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- What are the advantages of barter?
- How does trading through Greenbarter work?
- What does it cost to trade through Greenbarter?
- Can I set a limit on how much I will barter?
- I already trade on my own. Why should I join Greenbarter?
- What if I cannot spend my trade credit on the things I need?
- What if I don't get any new business?
- Is it true that getting something on trade can take more time than getting it for cash?
- What if I quit Greenbarter? What happens to my trade credit?
- Are there any tax advantages to trading?
- Can I exclude anything in my inventory from trade?
- How do I get started?
- What are the advantages of barter?
Trading produces new business, expanding your market. Instead of spending cash to purchase needed goods and services, you pay for some of what you need with barter. You conserve cash and increase productivity by putting idle resources to work.
- How does trading through Greenbarter work?
Members use barter dollars, instead of cash, to pay for their purchases. If your business trades $1,000 worth of goods or services to another member, your account receives $1,000 in trade dollars that you can use to buy from any member in the network.
- What does it cost to trade through Greenbarter?
A $120 account maintenance fee (billed once a year in January) covers the costs of marketing, website operations, communications and email services, directory updates, printed forms and materials, your monthly account summary, and postage. A 7% fee on each buying and selling transaction covers administration and bookkeeping costs.
- What will be the amount of my no-interest line of barter credit?
During our consultation regarding your application for membership, GNB will establish a figure that will allow you to gain new business without compromising your basic cash flow. This amount is printed on the monthly statement, along with the current updated sales / purchase transaction totals.
- I already trade on my own. Why should I join Greenbarter?
The problem with one-to-one trading, or swapping, is that each business must want roughly equal amounts, or the arrangement becomes lopsided. A business may not know where they stand who owes what to whom? GNB keeps detailed records of all transactions; balances are updated monthly; and controls are in place to prevent abuse.
- What if I cannot spend my trade dollars on things I need?
GNB will review your account with you. It happens that it's the most commonplace items that are the most frequently overlooked. Review your business checkbook over the last six months. While barter cannot fulfill every need, an ever expanding selection of services and goods offers viable options for everyone to spend their trade balance in valuable ways.
- What if I don't get any new business?
Products and services are subject to wide variations in the character of their marketplaces. The amount of business you get will depend on various factors particular to your business. Some businesses serve a wide demand for a very common product, while others focus on narrow specialties that limit new customers. If you are not receiving the amount of business that you expected, the GNB office will try to help you.
- Can getting something on trade sometimes take more time than getting it for cash?
Sometimes. Trading represents the extra business used to fill the sporadic lulls in business activity. Certain businesses, particularly those in the service industry, must give priority to their cash customers in order to meet their fixed cash-cost obligations.
- What if I quit Greenbarter? What happens to my trade credit?
According to our Trading Policies, any member who leaves GNB will be given a reasonable period of time to spend their trade credit balances. Cash fees owed must be paid within 30 days and the account will be closed. Trade credit balances remaining after the grace period will be transferred to the GNB Community Partners Program.
- Are there any tax advantages to trading?
Trade income is the same as cash income for tax purposes. Business related trade purchases are also tax-deductible. There are no tax advantages, or disadvantages, to using barter.
- Can I exclude anything from my inventory for trade?
All members agree to make their full range of products and services available, with
only a handful of narrow exceptions. As stated in the Trading Policies, the
first $1,000 of any individual transaction must be 100% barter. Portions of sale
prices above $1,000 may be any mixture of cash / barter as negotiated by the buyer
and seller. Exceptions not subject to the $1,000 cap: fuel oil, propane, gasoline,
whole automobiles and some parts, computers and some parts, cameras, major appliances,
and pet foods.
If you are concerned about a particular type of item in your inventory,
please contact the GNB office.
- How do I get started?
When you are ready to join, fill out the contact form and the GNB office will get in touch with you to discuss what products or services you have to trade, our  Trading Policies, and the Membership Agreement. Also, GNB will schedule a discussion of the description of your business for the Membership Directory. We will help to walk you through your first trade, and to use the automated telephone authorization system.
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