What do a massage therapist, handyman, and health juice distributor have in common?

They, and about a dozen other small business owners, break bread together twice a month and help each other's business by passing on potential customer tips.

They are members of Professional Business Networks (PBN), a "tip organization" that, unlike similar clubs, operates as a business itself.

Founder Ken Ryan, owner of Pacific Sierra Investments, got the idea when he owned half a dozen Subway stores in Colorado.

"I was inundated with work and needed help finding people to work for me," he said.

He found somebody to do the search for him. "It gave me a little bit of peace of mind knowing I had somebody I could trust to give me people who were trustworthy."

Basically, he said, he had networked with a third party.

When he moved to California, "I was beside myself ... not knowing the people in the community."

Remembering how networking had helped with his previous ventures, he started PBN, based on the concept of one business person helping another. "I got to know the community better," he said.

A core group of people joined the new organization, and soon Tod Bechtol, one of the charter members, showed an interest in coordinating activities.

Members of PBN have a financial stake in the organization. There's a $400-a-year membership fee, but prospective members are told if they don't double their amount of business, the fee will be refunded. Bechtol said the fee serves as "a financial incentive that often times drives things."

"Networking has been wonderful," Bechtol said. "How has it helped my business? Tremendously. Almost every member in our group has tried my product." Bechtol is an independent contractor for the sale of XanGo, a health juice.

Networking is the key to success, he said. Group members often become each others clients. Sometimes a member will become a subcontractor for another member.

"My purpose is to serve other people. We are about developing relationships," Bechtol said. "If you develop relationships with people and if our focus is giving to other people, your business will happen."

Ryan said PBN is unique because it operates as a business, but similar organizations, many operating as less structured business "tip clubs," are not seen as competition.

"Our whole purpose is to get people connected," Ryan said. "It's not about the money -- it's about the contacts."

The organization thrives on word-of-mouth marketing. In fact, it's philosophy is: "It's not who you know, it's who knows you," said Bechtol.

Under its rules, PBN allows no more than one representative of any occupation to become a member.

If the group doesn't have an opening for a specific profession, he said, that person is referred to another tip organization. "This is not about competition. This is about getting together to help one another," he said.

Bechtol and Ryan said they would like to expand PBN nationally. But first, they need to bring the Napa group up to full membership.

Ryan said he wants to double the membership of the organization, but adds, "It's best around 30 (members). After that it's better to develop another group. Theoretically there could be 10 or more groups in town."

Membership is diverse. The Napa PBN also includes a mortgage broker, financial planner, Realtor, contractor, a legal judgment recovery specialist, architect, business consultant, community calendar publisher, debt repair specialist, painting contractor and someone who seals granite and tile.

Anyone interested in learning more about the organization was urged to contact Bechtol at 251-8893 or e-mail him at todbechtol@sbcglobal.net.