BARTER BUREAU
|
BARTER BUREAU |
Introducing modern barter for modern businesses — trade what you have for what you need, without using cash.
Trade Beyond Cash
Who We Are
BARTER BUREAU® is Egypt’s first and only dedicated barter network — a business-to-business trade brokerage firm and third-party record keeper. We bring a modern approach to the traditional concept of barter through a structured trade exchange network, supported by a digital and automated trade management system designed and built to help businesses connect, trade, and create value beyond conventional cash transactions.
The Barter Concept Explained
Barter is the exchange of products or services you provide for the products or services you need without using cash as a medium of exchange.
We believe barter can benefit businesses in all economic conditions. While it has traditionally been considered a solution during periods of economic crisis, such as recession, inflation, reduced purchasing power, business downtime, and seasonal slowdowns, its value extends far beyond these difficult circumstances. Today, modern businesses can use structured barter as an additional way to trade, reduce cash expenditure, and preserve cash — even in stable economic conditions.
Whether you are a business owner, entrepreneur, professional, or freelancer, you are invited to join the BARTER BUREAU® trade exchange network. Connect with other businesses, create additional sales opportunities, reduce cash expenditure, and preserve cash that you can reinvest in your business or allocate to other priorities.
How It Works
BARTER BUREAU® enables registered members to exchange products and services through an organized trade network. Members can generate Trade Pounds from sales, use their available trade value to obtain products and services they need, and continue trading with other members as part of the network.
1
Join
Register your business with BARTER BUREAU® and receive your Membership Card, an official Trade Account, and a Lifetime Interest-Free Credit Line that can serve as working capital for your business.
2
Sell
Offer your products or services to other business members in the network at their normal selling prices and earn the equivalent value in Trade Pounds credited to your business’s Trade Account.
3
Buy
Use your available Trade Pounds to purchase products and services from participating business members across the network, with the equivalent value debited from your Trade Account.
4
Trade
You can sell now and buy later, or buy now and sell later, while BARTER BUREAU® facilitates and records the trade transactions that occur between business members throughout the trade network.
Advantages of Barter
The value of barter extends beyond the exchange itself. When applied to business activities, it can help preserve working capital, generate additional sales, and make better use of available resources. BARTER BUREAU® membership enables businesses to explore the various applications of barter, complement their conventional cash-based activities, and derive greater value from their business operations.
Trade what you have for what you need.
Exchange your products or services for the products or services you need without using cash as a medium of exchange.
Member Benefits
BARTER BUREAU® membership offers more than access to a trade exchange network. With membership plans designed around different business needs, a Lifetime Interest-Free Credit Line, and opportunities to earn Trade Pounds through business referrals, members can access additional ways to trade, meet eligible needs, and develop valuable business connections.
Tailored Membership Plans
BARTER BUREAU® offers different membership plans designed to suit different types, sizes, and forms of business. You can choose the plan that best matches your business model with the flexibility to upgrade your membership plan or add extra cardholders to your trade account according to your business needs.
Lifetime Interest-Free Credit Line
Every new member receives a Lifetime Interest-Free Credit Line, subject to business assessment and approval, payment of the one-time subscription fee, and signing of the final Membership Agreement. The approved amount is credited to the member’s Trade Account in Trade Pounds upon activation of the account. This Credit Line can serve as working capital to meet eligible business needs through the network, even before generating any sales.
Referral & Lead Rewards Program
BARTER BUREAU® values the power of word-of-mouth in growing both our business and our trade network. Through our Referral & Lead Rewards Program, members can earn valuable Trade Pounds by referring businesses they would like to trade with or businesses they believe could benefit from joining the network.
Your Questions Answered
Find answers to common questions about BARTER BUREAU® membership, Trade Accounts, Trade Pounds, and the Lifetime Interest-Free Credit Line. Learn how our trade exchange network works, who can join, and how to apply for membership.
-
A Trade Account is the account BARTER BUREAU® maintains for each registered business member to record the Trade Pounds earned from sales, spent on purchases, and the member’s ongoing trade balance within the network. It is a business account used exclusively for recording and managing trade transactions within the BARTER BUREAU® network.
-
A Trade Pound is the unit of trade value used by BARTER BUREAU® to record the value of barter transactions between registered members. One Trade Pound is equivalent in value to one Egyptian Pound (1 Trade Pound = 1 EGP). Trade Pounds are earned through sales on trade and used to purchase products and services within the network; they are not cash and cannot be withdrawn as cash.
