Bartering Your Way Back Through the Economy

Bartering – A Way To Move Your Business Forward

Is cash tight these days with your business?  Maybe you work independently and it’s difficult to find any kind of lending for a small business or for an individual?  Or maybe your business needs to expand but there are simply no extra cash reserves. Well, bartering might be a great way to keep your business moving forward by trading your services or products in exchange for someone else’s goods or services.

If you find your business is lacking cash, then this might be a creative way to help obtain new opportunities, goods, or services for your business.  

Trading goods or services can be a terrific solution to acquire something in exchange to help improve or benefit your business without using any cash, especially these days when cash is so tight and banks are not lending too eagerly. This could be that out of the box solution to help push things ahead and keep your business and your life moving forward.

According to Wikipedia, there is an estimated of over 350,000 businesses in the United States which are involved in barter exchange activities.  And there are approximately 400 commercial and corporate barter companies serving all parts of the world. I even found quite a few websites that let you look up others online to exchange skills, services, and knowledge. So bartering is looking alive and well these days. These online services take a little off the top from a small commission…but that might be something to consider to help find what you are looking for and vice versa.


You might want to first just sit down and start brainstorming what types of jobs, services, or physical items you can trade with to another business or individual. Then start thinking what services and goods do you need? Who might need your product or service? Who might like to swap with you?

Maybe you are great with social media or computers? Do you have a special skill set to trade? Are you a handyman? Are you a hairstylist? Are you a plumber? Or maybe you are a dentist or an eye doctor? Maybe you are great at organizing things? Maybe you can help another business with accounting? Then barter your services or goods to acquire what you need for your business, in place of paying for cash.

Here are some ideas to get your business moving without any cash… And this doesn’t have to be just for your business… you might want to consider bartering for your personal life? I think we all have to do whatever it takes to get this economy rolling again and bartering might be one idea to help us do just that. I also listed some skill sets to think about trading with?  Why not? If you have a skill that someone else wants…find that someone who wants to make a trade.

~ Barter for marketing and promoting your business.

~ Barter to secure a business coach.

~ Barter to get your website built or online business going.

~ Barter to obtain some computer and office equipment.

~ To get your car tuned-up.

~ Hair Stylist

~ Math tutor, language tutor, or other educational subjects.

~ House Cleaning

~ Real Estate Agent

~ Home Stager

~ Pest Control

~ Catering Service

~ Photography

~ Plumbing, Handyman, Carpenter, Roofer, Electrician, etc.

~ Accounting

~ Website Designer

~ Landscape Specialist

~ Financial Planner

~ Soccer Coach, Martial Arts Instructor, Football Coach, etc.

~ Taxi or Shuttle Service

~ Make-up Artist

This list could go on forever but I hope this gives you some ideas to work with and I would encourage going online and researching for more ideas. Also, you can barter things like jet skis, pick-up trucks, tools, furniture, computers, and that list goes on forever as well.

So if cash is tight these days then make a trade and keep things moving forward. Again, we all need to do whatever it takes to make this economy and our lives strong again. So be creative, be persistent, and make it happen!

Do you have a bartering story to share? Please feel free to comment below. We would love to hear your thoughts and experiences with bartering.

Bouncing Back in The Great Recession

It might be quite some time before this economy picks back up and I really think it is going to take a movement of we the people to be “proactive” to start turning this economy around.  And I say “proactive” and not optimistic.  Because without “Action” then being optimistic is simply wishful thinking. Action is key!

Personally, I don't think the economy is going to pick up anytime soon and I certainly don't think the past or current government will make any kind of difference to our personal situations.  So don’t wait for your ship to come in...Swim out to it! It is going to be up to YOU to make your situation work. You can do this but it is not going to be easy. You are going to have to work more hours, work smarter, network, increase your skill sets, get some mentoring or coaching, and then…step it up another 5-10% each month on top of that. It will take persistence, persistence, and more persistence to make it happen!

If I sound crazy….maybe…but I sincerely think it will take this extra pushing to do well in this present state of The Great Recession.

The rules have changed. Above average effort will no longer bring above average results, it will only bring average results. And average effort will no longer give average results, it will bring little to no results.

If you want to see above average or pretty good results than you need to bring your “A game”.  And if you want to see awesome results, than you will need to be a super star! You will need to shine like you never shined in your life. You’ll need to be “obsessive” and “passionate” in your work that you do. You will need to dazzle, and go way beyond people’s expectations. You can do this! But prepared not only to go that extra mile but to go way past that point!

Personally I see a huge opportunity right now for anyone who is willing to take all of these challenges and obstacles and turn them into opportunities and success. 

There are a lot of wonderful networking groups out there to join and I would recommend to anyone to join a networking group in your local area. Get connected! It is a fantastic way to get group support, mentoring, and increase your business.

Or find a business coach to help you put together an action plan.  Make a map to where you are going. Stay the course. Stay strong. Keep faith and keep going! You will get there!

Don’t listen to the negative people out there! Negative minds only bring negative results!

Don’t let setbacks defeat you. Learn how to turn setbacks and obstacles into financial opportunities.  If you fall down seven times…stand up eight!  Turn your challenges into financial fuel. Take this time to become smarter, increase your skill sets, and become the person you were meant to be.

"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't." by Jack Dempsey

"Don't count the days...Make the days count!" by Muhammad Ali

Success is the sum of small efforts and action that we achieve each day. So take a few actions at a time but don’t quit!  Even if you only achieve a few parts of your goal today...that is OK. That means you are that much closer to your goal. Keep fighting and keep moving forward…Inch by inch if that is what it takes.

Some days it can be hard to find that "extra" energy to push yourself forward but that is when you need to dig deep! Move forward! Don't quit!

Challenges and obstacles are opportunities to create success! So let's start creating some success!  The difference between impossible and being possible is persistence and determination.

Don’t let The Great Recession be your recession. Let’ turn it into…The Great Opportunity!

If you have a story to share I would love to hear it.

Keep Moving Forward and Stay Proactive!

~ Brad Rhoades