Barter Network Inc. is one of the leading barter brokerage firms in the country. The Washington/Baltimore office was founded in 1981 and built on the concept of service and accountabilty, BNI continually monitors the operation of the system and regularly upgrades its operations.

So what makes BNI's trading system work better? It eliminates the one-on-one trading disadvantage of finding someone who has exactly what you need and needs exactly what you have. By using a system of computer credit and debits (Trade Dollars) as the system's currency, we separate the selling and buying into two separate unrelated transactions. Each of our member clients has an account much like a typical bank account where all transactions are recorded. So you know exactly where you stand at any given moment.

In other words, you can trade (sell) your product or service to a member selling a product or service you may never use. Your account is credited with Trade Dollars, not with that member's product. You can then turn around and use the Trade Dollars earned from that earlier trade to aquire a product or service from another member who has something that you do need.

The cash step is eliminated. You can convert your goods and services into Trade Dollars and then take that money and buy the goods or services you need. Our client base of manufacturers, retailers, service companies, wholesalers, distributors, and professionals provides a wide range of trading opportunities. You can use trade income to cover basic overhead expenses such as printing, advertising, office equipment and furniture or professional services such as accounting and legal expenses.

Through trade, you can also provide employee fringe benefits like a trip to the dentist or a sales incentive award like a trip to Hawaii. You can use trade income to take a vacation or to take a client to dinner.

And because all trades are conducted at a retail-to-retail price structure, you are guaranteed a full profit margin. Trade income is extra incremental income on top of your basic cash business. Its cost to you is your "cost of goods" or wholesale cost. Thus, by using Trade Dollars to make a purchase, you are aquiring the product or service you want at your own wholesale cost!