Clarington Board of Trade

What Clarington Board of Trade does

The Clarington Board of Trade (CBOT) is a not-for-profit, membership-based business association serving small and medium enterprises across the Municipality of Clarington, Ontario, including the communities of Courtice, Bowmanville, Newcastle, Orono, and surrounding rural areas. The organization was founded in 1998 (per firmographic data; one source cites 2017) and operates from a single headquarters office at 54 King Street East in Bowmanville, with a staff of approximately nine employees.

CBOT's core offering is a five-tier annual membership program (Corporate Partner $3,255, Premier $1,500, MemberPLUS $750, Classic $285, and Not-For-Profit $160) combined with a calendar of in-person networking events such as Morning Motivator breakfasts, CBOT Coffee Hours, and the annual Shop Clarington Showcase. Supporting services include the CBOT Unplugged podcast, a Home-Based Businesses Peer2Peer Group, a Member2Member discount program, a Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan, a searchable member directory, and the Shop Clarington local business directory. The Business Watch resource page, developed in collaboration with Durham Regional Police Service, adds a public-safety dimension to the offering.

The organization generates revenue primarily through subscription-based annual membership fees, supplemented by corporate partnership arrangements. Its go-to-market is community- and event-led, supported by organic social media (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), email newsletters, and a self-service member portal hosted on the GrowthZone platform. Technology footprint is non-proprietary — no AI, APIs, or SDKs are disclosed — and operations are localized entirely within Clarington, with no evidence of geographic expansion beyond the municipal boundary.

Name

Clarington Board of Trade

Legal name

Clarington Board of Trade and Office of Economic Development

Website

https://cbot.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Clarington Board of Trade (CBOT) is a not-for-profit, membership-based business association serving small and medium enterprises in the Municipality of Clarington, Ontario, through tiered annual memberships, networking events, a local business directory, and community advocacy programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bowmanville

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees at tiered levels (Corporate Partner $3,255, Premier Member $1,500, MemberPLUS $750, Classic Member $285, Not-For-Profit $160) constitute the primary revenue stream. Membership provides access to events, networking, member directory, and member-to-member discount programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Clarington Board of Trade (CBOT) is a not-for-profit, membership-based business association that sells annual memberships at five tiered price points and delivers networking events, advocacy, and business support services to local businesses in the Municipality of Clarington. Its core deliverables include tiered membership subscriptions, recurring networking events (Morning Motivator breakfasts, CBOT Coffee Hours, Shop Clarington Showcase), a member-to-member discount program, an online member directory, group insurance access, and a Shop Local promotional platform.

