Why join Avontage?

Avontage is the ONLY platform to help promote and market your business locally in Arizona at NO COST.

The members of public find your special Offers online and pay you with credit card, similar to Groupon, except we don't take any fees and the funds are transferred directly to you from the credit card processor, so no waiting to get paid. We also don't force you to deep discount your services. You set your prices.
For the members of Avontage, you and other business owners in the community have the benefit of trading/exchanging your services with each other. We utilize "Avontage Bucks", our internal credit points to facilitate multi-party trades.

You trade as much or as little as you want per month, you are in control. You can always increase or decrease the number of trades per month, depending how many new clients you'd like.

We will be promoting your Offers and the Avontage marketplace to the general public via search engine optimization (SEO), Google, Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin and all other social media platforms and ads.

How Trading Offers With Other Avontage Members Work

1- Join and set up your free business profile.

2- Craft & post your special offers and earn up to $200* bonus Avontage Bucks immediately.

You are in Control of how many Offers you'd like to trade per month: Offer as many or as little as you like...you can cap it at 1, 2 or 20 Offers per month, depending on how many new clients you can handle per your own schedule.
Book those slow time slots and empty seats with high-quality and repeat clients, your like-minded peers, the brilliant business owners and entrepreneurs.

3- Utilize Avontage to grow your business, discover offers from other members in the community.

Search for services offered by other members in the community. Offers such as Restaurants, Digital & Influencer Marketing, Dentists, Fitness, Beauty, Spa, Fun Events, Entertainment, Sporting Events, and many more added everyday.

4- Buy an offer with a tap-of-a-button

Use your Avontage Bucks credits to "Buy" any Offers from other members. Essentially you're paying with your services recouped from your down-times and slow-periods instead of paying with your cash.
Offers can be bought for your business or personal use. Use them to help grow your business, for marketing and advertising, or use them to get a much needed massage or facial. Save your cash and KEEP IT LOCAL.

5- Redeem and enjoy! Especially when you didn't have to pay for it with your hard earned cash!

The entire buying and redeeming process is managed and controlled by you online on our platform, similar to eBay escrow accounts. Funds are withheld until services are fully rendered to your satisfaction and you mark the transaction as Complete.

6- BONUS, KEEPING IT LOCAL

You'll be making great connections with other local business owners in your community building the start of long term relationships. They become your clients and you become theirs.

How Selling Offers To The Public Works

1- Once you've joined and setup your business profile

You'll need to setup your bank account info to receive payments when your offers are sold online.
All bank account info and credit card transactions are handled by Stripe.com. We have no access to your information.

2- Craft and post your special offers.

Promote your offers with the Share buttons on the Offers page on to your social media platforms.
We are also promoting your Offers to the public to help increase the visitors traffic.

3- Interested customers buy your offers with a tap-of-a-button

Members of public will find and buy your offers online.
You'll get an email notification of your sale.

4- Redeeming process

The buyer will follow your redeem instructions to arrange redeeming the offer.
Once services have been provided and the Offer has been redeemed, the Buyer will set the Offer status as "Marked Complete" then the funds are transferred into your bank account as an ACH.

5- BONUS, KEEPING IT LOCAL

You'll be making great connections with other local community building the start of long term relationships.

How much does the membership cost?

Nothing, it's FREE

Are there any other fees?

During our beta phase there are no fees at all. Avontage is 100% FREE. When we go LIVE, there will be a nominal of 8% to 10% transaction fee for completed transactions only.

Do I have to be a business owner to be a member?

Not necessarily, you can be a influencer, freelancer or anyone with a talent or skill who’s willing to offer your services or products for trade. However, we do check for quality members. You must be a legitimate business owner, maker, or doer to join our community.

What is Avontage Bucks?

Avon-BUCK is our internal “currency” credit-points. You earn Avontage Bucks when you trade your Offers and spend them to "buy" other Offers from other members of the Avontage marketplace.

Why Avontage Bucks ?

Avontage Bucks is utilized to track the fair value of each Offer/trade and service provided. It helps to keep trade transactions fair and transparent as well as facilitating multi-party exchange of services. Trading doesn’t have to be one-to-one only.
*Avontage Bucks have no cash value.

