| One of the most overlooked methods of doing | | | | house painted. You can offer to trade the stuff |
| business is using the barter system. People | | | | you are planning to sell for their painting services. |
| assume that you have to pay money in | | | | Here are some methods for more successful |
| exchange for the receipt of something of value. | | | | bartering: |
| Not only is this not true, it makes good business | | | | Be flexible in your thinking. |
| sense to barter for the exchange of goods and | | | | Bartering will not always deliver exactly what you |
| services. Bartering is a great way to get and give | | | | want, when you want. You must be willing to |
| something of value without spending a dime. | | | | change vendors, try new ways to promote your |
| Just exactly does it mean to barter anyway? | | | | business, or perhaps look into different options. If |
| Barter or trade is a powerful tool that represents | | | | you can be flexible bartering will not only work for |
| a solution for companies with available inventory | | | | you but it will make life more interesting and |
| or services. By accepting payment in trade dollars | | | | adventurous. |
| instead of cash, a business maximizes their | | | | Be creative. |
| efficiency by increasing inventory turnover or | | | | Creativity means you must be willing to look |
| billable hours. Using the trade dollars earned, the | | | | beyond the obvious. You must see new ways of |
| company can purchase the goods or services | | | | doing things. Don't only think cash as the answer. |
| they want - without paying cash. | | | | You might find that trading can be an even more |
| Bartering can occur with almost anything. Any | | | | powerful motivational tool. Using trade to settle |
| product or service can be bartered and it doesn't | | | | debt, close sales, travel, or charitable contributions |
| have to be a business only trade. In planning to | | | | are just a few of the creative applications of |
| barter, it's important to think creatively. What | | | | bartering. |
| have you got to offer that someone is willing to | | | | Be willing to wait for the right opportunity. |
| trade for? What do you need in exchange? When | | | | As with patience, with bartering, good things |
| planning to barter it's also important to understand | | | | come to those who wait. Nine times out of 10 |
| that it never hurts to ask. Inquire and ask a | | | | you will get you what you want, but you may |
| supplier if they barter. Don't be embarrassed. You | | | | have to wait for it. |
| don't barter because you don't have the money | | | | Be quick to respond. |
| to spend. You should do it because it's one of the | | | | While you must be willing to wait, you must also |
| smartest and fastest growing ways of doing | | | | move quickly when something comes along that |
| business. | | | | is not normally available on trade. Those who do |
| You can barter at any time. It's an excellent way | | | | not respond quickly are often left sitting on the |
| to build relationships while conserving cash. Excess | | | | sidelines. It's like a taking advantage of a great |
| goods and services can be traded for things and | | | | sale. Don't spend time mulling it over; grab it the |
| goods that you need. | | | | first time. |
| Here are some examples: | | | | Think barter first. |
| You are an expert in marketing. You need a new | | | | In the normal, everyday world you are always |
| brochure; you can barter your marketing | | | | thinking about how you are going to increase |
| expertise to a printing company in exchange for | | | | sales to pull in more dollars into your business. In |
| them printing the product. | | | | the barter world, the sell-side is easy. Now you |
| You are an expert in customer service. You need | | | | need to expend the same kind of time and |
| a vacation; you can trade your expertise at the | | | | energy on using your dollars. You must think trade |
| hotel destination in exchange for free rooms. | | | | before spending cash. Think trade all the time. |
| You have a yard sale and a painter comes by | | | | So lets get started bartering. What do you have |
| who wants some of your stuff. You need your | | | | to offer? |