An association of businesses formed for the purpose of trading with one another, using mutual credit to keep account. Typically the lead business will run the exchange, performing a

broker A broker is a person or firm who arranges transactions between a buyer and a seller for a commission when the deal is executed. A broker who also acts as a seller or as a buyer becomes a principal party to the deal. Neither role should be confu ...

ing services and providing (or renting) an online marketplace for members to meet their

reciprocal Reciprocal may refer to: In mathematics * Multiplicative inverse, in mathematics, the number 1/''x'', which multiplied by ''x'' gives the product 1, also known as a ''reciprocal'' * Reciprocal polynomial, a polynomial obtained from another pol ...

needs and register their transactions. Also known as business barter Thousands of trade exchanges exist, some independent and some belonging to regional or global networks. The two most prominent associations for Trade Exchanges are IRTA ( International Reciprocal Trade Association) and NATE (National Association of Independent Trade Exchanges). There are numerous benefits to business bartering, some of which include, large referral network of businesses/services, easing cash flows problems/saving cash, filling empty time slots (professionals, stylists, etc.), filling empty hotel rooms, unloading excess inventory, using trade to attract cash customers (advertising), gaining access to a directory of other member businesses, from which they can purchase and sell dollar for dollar. Reputable trade exchanges have physical locations with sales people & brokers and are not just "online" exchanges. Trading in this way can ease cashflow problems and help turn inventories around.

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