John Moore published a great post today at Brand Autopsy that I think is really helpful for small business owners. If you need to get a UPC barcode for your product's packaging, John's post will tell you how. 
Here is a brief overview of some options available to you if you need to get a UPC barcode:
- To get a barcode, you have to fill out an application from GS1 US, which you can do online here.
- There is a one-time fee of $750 plus an annual fee of $150.
- Alternatively, you can get a discarded/unused barcode (which is perfectly legal and acceptable) for less than $100 at Buyabarcode.com.
- There are some drawbacks to going the cheap route, but for a small business with a small budget, it may be worth investigating.
You can learn more about getting a barcode in John's post at Brand Autopsy or in the Wall Street Journal. Do you have any other tips for getting a barcode?
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