Hampton vs EO: Which One Is Actually Right for You?

You're scaling a real business. Revenue is growing. And you're starting to feel that particular brand of loneliness that hits when you've outrun everyone around you.

So you start looking for a founder community. Two names come up fast: Hampton and EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization).

Both have peer groups. Both promise connection with other founders. But here's the thing - they serve very different people at very different stages. And picking the wrong one means spending a year in rooms where the conversations don't match your reality.

This page lays out the real differences so you can make the right call.

Hampton vs EO: Quick Comparison

What Is Hampton?

Hampton is where high-growth founders go when they've outgrown every other room they're in.

The membership is exclusively founders and CEOs doing $3M to $50M+ in revenue. The core experience is a group of roughly eight founders who meet monthly in person for about three hours. Not a networking lunch. Not a conference. A real room with real people solving real problems.

Every group is built using Hampton's Mentor-Mentee-Mirror matching model. That means you're placed with founders who can teach you something, founders you can help, and founders facing the exact same challenges you are right now. And every session is led by a trained moderator who keeps things productive and makes sure nobody hogs the airtime.

The culture runs on the Three C's: Candor, Commitment, and Confidentiality. You show up. You tell the truth. You keep what's shared in the room.

Beyond Core groups, you get a private Slack community with 1,000+ founders active daily, 150+ events per year, chapters in 16+ cities, and retreats that range from Pinehurst Golf to Peak Performance to Cycling with a 10-Time Tour de France Veteran.

Qualification: $3M+ in annual revenue, $3M+ in funding, or a successful exit. $15,000/year with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

What Is EO?

EO is one of the oldest founder communities in the world. Founded in 1987, it has over 18,000 members across 200+ chapters globally.

The core offering is Forum - a group of 8 to 10 entrepreneurs who meet monthly. Forum groups are member-led (no professional moderators), and the experience varies significantly depending on the chapter and the people in your group.

EO's entry bar is lower: $1M+ in revenue as a founder, co-founder, or controlling shareholder. Annual dues range from roughly $3,000 to $7,000 depending on the chapter.

EO attracts a wide range of entrepreneurs - from local service businesses to manufacturing companies to tech startups. The organization has deep global reach and a long track record. For many founders, EO was the first peer community they ever joined.

See what Hampton members are saying →

The Real Differences Between Hampton and EO

1. Who's in the room with you

This is the biggest difference and the one that matters most.

EO's $1M revenue floor means you could be sitting next to a founder doing $1.2M and another doing $30M. Those are completely different worlds. The person figuring out their first hire doesn't need the same advice as the person optimizing a 200-person org chart. And when the conversation swings between those extremes, nobody gets what they need.

Hampton's $3M floor - combined with active matching on revenue stage, industry, personality, and growth trajectory - means your group is full of people operating at your scale. When you bring a problem to your Core group, the people responding have been there. They're not guessing. They've lived it.

The average Hampton member does $23M in revenue. When someone in your group tells you your pricing strategy is leaving $500K on the table, it's because they just went through the same exercise last quarter.

2. How your group gets built

EO places you into a Forum group at the chapter level. Quality depends heavily on who happens to be in your local chapter. Some Forums are genuinely life-changing. Others feel like a networking obligation you can't get out of.

Hampton builds each group on purpose. The Mentor-Mentee-Mirror model means every group has founders ahead of you, at your level, and coming from different angles - matched on revenue stage, industry, personality, geography, even family stage and communication style. The result: every conversation is relevant and every member can both give and receive.

"I posted in Slack about a VP of Sales search and had three warm intros by end of day. All from founders who had actually worked with the candidates. You cannot buy that kind of access."

Agency Founder, $9M Revenue

3. Who runs the meeting

EO Forum groups are peer-led. Members rotate facilitation. This can work well with experienced, committed members. It can also mean nobody steers the ship when conversations go sideways, one person dominates, or the meeting turns into a venting session with no outcomes.

Hampton groups are led by trained moderators. They make sure everyone gets airtime, keep things focused, and push past surface-level conversation. You don't have to facilitate. You just show up and go deep.

4. The type of founder

EO serves a broad spectrum of entrepreneurs across every industry and geography. Franchise owners, dental practices, manufacturing companies, tech startups - all in the same room.

Hampton is built for a specific founder: digital-first, high-growth, building a SaaS company, e-commerce brand, agency, media business, or tech-enabled service. If that's you, the conversations are immediately relevant. You're not explaining what ARR means. You're debating whether to raise a Series B or stay bootstrapped.

5. Community feel

EO's 18,000+ members and 200+ chapters give it massive global reach. You can walk into an EO event almost anywhere in the world and find other entrepreneurs.

Hampton is intentionally smaller - roughly 1,000 members. The private Slack is active daily. Members share deals, ask for advice, post wins, and help each other in real time. Someone posted about a VP of Sales search and had three warm intros by end of day - all from founders who had actually worked with the candidates. That's the kind of access you can't buy.

"The matching is on a completely different level. Every person in my group is building at my scale. The conversations start at a depth that used to take months to reach anywhere else."

