A major function of any trading center is the (re)distribution of goods, and Dyvers is no different in that respect. Many goods that are neither produced nor used in Dyvers pass through the city. The docks are always bustling with activity, with cargo ships being loaded and unloaded. Many merchant caravans pass on their goods to other merchants and so on. As a result of this activity, Dyvers contains many warehouses, yards and markets. A multitude of professions and businesses that support this activity are also present, for example: there are the people who load and unload the goods, those who produce packaging materials such as crates, rope, barrels etc., those who produce, repair or manage means of transportation such as carts, rafts, oxen etc. and those who record all the handling that is taking place, such as clerks and accountants.

If Greyhawk is a city dominated by mages and priests (and especially by thieves, many a Dyverian citizen will say) then Dyvers is a city dominated by warriors. Many mercenaries and hirelings flock to the free city to seek employ and their prospective employers do likewise. Dyvers status as free city is important to the mercenary trade, as it enables the city to contain many mercenary companies of differing nationalities (and allegiances) without causing a political upheaval. Again, the city’s leadership considers unhindered trade (of any kind) a top priority, and the mercenary business is just another trade to them. They do keep a close watch so as to prevent any mercenary company from threatening the continued independence of the city and they take care that conflicts between different mercenary companies are being resolved outside of the city proper. As with shipping and handling, many businesses that cater to the mercenary trade can be found in Dyvers: weapon and armor shops, outfitters, training facilities and schools for the arts of war and combat, inns, taverns, gambling dens and the like.

Banking is a form of business that has only gained prominence in Dyvers the last few decades. Due to its position as a trade city, there was a serious need to regulate the flow of funds. A great trade city needs moneychangers to exchange currencies for proper barter. Trading caravans and ships often carry a great financial risk with them, and financing them is a serious business. A lot of secondary professions also arose from these needs: insurance agencies, bounty hunters to collect on loans gone bad, accountants to do the paperwork, appraisers for judging the value of foreign barter. Most of these trades where present in Dyvers in one form or another for many years, the recent upsurge is a sign that a certain degree professionalism has crept into the business. (The banking business remains largely unlike our 20th century counterpart, however.)

Dyvers is famed for the many festivals and conventions that take place there each year. During these periods, the city is often thronged with outsiders. Many people take long journeys to be present at one of Dyver’s great festivals. The sheer enormity and variety of entertainment present during these festivals even awes some more seasoned travelers. Most travelling circuses, shows, and other entertainers make a stop in Dyvers sometime in their career, if not each year. Next to entertainment, food and drinks of all sorts can be had, either exotic fare or the more common varieties. There is work for minstrels, bards and actors, sellers of trinkets and momentoes, costumes of all kinds can be bought, there are many places to stay and celebrate; inns, hostelries, taverns etc. These activities generate enough wealth to keep the local thieves’ guild alive and well, despite the efforts of those who enforce the law in Dyvers. Some people also deem Festivals a good time to settle old scores, as the city guard has its hands more than full during these periods, so next to merrymaking, intrigue is also abundant.

Having a good natural harbor and access to many important waterways, Dyvers became an improtant site for shipbuilding. Most shipbuilding facilities lie along the river, in an area called the Wharfs. Although not known for their innovative qualities, the shipbuilders of Dyvers are praised for the reliability of their vessels. It is a rare captain who outlives a ship from Dyvers, the saying goes. It speaks for itself that a lot of attendant trades, such as those who make ropes, stitch sails and make nails are also abundant. Dyvers gets most of its wood from the Gnarley forest, and is somewhat at odds over this practice with that forest’s inhabitants. Forested areas once surrounded Dyvers and even grew right up to the bank of the Velverdyva River. Most of these trees have been chopped down and used as construction material or firewood. Although Dyvers has learned not to rely on wood shipments from the Gnarley that heavily, logging is still abundant at its edges.

Dyvers is also well known for the skill of its woodcutters. Nowadays a business of a much smaller scale than those mentioned above, it no longer has a dominating place in the city’s economy. Many gifted artists still spend their days carving beautiful decorations into many kinds of wood, however. These decorations can appear on art objects, such as wooden figurines, but also on furniture, doors and windows, and even tools. What is true for shipbuilding is also true for this profession, although more (especially rare woods) wood is imported and less is taken from the Gnarley.

As a trade city, Dyvers possesses many different guilds. Some are more organized than others, and not all businesses have a guild associated with them. It is not required by law for anyone who wants to start a particular business to join a guild, but guild membership is encouraged by the city’s rulership. In their opinion guilds improve communication between the merchants and the city administration and they can perform some functions that improve trade. Such functions can include quality control, a form of insurance, as other guild members can step in for a member who suddenly gets sick etc. Depending on their wealth and type of organisation some guilds have a seperate guildhouse, where they conduct much of their activities. Other guilds are less structured, and often rent a room if a meeting between members is scheduled.

Founding a new guild
Those who want to found a new guild have to acquire permission from the city administration first. They have to deliver an application where the purpose of the guild, the rules by which its members are bound and its initial membership is summed up. If this application meets the approval of the city administration, a special charter is given. Those guilds that are founded without a proper charter are known as rogue guilds. There are currently a few rogue guilds inside the city, the thieves guild the most prominent among them. Members of these rogue guilds are persecuted by the city’s law enforcement.

Guild membership
Each guild sets its own requirements for membership. These requirements differ from an entrance fee or a yearly membership fee to intensive pre-investigations, agreeing to regular unannounced quality control, making oaths to certain gods or displaying certain signs or symbols at the members’ place of business.

As important as it is for the city to keep the trade flowing, it is also important to generate enough revenues to pay the city officials and keep the infrastructure in good condition. Tax collectors (usually accompanied by a DGP - see Law & Order) tour the city all year round. Their black uniforms have given them the nickname "ravens" and they are not a welcome sight to the merchants and businessmen of the city. Tax fraud is certainly present in Dyvers, although large-scale tax evasions are rare.

Income Tax
Every resident has to pay 10% income tax, with a minimum of 2 gp. each year. Tax sheets will be sent out to citizens throughout the year, one each year. On these sheet the taxee must write down the amount of income, and the tax he has to pay. The correctness of this will be checked only incidentally (except for suspected evaders). Taxes can be paid at the Law Tower, the City Administration Building or the Treasury, or one can ask for tax collector to collect it at the door. Whenever taxes are overdue, a tax collector goes door to door, and charges an extra fee of 1 gp. for each month overdue in addition to a 1% interest.

Wealth Tax
If one's wealth exceeds 5,000 gp. an extra tax of 0.5% of the total wealth is levied annually.

Gate Tax
At each crossing of a gate, 1 cp. per head or wheel must be paid. It is possible to buy a gate permit for 1 gp. Such a permit gives the holder unlimited access to Dyvers, free from Gate Tax for a total of three years.

Property Tax
For each 25 square feet of property owned, an annual tax of 1 sp. is levied.

Traveler’s Tax
Travelers carrying goods travelling into Dyvers, while not being citizens, can be made to pay travelers' tax. This tax is 1% for most base goods, such as metals, foodstuffs, wood and similar products, 5% for luxuries, crafted items and gemstones, and 10% for weaponry, armor, and magic items. This tax is not levied if someone wants to enter Dyvers without the intention of selling any of the goods they carry. Anybody found out selling products in Dyvers without having paid traveler’s' tax, must pay double the indicated amount or have his items confiscated.