Product overview

The Clarington Board of Trade is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization serving businesses in the Municipality of Clarington. Its offering consists of a multi-tiered membership program (Corporate Partner at $3,255, Premier Member at $1,500, MemberPLUS at $750, Classic Member at $285, and Not-For-Profit at $160 annually) combined with a calendar of networking events including Morning Motivator breakfasts, CBOT Coffee Hours, Networking on the Patio, and the annual Shop Clarington Showcase trade show. The organization also produces the CBOT Unplugged podcast, operates a Home-Based Businesses Peer2Peer Group, provides a Member2Member Discount Program, offers a Group Insurance Plan through Chambers of Commerce, and maintains a Member Directory and Shop Clarington local business directory. A Business Watch crime prevention resource page supports member safety.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Partner Membership Top-tier annual membership at $3,255 offering comprehensive benefits for businesses seeking premium association engagement, including maximum visibility and access to all CBOT events, networking, and advocacy resources.
• Premier Member Membership Annual membership tier at $1,500 offering enhanced benefits and visibility within the Clarington business community, positioned as a premium business membership.
• MemberPLUS Membership Mid-tier annual membership at $750 offering expanded benefits beyond the basic Classic membership for Clarington businesses.
• Classic Member Membership Entry-level annual membership at $285 offering core Board of Trade benefits, including networking events, member directory listing, and member-to-member discounts for businesses joining CBOT.
• Not-For-Profit Membership Annual membership at $160 offering the same benefits as the Classic Member tier for non-profit organizations operating in Clarington.
• CBOT Unplugged Podcast A podcast and video series featuring discussions on local business topics, community impact, and Clarington business insights, distributed via YouTube and other channels for thought leadership and community engagement.
• Morning Motivator Events Monthly buffet-style breakfast networking events for business leaders across Clarington, offering opportunities to introduce themselves, share insights, and build connections in an intimate setting.
• Shop Clarington Showcase An annual community-focused public event designed to showcase, celebrate and support Clarington businesses, featuring exhibitor booths and a local marketplace open to the public.
• CBOT Coffee Hour Informal relaxed networking events held at local coffee shops, open to members and non-members with no registration required.
• Home-Based Businesses Peer2Peer Group Collaborative peer-to-peer group for Clarington home-based business owners designed to foster collaboration, share insights, and learn from fellow entrepreneurs.
• Business Watch Crime prevention resource page supporting businesses with practical tips, crime reporting information, and access to local crime data, in partnership with Durham Regional Police Service.
• Member2Member Discount Program Discount program allowing CBOT members to offer and access special offers from fellow member businesses across the Clarington community.
• Membership Referral Program Program incentivizing existing CBOT members to refer new businesses to join the Board of Trade, expanding the membership base.
• Group Insurance Plan Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan offering health and business insurance options to CBOT members at group rates.
• Member Directory Online searchable directory of CBOT member businesses for local networking, referrals, and discovery within the Clarington community.
• Shop Clarington Directory promoting local Clarington businesses and supporting community commerce, covering retail, wellness, and food establishments across the municipality.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Pathwise Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner for Accelerate Your Networking event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Provides promotional support for CBOT networking events.
• Durham Regional Police ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Business Watch crime prevention resource page. DRPS provides crime prevention tips, crime reporting information, and local crime data to support Clarington business community safety.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ajax Pickering Board of Trade: Adjacent Durham Region Board of Trade serving Ajax and Pickering. Closely comparable in mandate, geographic scope, and membership-based business association model.
• Whitby Chamber of Commerce: Neighbouring Durham Region chamber serving Whitby businesses with a similar membership, networking, and advocacy model. Directly comparable as a local Ontario Board of Trade/Chamber competing for the same regional business audience.
• Oshawa Chamber of Commerce: Durham Region chamber of commerce serving Oshawa businesses with tiered membership and event programming. Directly comparable in scale, scope, and target member profile to CBOT.

Broad incumbents

• Toronto Region Board of Trade: Large metropolitan board of trade operating across the Greater Toronto Area. Comparable in mission but vastly larger scale; relevant benchmark for advanced member programming CBOT might emulate.
• Canadian Chamber of Commerce: National chamber of commerce offering the Chambers of Commerce Group Insurance Plan referenced by CBOT. Broad incumbent providing shared services and federal advocacy across Canadian local chambers.
• Ontario Chamber of Commerce: Provincial umbrella chamber representing Ontario's local chambers and boards of trade. Provides policy advocacy and aggregated programs; CBOT is part of its affiliated network.

Regional players

• Durham Region Association of REALTORS: Regional professional association operating in Durham Region with membership-based services. Comparable as a regional membership organization supporting local professionals, though industry-focused on real estate.
• Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce: Regional chamber east of the GTA serving Peterborough and surrounding area. Comparable as a small-city Ontario chamber with similar tiered membership and networking programming.
• Northumberland Central Chamber of Commerce: Regional chamber of commerce east of Clarington serving Northumberland County. Comparable as a small Ontario chamber with similar membership tiers, networking events, and advocacy role.

Others

• Invest Clarington: Local economic development partner featured alongside CBOT members. Thematically aligned as a complementary organization promoting Clarington business growth and economic development initiatives.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKoX_nYh_PbrgVRyfTTrRbA
• Facebookfacebook.com/claringtonboardoftrade
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/claringtonbot
• Instagraminstagram.com/claringtonbot

Compliance1 record

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 Clarington Board of Trade