and city. We review every application personally to ensure the room is always worth your time.

02

Receive Your Invitation

You'll receive curated dinner details — restaurant, date, and a preview of who will be at your table — the week before each event.

03

Show Up & Connect

Arrive, sit down, and let the conversation lead. Every dinner is hosted at a quality local restaurant. Meals are at your own expense — your membership covers the access.

04

Build Over Time

Twice a month, every month. SBDC SC isn't a one-time event — it's a standing commitment to the relationships that compound over years, not weeks.

Membership

Built for people who take their network seriously.

Small Business Dinner Club SC is not a chamber event or an open-door mixer. Membership is curated. We keep each city's group intentionally sized so every person at the table adds distinct value.

You belong here if you are:

  • A small business owner looking to grow referral relationships across the Midlands and Lowcountry
  • A corporate professional seeking peer-level connections outside your own organization
  • A nonprofit leader ready to engage funders, partners, and advocates in the same room
  • Someone who understands that the most important meetings rarely happen in an office
  • Committed to showing up — to your city, your community, and your own growth
Membership · All Cities
$49.99
per month  ·  cancel anytime
  • Two curated networking dinners per month in your city
  • Personally reviewed member matching — no algorithm, no randomness
  • Cross-city access — attend dinners in any SBDC SC market
  • Vetted, professionally diverse member community
  • Priority access as new cities launch across South Carolina

Membership covers access and curation. Members pay for their own meals at the restaurant. Simple, transparent, no surprises.

L
"Thirty years in this state taught me one thing above all — it's the relationships you build at the table that determine what you're able to accomplish in the room."

I've spent my career at the intersection of child welfare, community development, and public service across South Carolina. I've watched extraordinary people — business owners, county leaders, nonprofit directors, corporate professionals — struggle to find each other in the same room. Small Business Dinner Club SC exists to change that. Not through another conference or another mixer, but through something older and more honest: a good dinner with the right people, on a consistent schedule, in the cities where the real work of this state gets done.

Lenzene Rufus
Founder, Small Business Dinner Club SC  ·  Managing Member, Premiere Mobile Compliance LLC
30 Years · South Carolina Child Welfare & Human Services
Questions

Everything you need to know.

What does membership actually cost?
$49.99 per month. That covers two curated dinners per month and access to all SBDC SC markets. You pay your own meal tab at the restaurant — there are no hidden fees, no event add-ons, and no long-term commitments. Cancel anytime.
Where and when are the dinners held?
Dinners are held at quality local restaurants in each city on a consistent bi-monthly schedule. We rotate venues thoughtfully to support local businesses and keep the experience fresh. You'll receive restaurant details and reservation info in advance of each dinner.
How are members matched for each dinner?
Unlike algorithm-based platforms, every Small Business Dinner Club SC dinner is curated by hand. We review your intake survey — your industry, goals, and professional background — and personally build tables that create genuine value. You'll meet people different enough to expand your world, and similar enough to understand yours.
What cities are you currently in?
We are launching in Florence, Sumter, Orangeburg, Columbia, and Charleston — five of South Carolina's most connected professional markets. Priority access to new cities as we expand is a member benefit.
Can I attend dinners in other cities?
Yes. Your membership gives you cross-city access across all SBDC SC markets. If you're in Columbia for business and a Charleston dinner is scheduled that week, you're welcome at the table.
What if I can't make a dinner?
Life happens. We ask for 24-hour notice when possible so we can adjust accordingly. There are no penalties — but we value members who show up consistently, because that's what makes the community worth belonging to.
Is this only for small business owners?
No. SBDC SC is built for small business owners, corporate professionals, and nonprofit leaders — anyone serious about building meaningful professional relationships in South Carolina. If you're ambitious, engaged in your community, and ready to invest in real connection, you belong here.
Member Application

Request Your Seat

Tell us a little about yourself. Every application is personally reviewed — we'll be in touch within 48 hours.

By submitting you agree to be contacted about your application. Membership is $49.99/month after approval. No payment is collected at this stage.

✦

Application Received

Thank you for requesting a seat at Small Business Dinner Club SC. We review every application personally and will be in touch within 48 hours.