Core accounts are those businesses that will generate immediate trading in your exchange, as every business needs the products or services of these businesses. Once you have the appropriate core accounts to satisfy the needs of your members, you can move on to prospecting for other account categories. Note that as your membership base increases, you will need to add more members in specific core account categories so that you always have sufficient supply to satisfy demand.

Here's a list of just a few core accounts that should be targeted by a new exchange...

Restaurants - Businesses patronize restaurants for their business luncheons and dinners. In addition, having a nice selection of restaurants will enhance a member’s personal life, as they will be enabled to dine out without spending cash. A great selection of restaurants in different areas of your city or town will enable your members to offset expenses for business related meals by paying for the meals with trade dollars instead of cash. Initially, it’s best to have at least one restaurant for every 10-15 members, and once your exchange is established with over 150 members, at least one restaurant for every 20 to 50 members.

Printers - Every business needs printing. Business cards, letterheads, envelopes, brochures & flyers, and marketing materials are a significant cash expense for businesses that can be converted to a trade expense. Most printers welcome the extra business that can be referred to them by a trade exchange as they can use it to fill empty press time, or in many cases when the job requires four color printing, actually include the print job with another print job, filling empty space on the page that would have been trimmed off as scrap.

Contractors - Most businesses need contractors for new construction, renovations or repairs. These include all phases of construction such as plumbers, electricians, flooring installation and maintenance and HVAC. Plus due to the current state of the economy and real estate market, contractors are anxious for new fill in business to keep their workers busy.

Maintenance & Cleaning - Most larger businesses need facilities maintenance and cleaning and every small business can use a cleaning company for a once a week cleaning. Getting one or two maintenance and cleaning companies to start will get you a member that will provide a useful service to most of your members and it will offset a cash expense. In addition, it will provide the maintenance company with new customers that they normally would never have had.

Anyone have any suggestions about additional business categories for core accounts?