Exchange Enterprises

What Exchange Enterprises does

Exchange Enterprises, Ltd. (also known as "The Exchange" or "EE") is a privately held barter and trade exchange company founded in 1983 in Darien, Connecticut and now headquartered in Stratford, Connecticut. It operates as a regional trade exchange serving small and medium-sized businesses in Connecticut, with national reach delivered through affiliations with the National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE) and the Barter Alliance of Networked Companies (BANC). The company describes itself as Connecticut's longest continuously operated barter exchange, with member relationships extending beyond 20 years.

The core product is a barter exchange platform in which member businesses trade goods and services using trade dollars at par with cash. Exchange Enterprises acts as the central bank and broker for the network, maintaining individual member accounts, recording trades, and issuing monthly statements. Transactions are executed via EE-issued debit cards (Exchange Cards) or Exchange Certificates, with member discovery supported by an open member directory and broker-mediated buyer-seller matching. Members access account management and trading functionality through the Nextrade360 members-only portal, alongside traditional phone, fax, and mail channels.

The business model is primarily transaction-based. The company charges a 6% fee on seller-side transactions and a 7% fee on buyer-side transactions when a valid credit card is on file, rising to 7% and 8% respectively without one, with fees billed monthly. An undisclosed annual retainer and a $15 returned-check fee supplement transaction revenue. Customer acquisition is driven by member referrals, word-of-mouth, and direct outreach, with new applicants onboarded via phone, online application, fax, or mail. The company is independently owned, has no disclosed parent or institutional investors, and operates with a workforce of 11-50 employees.

Name

Exchange Enterprises

Legal name

Exchange Enterprises, Ltd.

Website

https://exchangeenterprises.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Exchange Enterprises is a Connecticut-based barter and trade exchange founded in 1983 that helps small and medium-sized businesses trade goods and services using trade dollars, processing transactions through debit cards, certificates, and its Nextrade360 member portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Barter and Trade Exchange Services

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Exchanges (52321), Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231)

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSAFAEAA

Retail Multi-Asset Exchanges

Financial & Insurance/Financial Exchanges & Market Infrastructure/Multi-Asset Exchanges & Trading Platforms

SECONDARYFSAFAMAH

Physical Spot Commodity Exchanges / Marketplaces

Financial & Insurance/Financial Exchanges & Market Infrastructure/Commodity Exchanges

Keywords

• Barter exchange services
• Trade exchange platform
• Commercial barter network
• Business-to-business barter
• Reciprocal trade exchange

Headquarters

HQ city

Stratford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Transaction Fees - Sales: Fee charged to sellers when they complete a barter transaction. Standard rate is 6% of transaction value, or 7% if no valid credit card is on file.
2. Transaction Fees - Purchases: Fee charged to buyers when they make a barter purchase. Standard rate is 7% of transaction value, or 8% if no valid credit card is on file.
3. Annual Retainer: Annual membership fee mentioned in policies. Specific amount not disclosed on website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Exchange Enterprises operates a regional barter/trade exchange that enables member businesses to buy and sell goods and services using trade dollars instead of cash. The company acts as the central bank and broker, maintaining individual accounts for each member, recording all trades, issuing monthly statements, and providing debit cards (Exchange Cards) and Exchange Certificates to authorize and settle transactions. Members gain access to a member directory, buyer-seller matching, and a national trade network through BANC/NATE affiliations.

Product overview

Exchange Enterprises is a barter/trade exchange platform that enables member businesses to trade goods and services using barter/trade dollars instead of cash. The core offering consists of the Barter Exchange Services platform, which manages individual member accounts, combined with EE Debit Cards and Exchange Cards for transaction authorization. Exchange Certificates serve as an alternative payment mechanism. The platform also includes a Member Directory for discovering trading opportunities, Buyer-Seller Matching Services where EE brokers facilitate connections, and National Trade Network Access connecting to trade exchanges nationwide. Members receive monthly itemized statements showing sales, purchases, and account balances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Barter Exchange Services Core trade exchange service where member businesses trade goods and services using trade dollars. Exchange Enterprises acts as the central bank and broker, maintaining individual accounts, recording all trades, and sending monthly statements.
• EE Debit Card (Exchange Card) Member-branded debit card bearing the member's account name and number, used to execute barter transactions by debiting the buyer's EE account and crediting the seller's account, similar to a bank debit card.
• Exchange Certificates Paper-based alternative payment method to Exchange Cards for barter transactions; certificates have no expiration date and are submitted by sellers to EE within 7 days for credit to their account.
• Buyer-Seller Matching Service Brokerage service where Exchange Enterprises matches member buyers with member sellers, helping members find opportunities to buy and sell goods and services within the network; brokers also assist new applicants in getting started trading.
• National Trade Network Access Connection to other trade exchanges across America via BANC, extending members' buying power beyond the immediate Connecticut area to trade with businesses nationwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• Save cash by trading for business and personal expenses instead of paying with cash
• +2 more outcomes

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.

• NATE (National Association of Trade Exchanges)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNATE is an organization for trade exchange owners from across the country and around the world. As a continually improving, member-driven organization, NATE offers members additional benefits such as national and regional meetings and accreditation opportunities. Exchange Enterprises is a member of NATE.
• BANC (Barter Alliance of Networked Companies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBANC is a trade exchange for trade exchanges. It provides a universal reciprocal barter currency with integrity and stability, allowing barter companies to transact business with each other without arranging direct reciprocal trade accounts. It also provides a marketplace directory and worldwide travel section with daily email broadcasts of global barter opportunities.
• Greater Norwalk Chamber of CommerceregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerEstablished in 1889, the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce is committed to the economic vitality of Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. It provides beneficial programs, services and opportunities to members.
• The Stamford Chamber of CommerceregionalGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganized to advance the civic and economic vitality of Stamford, Connecticut. The Chamber's mission is to represent, strengthen and unify the Stamford business community. It provides access to over 1,600 businesses.
• BarterNews MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBarterNews magazine has been the voice of the barter industry since 1979. It is written by industry practitioners and is regarded worldwide as the voice of the barter marketplace, reporting on changes and evolution of barter.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tradebank: International barter exchange network connecting member businesses to trade goods and services. Same business model (transaction fees, member directory, trade dollars) and overlapping customer base of SMBs.
• ITEX Corporation: Operates a nationwide barter exchange network enabling member businesses to trade goods and services using trade dollars, with a similar take-rate model and member directory. Closest direct functional competitor to Exchange Enterprises' barter/trade exchange business.
• BizX: B2B barter and trade exchange platform serving SMBs across North America with transaction-fee revenue and member-to-member trading. Operates a substantially larger network but with the same core model as Exchange Enterprises.
• Bartercard: Global barter exchange operator (headquartered in Australia/New Zealand) running trade-dollar transactions among SMBs. Comparable model but predominantly serves geographies outside North America.

Others

• BarterNews: Industry trade publication covering the barter exchange industry since 1979. Adjacent ecosystem participant, providing visibility into sector trends relevant to Exchange Enterprises' operating environment.
• National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE): Industry association of which Exchange Enterprises is a member; accredits and connects local trade exchanges in the US and internationally. Not a competitor but a structural peer in the same ecosystem.
• Barter Alliance of Networked Companies (BANC): Network of affiliated trade exchanges providing a universal reciprocal barter currency so exchanges can transact across networks. Functions as a partner/network infrastructure for Exchange Enterprises rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ExchangeEnterprises
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stromback-global-advisors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Exchange Enterprises