Charges for businesses on Facebook Offers

Facebook is to start charging businesses to run Offers on its social network, turning a previously free service into a potential revenue generator at a time when Wall Street is demanding new sources of growth and profit from the company.

The group, which listed in New York in May, launched Facebook Offers this year, letting retailers send deals to their Facebook fans. Users claim the offers from their news feeds and redeem discount vouchers at stores.

The service has been free, but in coming weeks merchants will have to pay at least $5 (£3) on related ads to promote each Facebook Offer.