-
The Lifetime Interest-Free Credit Line is a trade facility granted to each applicant whose membership application is approved and who completes the required membership formalities. The applicable amount is determined through business assessment and approval in accordance with the selected membership plan. Once the one-time subscription fee has been paid and the final Membership Agreement has been signed, the approved amount in Trade Pounds is credited to the member's Trade Account and becomes available immediately upon account activation. It can serve as working capital for eligible trade transactions, allowing members to meet business needs even before generating any sales within the network.
-
“Interest-Free” means that BARTER BUREAU® does not charge interest on the Credit Line. The Credit Line is provided as a trade facility within the BARTER BUREAU® network rather than as a conventional cash-based loan or lending facility. Applicable membership, transaction, and other network fees remain subject to the terms applicable to the member’s account.
-
The BARTER BUREAU® Credit Line does not accrue interest because it is provided as part of the network’s trade system rather than as a conventional cash loan. Members can use the Credit Line as working capital for eligible trade transactions without paying interest on the amount made available to them. Other applicable membership or transaction fees remain separate from interest and are payable according to the applicable terms.
-
Yes. Once your membership application has been approved, the one-time subscription fee has been paid, the final Membership Agreement has been signed, and your Trade Account has been activated, your approved Lifetime Interest-Free Credit Line is available for immediate use. This allows your business to meet eligible needs through the network even before generating any sales. As you make sales on barter, the resulting Trade Pounds are credited to your Trade Account and become available for subsequent purchases within the network.
-
Once activated, the Lifetime Interest-Free Credit Line remains available for as long as the member maintains active membership in the BARTER BUREAU® network and an active Trade Account. The credit line ceases upon termination of membership or closure of the Trade Account, subject to the applicable account-closure and settlement provisions.
-
The Trade Account belongs to the business, while the Membership Card is issued to an individual authorized cardholder associated with that business. A business may have more than one authorized cardholder, and each Membership Card carries its own unique card number. The Membership Card identifies the authorized individual; it does not replace or represent the business's Trade Account.
-
Yes. Multiple authorized cardholders can be associated with the same business Trade Account, with each cardholder having a unique Membership Card and card number. This cardholder arrangement is separate from employee subaccounts, which may be established under the business's Trade Account for approved purposes.
-
BARTER BUREAU® welcomes businesses and professionals across a wide range of industries and fields. Business owners, entrepreneurs, self-employed professionals, freelancers, service providers, retailers, manufacturers, suppliers, and other businesses may apply for membership, subject to the applicable membership and approval requirements.
-
BARTER BUREAU® connects businesses and professionals within a trade exchange network where members can offer their products or services in exchange for the products or services they need. Transactions are recorded through members’ Trade Accounts in Trade Pounds (BTP), allowing members to make purchases within the network using their available Trade Pound balances.
-
Yes. BARTER BUREAU® operates as a trade exchange network, allowing members to trade with different participating businesses rather than relying on a direct exchange between two parties. Members can earn Trade Pounds by selling their products or services and use their available balances to purchase from other members within the network.
-
No direct match between a buyer and a seller is required. Members can sell to one participating business and use the resulting Trade Pounds to purchase from another, subject to the availability of the products and services they need and their available Trade Account balance.
-
Membership and trading are subject to the applicable fees associated with the selected membership plan and network transactions. These may include an initial membership fee, annual administrative fees, and transaction fees. Please refer to our Membership Plans page for the applicable fees and plan details.
-
To apply for membership with BARTER BUREAU®, please visit the Membership Plans page, explore the available plans, choose the arrangement that best suits your requirements.
Download the relevant Application Forms, which provide the information required to assess your business and application before membership approval. Print each form, complete all applicable fields, and sign where indicated. Then scan the completed forms together with the required supporting credentials and upload them through the ‘Get Started’ form found on the same page, or contact us via phone number 01101244210 and our team will guide you through the appropriate ways to apply for a membership.
Franchise With Us
BARTER BUREAU® welcomes qualified businesses and entrepreneurs interested in growing and expanding its trade exchange network across Egypt’s governorates, cities, and regions. Through its “Franchise Program” and other authorized regional representation arrangements, eligible partners can establish domestic branches and help bring modern barter to more businesses within their designated territories across the country.
Barter adds value to your business.
BARTER BUREAU® creates opportunities for businesses to exchange value, meet their needs, and trade beyond cash.
Interested? Let’s Talk
Interested in exploring how barter could work for your business? .. Share a few details about your business, and our team will get in touch to explore your sales potential, discuss your business needs, membership options, and explain the next steps toward joining BARTER BUREAU®.
Privacy Notice: Please review our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy to understand how we handle the personal information you submit through this form.