Scottsdale software company, Avontage.com offers a place for local business owners to exchange their services through the new platform.

Avontage provides a platform for business owners to convert their services into ‘Avontage Bucks’ to pay for any service on the platform, according to a press release, noting that it does not have to be a direct trade between two businesses alone.

The founder, Sean Sarram developed the idea for Avontage while trying to grow his first business, VIP Ride Internationa and realizing they had a lot of slow times and limited marketing funds.

He contacted other businesses offering to trade his services for services he needed during his slow times, the release said.

Meanwhile, he noticed that when he was busy he did not continue this type of outreach as it is very time-consuming, the release said, detailing his research that led him to create a platform to connect like-minded business owners to trade-exchange their excess capacities.

“The platform is actually a place to go to trade, but many long term connections and friendships come out of it,” said Mr. Sarram in a prepared statement.

The platform is location-based so that all business owners are near each other and can offer each other their services or put their services into a pool where they can collaborate with one another, the release said.

On Avontage.com, entrepreneurs, influencers, and freelancers can easily find services in their area that they need, without spending the time-consuming leg work it takes to find each other.

Avontage.com recently started a business advisory board of small business owners offering what all entrepreneurs need such as website development, publicity, video, social media, and more, the release noted.

“Two-thirds of small business expenses go to other services such as marketing, so this way they can save money and get the services they need in exchange for their services,” Mr. Sarram said.

Also, Avontage.com allows trade bucks, called Avontage Bucks, to “buy” any service, which does not have to be a direct trade between two businesses, but can be for business needs such as marketing or personal offerings including dental or massage services.

Mr. Sarram, who launched Avontage.com in October 2018, has grown the company to consistently to more than one thousand local business owners and freelancers and influencers in the Valley.

The local software company is “aiming to democratize local business marketing by building a local community platform where members can collaborate, sell or exchange their services, gain each other as customers, and help grow their businesses while saving money,” the release said .

The Avontage mobile apps are available in the Apple App Store and Android Play Store and are free to download. Free for business owners to join.