Smallbussinesupc.com is owned by Engaging Ventures and Anaheim, CA.  The idea came about about 2 years ago when a friend of mine starting small retail business asked if I knew anything about getting a UPC code.  I told I had one, but really haven't used it much.  I offered her a chance to use my prefix as long as she didn't use any that I wasn't already using.

After thinking about it, and realizing I have 99,999 different possibilities, I started goggling things like "single barcode" and "buy a barcode" and realized others had started selling subsets of their prefixes.  I also noticed several sights warning about those "other" non-GS1 websites.

Digging into more information, and finding the original paperwork from the Class Action Lawsuit, I realized that yes it is legal and fair to sell subsets of my prefix code.  I also realized that if I signed up for Partners Connections, I would be agreeing to not let people use subsets of my number.  Needless to say, I didn't sign up. 

I called GS1 just to verify that I do indeed, for life, own my UPC prefix code outright.   After researching some more, and discovering the high cost of applying for a prefix code now, I decided I should make my codes available to small startup companies who would rather spend $900 on marketing and advertising than on a UPC Code.

During the development of this website, I spend a lot of time researching the legality of what I'm doing, as well as what retailers want.  Here's basically what I came up with.

If you have a few items, say 4 different designs of shirts you want try out, you might 16 UPC numbers assuming 4 different sizes per style.  $900 for 16 SKU's is $56.25 a piece!  Especially if your product fails, and you do not create any other products, AND if you're a sole proprietor, like a lot of startups - you're out $900 right off the bat.  Not exactly what you want to spend opening capital on.  Think what $900 could do on Ad Words on Google?

Now, there are large retailers like Wal*Mart who won't accept a subset, or shared company prefix.  (Actually, Wal*Mart is the only major retailer confirmed that won't accept them.)  GS1 says some companies will charge back a simple stocking, reorder, or other kind of fee if you get caught using a subset.

So, in my humble opinion, if you are good enough to get into companies like Wal*Mat, Sears, Target, BestBuy, etc, etc, etc....then you are talking orders in the 1000'd at which point you can probably afford  your own company prefix code.  If you plan on have a lot of product development down the road, I would also probably seriously look into getting your own prefix.

Meanwhile, save some money, spend it on advertising, get the sales, promote like hell, and makes lots of money.  If you product is in high demand, I'm sure even Wal*Mart would make an exception.  In the end, it's all about paying the bills.  I hope I helped give you a foot in the door somewhere.  If I did, please write me an email telling me what you did, what your product is, and how it sold.  I love hearing stories about other Entrepreneurs.

For more information on Engaging Ventures, the owner of SmallBusinessUPC.com, click the links below.