Collective business system

• US 6,351,738 B1
• Filed: 05/24/1999
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AmeriQuest Business Services, LLC
• Original Assignee: Douglas W. Clark
• Inventors: Clark, Douglas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, JAGDISH
• Application Number:
  US09/317,560
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 705/9, 705/26, 705/27, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A collective business system including participants engaged in a common field of business endeavor, a plurality of suppliers of business support mechanisms of interest to the participants and a for-profit hub business entity for managing transactions between the suppliers, the participants and their customers. Under the system, the independently owned and operated participants are assigned geographically protected business locations, as well as one or more of volume discounts of goods and services, national marketing capacity, discount capital financing for purchase of costly technology and machinery, access to information technology, logistics support or other business support mechanisms. The assets of the hub business entity are substantially liquid asset based and the hub business entity enables, controls and derives income from transactions between the suppliers and participants. The system enables the participants to compete effectively with much larger corporate or similar entities or franchises in the same or similar industry or profession without sacrificing their independence.

Claims

1. A collective business system comprising:

a non-franchisor, for-profit hub business entity;

a plurality of non-franchisee participants assigned exclusive geographical territories of business operation by said hub business entity, said participants being engaged in a common field of business endeavor and being independently owned and operated relative to said hub business entity; and

an electronic commerce system employed by said hub business entity and connecting suppliers of business support mechanisms of interest to said participants with at least one of said participants and customers of said participants, said electronic commerce system enabling transactions between said suppliers and said participants and customers of said participants.

2. The collective business system of claim 1 wherein said suppliers are independent of control by said hub business entity.

3. The collective business system of claim 1 wherein said hub business entity is a corporation.

4. The collective business system of claim 1 wherein said hub business entity is a partnership.

5. The collective business system of claim 1 wherein said business support mechanisms include marketing support.

6. The collective business system of claim 1 wherein said business support mechanisms include discount goods or services.

7. The collective business system of claim 1 wherein said business support mechanisms include discount capital financing.

8. The collective business system of claim 1 wherein said business support mechanisms include access to information technology.

9. The collective business system of claim 1 wherein said business support mechanisms include logistics support.

10. The collective business system of claim 1 wherein said business support mechanisms include business consulting services.

11. The collective business system of claim 1 wherein said hub business entity derives income from said transactions.

12. The collective business system of claim 1 wherein said hub business entity is substantially liquid asset based.

13. The collective business system of claim 12 wherein said hub business entity maintains no inventory of goods of said suppliers.

14. A method of operating a collective business system comprising the steps of:

(a) assigning, by a non-franchisor, for-profit hub business entity, exclusive geographical territories of business operation to a plurality of non-franchisee participants, said participants being engaged in a common field of business endeavor and being independently owned and operated relative to said hub business entity;

(b) connecting, via an electronic commerce system employed by said hub business entity, suppliers of business support mechanisms of interest to said participants with at least one of said participants and customers of said participants; and

(c) enabling transactions between said suppliers and said participants and customers of said participants via said electronic commerce system.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said suppliers are independent of control by said hub business entity.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said hub business entity is a corporation.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said hub business entity is a partnership.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said business support mechanisms include marketing support.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein said business support mechanisms include discount goods or services.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein said business support mechanisms include discount capital financing.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein said business support mechanisms include access to information technology.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein said business support mechanisms include logistics support.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein said business support mechanisms include business consulting services.

24. The method of claim 14 wherein said hub business entity derives income from said transactions.

25. The method of claim 14 wherein said hub business entity is substantially liquid asset based.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said hub business entity maintains no inventory of goods of said suppliers.