Frequently asked questions.

SMBF, the Support Muslim Business Forum, is a global membership network connecting Muslim entrepreneurs, professionals and business owners. Established in 2005, we provide opportunities to connect, grow, trade and invest through networking events, mentorship, international trade programmes and Shariah-compliant investment access.

You can reach the team by email at enquiries@smbf.global or by phone on 0121 820 8259. You can also message us through Connect by SMBF or our social channels.

Membership is open to Muslim entrepreneurs, business owners, professionals and students. There are tiers designed for each stage, from those with an early business idea through to established businesses expanding into international markets.

Membership tiers are shown on the membership section of this site, each with its own monthly price and benefits. All tiers include access to Connect by SMBF, our online B2B platform, with event discounts, mentorship and investment access increasing at each level.

No. Explorer is a free profile on Connect by SMBF. It lets you create a trusted profile, discover the network and book eligible physical networking events at the non-member price. It carries no member benefits, and online networking and members forums are members only.

Yes. Early Stage is normally £10 a month, and approved applicants aged 23 and under can apply for a £2 a month rate using government-issued photo ID. An administrator reviews it; the discount is not applied until approved. The plan moves to £10 from the first day of the month after your 24th birthday.

No. Early Stage is open to any genuinely early-stage business regardless of the founder’s age. Age only affects whether you can apply for the discounted rate.

Yes. Memberships are rolling monthly subscriptions with thirty days notice to cancel. Payments are non-refundable once a billing period has begun. Upgrades are charged pro rata; downgrades need no approval.

Connect by SMBF is our online platform for the global Muslim business community. You register in minutes, build a profile showcasing your business or expertise, search a B2B directory by sector or location, message members in real time, and register for events with member discounts applied automatically at checkout.

Connect is SMBF’s digital networking platform — a place to build a profile, discover the network and start conversations with Muslim businesses and professionals.

Connect is open to Muslim entrepreneurs, business owners, professionals and business leaders. Creating a profile is free.

No. Connect is the free networking platform. SMBF Membership sits alongside it and unlocks additional access such as event benefits, mentoring and, where eligible, trade and investment opportunities.

Your business, your role, your sector and location, so other members can find and understand what you do.

Yes. Connect includes filters for sector and location to help you find relevant people faster.

Yes, you can message other members directly through Connect to start a conversation.

Yes. You can discover upcoming SMBF events and register for them through the platform.

Create a free profile on Connect, then start exploring the network — no membership required to begin.

SMBF runs business networking evenings across the UK, monthly Business Launchpad Meetups for early-stage entrepreneurs, webinars, conferences and international trade missions. Events take place in Birmingham, London, Manchester, Leeds, Leicester, Cardiff and internationally.

It depends on the event and your membership. General networking is normally around £30. Business members get 50% off eligible events held in the country recorded on their profile – it is not a global discount. Executive members get one free eligible event each calendar month globally, then 50% off. Tickets are generally non-refundable.

Not for physical networking events – a free Explorer profile is the minimum. Online networking and members forums are members only.

Executive Membership is mandatory, and it can be purchased alongside the programme. Applications are qualified, so eligibility to apply is not the same as acceptance.

Programmes carry agreed success-fee provisions on qualifying outcomes. Fees are tiered and marginal, like income tax bands, so a larger contract never costs proportionally more than the band below it. Terms are explained before you commit.

No. Business and Executive membership makes you eligible to commission consultancy; the work itself is scoped and priced per project. Substantive advice begins only under a paid engagement.

No. We qualify the request, check conflicts and pre-existing relationships, and both parties must consent. An introduction is never promised or guaranteed to be accepted. Any success fee or commission is explained before the introduction, never after.

SMBF Invest connects suitable businesses seeking investment with investors interested in exploring Shariah-compliant opportunities.

No. SMBF raises awareness, qualifies interest and makes introductions under an approved process. It does not provide legal, tax, financial or investment advice, does not carry out your due diligence, and guarantees no investment, return or transaction outcome. Independent advice is required.

Businesses can submit an application, but opportunities may need to meet relevant requirements before progressing through the investment pathway.

No. Applying, being accepted or meeting investors does not guarantee that investment will be secured.

Investor eligibility and access may depend on the type of opportunity and any applicable requirements.

The SMBF investment ecosystem is intended to operate around Shariah-compliant opportunities, subject to the relevant assessment and requirements.

SMBF facilitates access and connections. Investors remain responsible for assessing opportunities and making their own investment decisions.

Muslim Invest offers access to a curated selection of Shariah-compliant businesses that have been carefully vetted. These businesses span various industries and are chosen for their growth potential and alignment with Islamic financial principles.

To get started, first sign up as an SMBF member and select Muslim Invest during the registration process. After that, fill out our investor interest form. Your profile will then be reviewed by our expert, Omar Shaikh. Once approved, you will receive a contract to sign, and you will start receiving information about upcoming investment opportunities and events.

Muslim Invest offers ongoing support to investors by providing regular updates, personalised investment recommendations, and reviews of your investment progress. If an investment does not succeed, we actively work with you to find better-suited opportunities.

We are an introductions and support service, not an FCA-regulated investment advice service. We do not give investors personal recommendations, and we do not execute investments or hold client money. We help with readiness and introductions; any investment is agreed directly between your company and investors.

Typically: UK-based (or UK-relevant) early-stage companies; founders who want values-aligned investors; businesses that can credibly align with Islamic investing principles; and companies prepared to be transparent and organised.

It means your core business is permissible; you are transparent about edge cases such as bank interest or mixed revenue; you avoid making interest-based financing the engine of the business; and you structure the round in a way that does not introduce riba-like economics.

SMBF works with national and international partner organisations who share our vision for a stronger Muslim business community. Get in touch with the team to discuss partnership and sponsorship opportunities.

Regional is £2,500 a year, National £5,000, and International £10,000 to £20,000 depending on turnover. Each runs twelve months and includes two named Executive accounts on Connect and two complimentary tickets to eligible physical networking events, with five additional guest invitations at any event where the partner is speaking.