SaaS CEO, $22M ARR

Pricing: Hampton vs EO

Hampton: $15,000/year. Core group membership, Slack, 150+ events, retreats, local chapters - all included. 60-day money-back guarantee.

EO: $3,000 to $7,000/year depending on the chapter. Some chapters have additional fees for events. No standard money-back guarantee.

Hampton costs more. That's intentional. The higher price filters for committed founders and funds the infrastructure that makes the experience consistent - trained moderators, deliberate matching, curated events.

EO is more accessible on price, which makes it a solid option for founders earlier in their journey or operating below the $3M mark.

Who Should Choose Hampton

Hampton is the right fit if you:

• Run a business doing $3M to $50M+ in annual revenue
• Operate a digital-first company (SaaS, e-commerce, agency, media, tech services)
• Want a highly curated peer group matched to your revenue stage and growth trajectory
• Value trained moderation and structured sessions that actually produce outcomes
• Want a tight, high-signal community rather than a massive network
• Care about the 60-day money-back guarantee so you can try it without risk

Hear from hundreds of founders on the Wall of Fame →

Who Should Choose EO

EO is the right fit if you:

• Run a business doing $1M+ in revenue and aren't yet at the $3M threshold
• Want access to a global network of entrepreneurs across 200+ chapters
• Prefer a lower annual price point ($3K-$7K vs. $15K)
• Value geographic breadth and the ability to connect with entrepreneurs worldwide
• Are in a traditional or local business (manufacturing, professional services, retail)
• Want a community with decades of history and a large alumni base

What Founders Say About Hampton (See all on the Wall of Fame)

"My Core group helped me navigate a $4M acquisition offer. Seven founders who had been through it told me exactly what to watch for. That single conversation was worth years of membership."

DTC Founder, $14M Revenue

"I posted in Slack about a VP of Sales search and had three warm intros by end of day. All from founders who had actually worked with the candidates. You cannot buy that kind of access."

Agency Founder, $9M Revenue

"The matching is on a completely different level. Every person in my group is building at my scale, in a similar world. The conversations start at a depth that used to take months to reach anywhere else."

SaaS CEO, $22M ARR

The Founders Inside Hampton

Hampton members include founders and CEOs running companies from $3M to $200M+ in annual revenue. The average member does $23M. The community includes:

• Founders of companies valued at up to $38B
• CEOs who have raised $60M+ in venture capital
• Serial founders with $10M+ exits
• Leaders across SaaS, e-commerce, agencies, media, fintech, health tech, real estate tech, and more
• Founders recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, Inc. 5000, and The Wall Street Journal

Every member is a vetted founder or CEO. No investors. No consultants. No hired executives. Just people who are building.

Browse the Wall of Fame to see who's inside Hampton →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Hampton and EO?

The biggest difference is curation and member stage. Hampton requires $3M+ in revenue and uses deliberate matching to build groups of founders at similar stages. EO requires $1M+ and places members into Forum groups at the chapter level, resulting in a wider range of business sizes and stages in the same group.

How much does Hampton cost compared to EO?

Hampton is $15,000 per year with a 60-day money-back guarantee. EO annual dues range from approximately $3,000 to $7,000 depending on the chapter. Hampton's higher price reflects trained moderation, curated group matching, and a more selective membership.

Can I join both Hampton and EO?

Yes. Some founders are members of both organizations. However, most find that one community meets their needs. Founders doing $3M+ in digital businesses typically find Hampton's curated groups and matched membership more valuable than maintaining dual memberships.

What are the revenue requirements for Hampton vs EO?

Hampton requires $3M or more in annual revenue, $3M or more in funding, or a successful exit. EO requires $1M or more in annual revenue. Hampton's higher threshold ensures members are at a similar growth stage, which leads to more relevant peer conversations.

Does Hampton have a money-back guarantee?

Yes. Hampton offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. If you join and the experience doesn't meet your expectations, you receive a full refund. EO does not offer a standard money-back guarantee.

Is EO or Hampton better for early-stage founders?

EO is generally better for earlier-stage founders doing $1M to $3M in revenue. Its lower revenue requirement and more accessible pricing make it a natural fit for entrepreneurs who haven't yet scaled past the $3M mark. Hampton is designed for founders who have already reached $3M or more and are scaling toward $50M and beyond.

How are peer groups formed in Hampton vs EO?

Hampton uses a Mentor-Mentee-Mirror matching model to build groups based on revenue stage, industry, personality, and growth trajectory. Each group has a trained moderator. EO forms Forum groups at the chapter level, and groups are peer-led without professional moderation, so the experience can vary by chapter.

How many members does Hampton have compared to EO?

Hampton has over 1,000 members across 16 or more cities. EO has over 18,000 members across 200 or more chapters globally. Hampton is intentionally smaller to maintain a high-signal, tightly curated community.

Ready to join a peer group built for founders at your level?

Apply to Hampton - 60-day money-back guarantee.

See also: Hampton vs YPO | Hampton vs Vistage | What Is a Founder Peer Group? | CEO Peer Groups Guide