FAQ's

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BARTER?

Would you rather pay for a $200 advertisement with cash, or instead use your goods and services to pay? Based upon a profit margin of 50%, using your goods and services to pay through Barter Network would only cost you $100 for the $200 advertisement. You just paid half price. You increased your purchasing power by 100%.

Why use Barter Network instead of simply trading one-on-one?

Barter Network allows you to leverage your trading power over a broad array of goods and services. For a one-on-one trade to take place, both buyer and seller must need exactly what the other offers. For example, maybe the Radio Station you want to trade with doesn't need or want your pizzas. So how can you exchange your pizzas for radio commercials to grow your business?

One-to-one trading also limits the amount you can trade with each other, based upon the quantities of goods or services you can purchase directly. Radio air time is valued at about 20 pizzas per minute. So even if the radio station was willing to take your pizzas, how many commercials can they trade?

Through BNI, you can sell hundreds of pizzas throughout our network. We convert the value of those pizzas into BNI Trade Dollars that you can then spend on radio advertising to grow your business. Or you can buy printing, supplies or a much-needed vacation for you and your family.

When you become a member of BNI, you are assigned a personal broker. This broker is responsible for helping you sell your goods and services across the network while also helping you source and purchase the goods and services you want and need. Plus your broker will manage these trades to ensure fair value received and given. We manage the whole process so you have time to focus on your business.

How will trading through Barter Network help grow my business?

Sales is often the hardest part of any businesses success. What if you could tap into a source for new customers? Even better, these new customers are already SOLD when they walk through your door, or call you on the phone. Barter Network is a source of new and incremental business. It's like having a commission-only salesperson.

In turn, as shown in the advertising example in the first question, there are a great many goods and services available in our network to help you grow your cash business. Need advertising, a web site, flyers, postcards, signs? Pay for them using your own goods and services (thereby discounted by your cost-of-goods) and watch your business grow.

Oh, and each of those new Barter Network customers are potential referral sources. Serve them well and they'll tell their business acquaintances, neighbors and friends; none of whom may be in the network and therefore will be cash referrals for your business.

Are there tax advantages to bartering?

Tax-wise, barter income and cash income are treated exactly the same. There are no tax advantages - nor tax disadvantages - when bartering. Barter Network will provide your business with a 1099B form at the end of the year for all the sales you generated through our network. Similar to the cash world, any business expenses incurred through barter should be tax deductible. Consult your accountant or tax advisor for details on your particular tax situation.

How shall I price my goods and services?

Pricing to barter customers should be the same as to cash customers using retail pricing as a guideline. A barter dollar equals a cash dollar. When you go to spend your trade dollars, you will want the same fair treatment. Trade dollars are just another form of payment.

What is the cost to become a member of Barter Network?

There is a one-time, nominal, membership fee which is used to set-up your account. Transaction and monthly fees cover accounting and marketing costs, as well as promoting your business. Your fees also enable you to receive newsletters, email and web specials. Speak to our sales department for more details. Or visit our Join page for membership details.

Testimonials

Motor Vehicle Network

We use our barter wisely, and BNI has given my company the ability to trade for most of our business expenses. From marketing materials to office equipment to hotel rooms for travel, bartering has helped us to grow our business and reduce our expenses. Scott Savage
Vice President and G.M., Motor Vehicle Network

The Red Barn

In the restaurant business, empty tables are always a challenge. BNI helps us fill those tables which allows us to spend our trade dollars on our business. Their customer service and attitude to "get it done" has made me a believer. I have been a member of other barter exchanges and BNI's attention to detail has made me a loyal member. Frank "Cheech" Nistico
Owner, Red Barn Restaurant

New England Flooring

My company had some excess flooring inventory that wasn't producing any revenue for us. BNI helped us sell that excess inventory through their barter exchange at fair retail pricing. I was able to spend my trade dollars on the goods and services that my company uses, helping me to conserve cash, a true Win-Win! We continue to use BNI for our spending needs. Keith Hemstock
Owner, New England Flooring Supply Company

A-Z Landscaping

The staff at BNI is the most experience staff that I have worked with in barter. They continue to bring new members into their barter network, which gives my business new opportunities for trading. Helping my business grow while saving me cash is what BNI is all about. Craig Gannon
Owner, A-Z Landscaping

Kaiser Battistone

BNI has helped me fill in my down times with new customers. This allows us to maximize our time and generate trade dollars for our spending needs. I'm a believer! Bill Hall
Owner, Kaiser Battistone

Saybrook Inn

We are always looking for new ways to grow our business. Barter has given us the ability to fill our down time using our rooms and conference facilities to generate trade dollars. Spending those trade dollars on landscaping, advertising, staff uniforms, web design and other items has allowed us to conserve our cash. BNI has delivered on their promise to bring us new business and save us cash! Saybrook Point Inn & Spa
Andy Abels, General Manager

Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk partnered with Barter Network to attract new Aquarium visitors and save on cash expenses. Barter Network delivered on both counts. We have seen new visitors come through our doors because of our relationship with Barter Network and their outreach to network members. We then use our trade dollars to expand our marketing outreach to find new cash customers. Barter Network offered an inexpensive opportunity to stretch our marketing budget and was superbly executed. Chris Loynd
Director of Marketing
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk

Compugeeks

Compugeeks has been a member of Barter Network (BNI) for 6 years. They are a dedicated firm that really focuses on making sure your business gets the services it needs, on barter. John Ferrara and his team are always and readily available whenever we need them. No matter what we have needed, BNI has been able to acquire the services/products we need so we can save cash. There is a lot of competition in the barter world, but very few rise to the occasion every time like Barter Network. John A. Scharfglass
President
Compugeeks, Inc.

Luxurious Transportation Services

Bartering helps drive business to our company, allowing us to spend our trade dollars on business related expenses. My broker is always there to help with all of my purchasing needs. Why spend cash when I can trade for what I need. Barter Network always performs for me. Joe Montanez
Owner
Luxurious Transporation Services

Maui Wowi Hawaiin Coffee

Sales and marketing is critical to our business. Barter Network promotes my business through their network of members and brings my business new clients that I never would have gotten. I can use my trade dollars for advertising services that will help me grow our cash business. Barter works! Mitchell York
Owner
Maui Wowi

Island Storage

Barter Network has helped convert some of our excess capacity into valuable trade dollars. We are able to offset some of our cash expenditures by utilizing those trade dollars, and our broker really works hard in finding us what we need, helping us save cash, a true Win-Win! Lauren Nichols
Owner
Island Storage