System and method for distributing promotional certificates

A system for distributing promotional certificates, comprising:

• a system server having a processor and a memory, the memory in communication with the processor and including at least one database embodied thereon, the database defining a plurality of users, a plurality of participating businesses, and a plurality of promotional certificates associated with the participating businesses, the processor configured to associate in the memory each of the users with either an individual one of the participating businesses or a provider of the system server;
• and
• a user device associated with one of the users and in communication with the system server, the user device having a software application configured to present the promotional certificates for redemption at the participating businesses, the user device configured to scan a code of an advertisement of the individual one of the participating businesses, the scanning of the code causing the processor to associate the user with the individual one of the participating businesses, the user device further configured to scan a code of an advertisement of the individual one of the participating businesses, the scanning of the code causing the processor to associate the user with the individual one of the participating businesses,
• wherein the processor of the system server is further configured to calculate a rebate to the individual one of the participating businesses based on the promotional certificates presented for redemption by users associated with the individual one of the participating businesses in the memory of the system server, wherein the rebate is calculated as a percentage of a value of all of the promotional certificates redeemed at the individual one of the participating businesses.

A method of distributing promotional certificates, the method comprising the steps of:

• permitting a user device to be in communication with a system server having a processor and a memory, the memory in communication with the processor and including at least one database embodied thereon, the database defining a plurality of users, a plurality of participating businesses, and a plurality of promotional certificates associated with the participating businesses, the processor configured to associate in the memory each of the users with either an individual one of the participating businesses or a provider of the system server, the user device associated with one of the users and having a software application configured to present the promotional certificates for redemption at the participating businesses;
• presenting the promotional certificates on the user device;
• allowing the user to select one of the promotional certificates for one of the participating businesses;
• and
• permitting the one of the participating businesses associated with the selected one of the promotional certificates to redeem the selected one of the promotional certificates on the user device, the user device communicating to the system server that the selected one of the promotional certificates has been redeemed.