Simple as Sayin' Good Mornin'
IslandBarter is a trade exchange. You earn Trade Dollars when you serve a member, and spend them with any other member. No direct swaps. No complicated math. Just neighbors helping neighbors.
Three Steps to Trading
Become a Member
Fill out your application and tell us about your business or service. We verify every member — because on St. Thomas, trust is everything. Once approved, you get your Trade Dollar account and you're listed in the member directory. Your neighbors can find you, and you can find them. The whole process takes about 48 hours, and our broker walks you through every step.
Earn Trade Dollars
Do what you already do — fix an A/C unit, cook a meal, cut some hair, design a website. When you serve another member, you earn Trade Dollars deposited right into your account. One Trade Dollar equals one US Dollar, always. You charge the same prices you always charge. The only difference is you're getting paid in trade instead of cash, and those Trade Dollars can be spent with anyone in the exchange — not just the person you served.
Spend with Any Member
Here's where it gets good. Those Trade Dollars you earned? Spend them anywhere in the exchange. Your plumber's haircut funds your dinner out. The restaurant's landscaping pays for their accounting. You're not locked into one-for-one swaps — you trade into a pool, and spend from that pool. Browse the member directory, find what you need, and trade. It really is that simple.
What's a Trade Dollar?
Your Local Currency
The Trade Dollar (T$) is the currency of the IslandBarter exchange. It's not cryptocurrency, it's not a gift card, and it's not funny money. It's a unit of account that tracks the value of services exchanged between members.
- T$1 always equals $1 USD — no fluctuation
- Earned when you provide a service to any member
- Spent when you receive a service from any member
- Recorded and tracked in your online account
- No interest charged on positive balances
- New members may receive a line of credit to start trading
- IRS-reportable as barter income (we help you with that)
Rules of the Exchange
Simple rules that keep the exchange fair, honest, and good for everybody.
Fair Pricing
Charge the same prices in Trade Dollars as you would in cash. No markups, no special "barter pricing." If a haircut costs $25, it costs T$25. Fair and square.
Quality Guarantee
Deliver the same quality of service for Trade Dollars as you would for cash. Your reputation in the exchange is your reputation on the island. Do good work.
Dispute Resolution
If something goes wrong, our broker mediates. We listen to both sides, review the facts, and find a fair resolution. Most issues are resolved within 48 hours because, well, we all still have to see each other at the grocery store.
Frequently Asked
No! That's the whole point of the exchange. When someone serves you, Trade Dollars leave your account. When you serve someone, Trade Dollars enter your account. You can earn from one member and spend with a completely different one. It's a community pool, not a one-to-one swap.
Tell us! Our broker actively recruits new members based on what existing members need. If you need a plumber and we don't have one yet, we'll go find one. The exchange grows based on member demand.
Yes. The IRS considers barter exchange transactions as taxable income. We provide a 1099-B at the end of the year, just like a stock broker would. The good news: you're already tracking everything through the exchange, so tax time is easy. Consult your accountant for specifics about your situation.
Absolutely. Many trades are a mix of Trade Dollars and cash. For example, a $100 service might be T$60 and $40 cash. Members work this out between themselves. The exchange tracks the Trade Dollar portion; the cash portion is between you and the other member.
Contact us immediately. Our broker mediates all disputes. Members who consistently provide poor service or act in bad faith can be suspended or removed from the exchange. Your reputation is everything on this island, and we take that seriously.
There's no cap on earnings. The more you serve other members, the more you earn. We actually encourage members to actively trade — a healthy exchange has Trade Dollars moving, not sitting idle. Earn and spend, earn and spend.
Both! If you have a skill or service to offer, you can join. You don't need a storefront or a business license. Freelancers, side-hustlers, and skilled individuals are welcome. The only requirement is that you have something of value to trade.
Ready to Start Trading?
Join IslandBarter and put your skills to work for Trade Dollars.