| Bartering is the oldest form of economic | | | | further my career. As a virtual assistant, I have |
| exchange known to mankind. From the earliest | | | | learned that building relationships is the key to |
| recorded human history, we have traded goods | | | | acquiring quality clients." |
| and services with others. As kids, we engaged in | | | | When you are considering bartering for services, |
| barter to get the lunch we wanted. How many of | | | | consider the following points before making your |
| you traded sandwiches with the person next to | | | | final decision. |
| you, or swapped cookies and milk for an apple? | | | | - Is the service something you really need? - If |
| Bartering is still a part of many economies today. | | | | someone is offering a product or service that is |
| I have heard stories from friends traveling abroad | | | | of no value to you, then do not barter. You want |
| about the bazaars where transfers took place | | | | to barter for something you really need for your |
| without cash. | | | | business. I know that Jan does a great job with |
| Bartering is a great way for your business to | | | | publishing e-books and pamphlets, so I knew the |
| conserve cash and gain needed expertise. I am | | | | relationship would work. |
| currently using bartering to gain needed expertise | | | | - How comparable is the service in price and value |
| from a great business partner. Jan Davison is an | | | | to your own product or service? - Since you are |
| executive assistant who is starting her own virtual | | | | ultimately trading value, you need to know how |
| practice. Jan's really talented and experienced, and | | | | much your services would cost on the open |
| she needs case studies to demonstrate the value | | | | market. If you charge $500 for your service, and |
| she brings to her clients. We have agreed to | | | | your bartering partner charges $250, then your |
| barter our services. I provide Jan my services, | | | | partner should provide two units of service for |
| and she provides me services in desktop | | | | every one unit of service you provide. In other |
| publishing for my books and class handouts. The | | | | words, if you charge $500 a month for your |
| relationship will eventually turn to one where we | | | | service, your partner should provide two months |
| pay each other in cash, but our respective | | | | of service for equal value. |
| businesses are helping each other with expertise | | | | - How long do you want to barter? - It is feasible |
| and saving cash for other important factors like | | | | that you could barter some services forever. For |
| marketing. | | | | example, a printing service could provide free |
| "One thing I learned through trading services was | | | | brochures and business cards to an accounting |
| that, even though I did not receive cash, I | | | | firm for doing bookkeeping work. In many cases, |
| received services that I needed, which helped me | | | | a barter relationship will transition into a traditional |
| in the start-up of my business," says Jan. "But | | | | cash exchange. Communication, including some |
| more than that, I learned about relationships and | | | | sort of written agreement, is a good idea to |
| how to build the type of relationships I need to | | | | make sure both parties receive fair value. |