Put simply, KTE is non-profit trade company that acts as a clearinghouse and third party record keeper of trade transactions among its members, which are businesses that contract with KTE to organize and facilitate barter of their goods and/or services with other business owners.

The Kentuckiana Trade Exchange, Inc. is a non-profit network of business owners who work to help each other prosper through trading products and services within their communities to increase commerce and reduce cash expenditures.

A barter credit (or dollar) is an accounting unit used to record the value of trades. One barter credit is equal to one dollar in U.S. currency. Ownership of barter credits denotes the right to receive goods and services available within the trade network. Barter credits may be used only in the manner and for the purpose set forth in our Membership Agreement and Trading Rules & Regulations. Barter credits will not be considered legal tender, securities, or commodities. Barter dollars may not be redeemed for cash. KTE disclaims responsibility for the negotiability of barter dollars. Barter credits are the assets and liabilities of the members of the network. This means that the positive account holders hold the debt of the negative account holders.

A barter coach is a KTE employee whose function it is to assist clients in the sale and purchases of goods and services on barter.

A member is a business that has contracted with KTE to exchange its goods and/or services with other clients and wishes to subscribe to KTE's record keeping and barter services.

A member who conducts trades in accordance with the KTE Membership Agreement and Trading Rules and Regulations, is current in any debt owed to KTE, and has a valid in-date KTE member card, is considered a member in good standing. Only members in good standing are entitled to the services of KTE. When a client has by his or her conduct or misconduct displayed to KTE the inability to meet the standards set in client's own industry relative to the quality of goods or services, or has been charged with the commission of a crime involving fraud or moral turpitude, or otherwise exhibits to KTE that the client's reputation in the business community has been diminished, then for the protection of the remaining clients, KTE reserves the right to restrict the use of client's barter dollars to purchases only and shall restrict the rights of said client to sell or advertise client's goods or services for sale until such time as client can exhibit to KTE that the standards expected in client's own industry can be met.

Most of our members and in general businesses across the USA find barter to be very profitable. Our Barter Discovery Appointment, where you meet face-to-face via zoom, Skye or an in-person visit with our team is particularly important in evaluating your particular situation. If your business is not yet operating at full capacity, or if you plan to expand in the near future, please consider scheduling a Barter Discovery Appointment.  

Remember, every new customer you service after you have met your fixed office expenses (payroll, rent, utilities, etc.) is very profitable. Providing your products and services for even a few new customers after basic expenses are met can make a big difference to your bottom line.

KTE will refer new customers to your company. The new customers we send will pay for your products and services with barter credits that you can use with any other participating businesses in the barter network. KTE acts as a referral service and manages your barter credits. KTE keeps a record of all sales and purchases for you on a monthly statement viewable 24/7 on our website. It is no more difficult than having a second checking account.

A KTE card is a printed plastic card issued for identification and trading purposes. Our members must have a KTE card in order to make a purchase. KTE cards issued are the property of KTE and must be returned upon demand. Our members are solely responsible for all charges made on KTE cards issued to the member's account. KTE is not responsible for use of KTE cards by unauthorized persons. The individual signing our Membership Agreement and Trading Rules and Regulations as well as any individual using a KTE card personally guarantee any transaction as well as any cash service fees that may have occurred as a result of such transaction. KTE cards are issued to all authorized KTE cardholders free of charge. All requests for additional KTE cards must be in writing and signed for by the member. Additional KTE cards for new authorized barter cardholders are free of charge. Members will be charged a ten dollar cash fee for each replacement KTE card.

Our tech team has made paying with barter as easy as a credit card transaction. Our members are issued our KTE card and present it to the member they'd like to trade with. The member then has the option to use our website, iPhone or Android apps to complete the trade. Members with a verified cell phone number can also make trades via text messages from that verified number!

Credits are tracked and recorded in real-time, and a member can only do a transaction if they have enough barter credits available.

Please contact the KTE office immediately if a member business refuses to accept your KTE card for payment. Before you place your order, always identify yourself as a KTE member who will be paying with barter. KTE is not responsible if a business refuses to accept a KTE card and KTE will not make restitution for any cash charges that the member may incur. All disputes concerning the use of barter are between the client and the business. KTE bears no liability in the event the issuing business refuses to honor the KTE card.

KTE has the ability to issue account sub-KTE cards to allow employees and family members access to your KTE credit balance. Currently there is no way to restrict the specific amount of your KTE credit balance the sub-KTE cardholder has access to. We encourage you to utilize gift cards issued by KTE for gifts to employees and afamily members unless you'd like they to have full access to your balance. We expect this issue to re remedied in a new version of our software soon that will allow for the transfer of a specific number of credits to your employee or family member.

Gift Cards are issued by our KTE office staff and are available anytime by simply calling the office or emailing us. They can be for any amount you'd like and we will provide a printed member list you you for use with gift cards.

At this time all gratuities owed for services received from restaurants, caterers, beauty salons, nail salons, massage therapists, limousine services, and such must be paid in cash. It is never appropriate to pay for gratuities owed with barter credits.

Your KTE Online Account is available 24/7/365 at the top right hand side of this page and is labeled "KTE Member Login". Your account is completely separate from our main website and utilizes bank-level security to protect your personally identifiable information. Our website and online account server is PCI-compliant and continuously monitored for intrusion and threats by our tech team.

Put simply. Every single feature KTE offers is available to your via your online account or app. Our members can check their balances, view all of our exchange members, view products and services made available by our members in our Marketplace and update the information on their business. You can review recent transactions, interactions and purchases with our members and even send messages directly to any of our members. Anytime, in real-time.

Please contact your broker for help creating your web shop and offering products/services on our Marketplace. We also have a help file available on the site which can answer common questions.