How do I check my Avontage Bucks balance?

You can view your current available Avontage Bucks balance on your Profile page, as well as, when you're getting ready to make a payment you'll be presented with your available balance.

How does a trade transaction work?

You Post your special Offers in the Avontage marketplace.
You sell your Offers and earn Avontage Bucks.
With your earned Avontage Bucks, you can buy any other Offers.
For all transactions, Seller needs to ACCEPT or DECLINE the request.
If Seller ACCEPTS, then transaction is “Pending Completion" or Redemption.
When services have been rendered & Offer is Redeemed, Buyer needs to "Mark Complete" the transaction to confirm satisfactory receipt, and the Seller gets paid.
An eBay style “escrow” accounting is utilized to withhold the Avontage Bucks in transition while transaction is pending Completion, to ensure a trustful process.

How do I price my Offers in Avontage Bucks?

It’s simple, 1 Avon-BUCK = 1 Dollar. Price your Offers in Avontage Bucks similar to your retail rates when accepting cash or credit card. No more...no less. No deep discounting is required. Remember, your Offers are also available to the general public which pays with credit card and you get all of it minus processing fees.

How do I start shopping when I haven't "sold"anything yet to earn Avontage Bucks?

This is why during our Beta phase, we'll issue $200 Avontage Bucks to everyone who signs up and Posts at least 2 Offers. So you can start experiencing the value our platform can offer you.

How do I earn more Avontage Bucks?

You can earn more Avontage Bucks by "selling"/trading your Offers.
Also earn $50 Avontage Bucks for every qualified member you refer to us.
Qualified referrals:

Must be a quality local business owner or freelancer.
Must Post at least one Offer.
Offer must be within our Terms of Use*.

Are there any tax implications?

When buying any Offers, any sales taxes are due in cash/credit card to the Seller, if required by the Seller.
Per IRS regulations, all business barters and trades must be reported as income and expense, just as you would any cash expense. Please consult your accountant for details. Below is the excerpt from IRS's website.

"...

Reporting Bartering Income

You must include in gross income in the year of receipt the fair market value of goods or services received from bartering. Generally, you report this income on Form 1040, Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship) or Form 1040, Schedule C-EZ, Net Profit from Business (Sole Proprietorship). If you failed to report this income, correct your return by filing a Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Refer to Topic No. 308 and Should I File an Amended Return? for information on filing an amended return.
..."

Can I accept or pay with credit cards?

Yes. If you choose to, you can Buy any Offer and pay with your credit card.
To sell your Offers and Accept credit card payments, you will need to setup your account info. Goto Settings - Payments and enter your bank account info.
**All credit card payment processing and bank account information are handled by Stripe (see https://stripe.com/connect)

__________

Do I have to provide my bank account info?

No, you don't. You only need to enter your bank account info under About - Payments, if you wish to accept credit card payments for your Offers. All credit card payment processing is done through Stripe.com and fully encrypted.

What are the top categories of Offers that will be available in our marketplace?

Accounting/Bookkeeping/CPA
Air Conditioning/HVAC Services
Attorney/Legal
Auto Repair/Mechanic Service
Chiropractors/Physical Therapists
Dentist -Dental work
Digital Marketing
Fitness and Training - Yoga/Plate/Gym
Food -Restaurants/Catering/Cafe
Handyman/Appliance/Electrical/Plumbing Services
Health/Beauty Spa/Massage
Home/Office Cleaning Services
Hotel & Travel
IT Services/Web/App Development
Influencer - Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, etc
Kid's Activities/Events
Landscaping Maintenance/Services
Pet Training and Services
Pest Control
Photography/Video Production
Plastic/Laser Surgery
Pool Services
Print Advertising Magazine/Coupons/Mailers
Printing Services/Business Cards, etc
Sporting Activity/Golf, Karate, etc
Transportation -Limos/Uber/Taxi Services
and many others...

What if I need certain services that are not listed or available yet?

You can Post your request on the BULLETIN BOARD.
We also encourage you to message us about any of your needs so we can actively recruit and focus our marketing efforts.
You may also recruit and refer from within your business circle and earn $50 Avontage Bucks per referral.