Abstract: A third-party server is disclosed herein for managing settlement services between two or more businesses, the server being third-party with respect to each of the businesses. The server may include one or more hardware processors and hardware memory. The hardware memory may store various instructions executable by the processors, including: instructions for accessing and updating first and second digital accounting platforms utilized by a first and a second business, respectively; receiving first transaction data from a first business designated for settlement with a second business, and for receiving second transaction data from the second business for settlement with the first business; aggregating the first and second transaction data to determine a payable and receivable between the first and the second business; and directly accessing and updating the respective first and second digital accounting platforms to record the payable and receivable.

Abstract: A method in accordance with the invention includes establishing a cooperative network of businesses, establishing a first entity configured to own and invest in intellectual property assets utilized by the cooperative network of businesses, and establishing a second entity configured to own and invest in physical assets shared and utilized by the cooperative network of business.

Abstract: A method for facilitating transactions between a network of businesses includes determining, for a given time period, a first invoice directed from a first business to a second business, and a second invoice directed from the second business to the first business. The method further includes aggregating the first and second invoices to determine a net payment needed to pay both the first invoice and the second invoice. The net payment is transferred between the first business and the second business. The method further includes updating an accounting platform for each of the first business and the second business to indicate that the first invoice and the second invoice have been paid.