| If you're looking for new ways to build your | | | | to referrals to new cash customers. |
| business there is a practical alternative to the | | | | Evening out the ups and downs of business cycles |
| conventional buying and selling of goods and | | | | If you are building a new business or, your |
| services. | | | | business has slow periods, you can turn |
| It's called barter. Traditionally, barter used to be | | | | "downtime" into "uptime". Do more business on |
| something like" If you cut my hay I'll give you | | | | barter when times are slow and temporarily stop |
| some chickens". | | | | trading when you're too busy. You'll attract more |
| Modern barter is the exchange of goods or | | | | customers, more work and even out the ups and |
| services through sophisticated barter exchanges - | | | | downs of business cycles. |
| without money changing hands. Members trade | | | | Move Your Unused Inventory Reduce your cash |
| goods and services with other members to earn | | | | costs, and clear the way for new inventory. By |
| "barter dollars". Using these "barter dollars" any | | | | clearing out stock you don't want you earn |
| member can trade for goods or services from | | | | "barter dollars" to help you buy things you do |
| any of often hundreds of other members, | | | | want! |
| anytime - without using money! It's a great way | | | | How Does a Barter Exchange Work? |
| to get products and services - particularly when | | | | Usually, When another member is interested in |
| cash flow is limited. | | | | buying your product or service no money is |
| Barter exchange members typically offer | | | | exchanged. Instead, the member pays for it in |
| everything from pizzas to personal fitness training, | | | | "barter Dollars" which go into your barter |
| window cleaning to wellness programs, car repairs | | | | exchange "barter account". |
| to computer repairs and everything in between. In | | | | You can now use your "barter dollars" to buy the |
| fact, I belong to an exchange and offer my | | | | products or services of any other member. When |
| services on barter. Remember however, that | | | | you make a transaction, whether buying or selling, |
| barter only makes sense if you wanted or | | | | you typically pay a small fee to the barter |
| needed a product or service in the first place. | | | | exchange. This is how they make their money. |
| The Benefits of Barter | | | | As a rough rule of thumb, never let your barter |
| Increase Your Customer Base When you join a | | | | credit balance get above 5-10% of your sales or |
| network of often hundreds of other like minded | | | | you could run into cash flow difficulties. |
| entrepreneurs, independent professionals and small | | | | Check your local Chamber of Commerce listings |
| businesses who offer a wide range of products | | | | or your Yellow Pages for a barter exchange near |
| and services, you become part of a community | | | | you - then check out the barter exchange with |
| of exchange members who often experience an | | | | some of its members and decide if barter is your |
| increase in their customer base which usually leads | | | | best bet for building your business! |