More
Than Just Money: Barter
By
definition, barter is when parties swap services
or resources. But in business terms, it's an
exchange that ends usually with everyone a
winner. All parties involved in bartering hold
onto their cold hard cash and don't lose a cent.
There's no worries about getting ripped off as a
buyer or seller, so it's an exchange that's high
on trust, low on tension. And finally, the
government doesn't get its hands on any of the
proceeds. Bartering is such a great system, it's
no wonder it's been around nearly forever.
Historians and archeologists reckon that
bartering is a human business practice for the
ages. It goes back as far as written history,
and perhaps even further into mankind's (and
womankind's) history of business practices.
Between humans, the actual business practice of
money came long before money was invented. In
written history, as far back as 9,000 BC,
shepherds used cattle as a means of
exchange-from sheep to cows, camels to goats.
Then when farmers came along during the course
of the next couple thousands of years, grains
and plants became the hot commodity in the world
of bartering.
Bartering may have dissipated over the years,
but it by no means went away. That's the amazing
thing about bartering. It still is, to this day,
the ideal method of business exchange for some
business folk, including companies with millions
in assets. But it's especially helpful for small
businesses looking to get a leg up on their
competition.
Listen to people talking in today's business
world, and you'll hear stories such as the
programmer who helped to code an interactive Web
page for a startup graphic-design company, in
exchange for a logo design for his own startup
surf-board design shop. Then there's the story
of the new Internet advertising firm rolling out
an ad campaign for a restaurant. Later that
year, the restaurant hosted a "free"
party and dinner for that ad firm's clients.
Examples in today's business world abound for
bartering. The reason is that bartering still
has many advantages to it in this modern
business world.
For instance, for companies that are just
starting to build up their assets, bartering is
an opportunity to save their hard-earned cash.
Even established companies love the chance to
keep their money in the bank. With bartering, a
company can get what it needs, while providing a
service that the other company needs.
And because there is no money passed between
pockets, the taxman does not even need to know
about it. That saves you, and your accountant,
the trouble of figuring out one more piece of
business income or expense.
Lastly, deals involving money may whip up the
old Scrooge mentality-a combination of greed and
mistrust. With money deals, you may always be
left wondering if you got the short end of the
stick. Not so with bartering. With bartering,
you get exactly what you need. And in return,
you give a fair share of goods or services.
There's no need to be a Scrooge here. Instead,
the whole transaction is one of trust and
understanding. Generally speaking, bartering for
goods and services feels more worthwhile than
paying money, whether you're bartering for a
dinner party for your clients, Internet
advertising space, or whatever it is that you
and your bartering partner agree to. Perhaps
it's because you can actually feel the value of
your own goods and services. Or it may be just
because you don't have to open your wallet.
Author
Bio
Donald Lee is the public relations manager for
Buysellcommunity.com. Buysellcommunity provides
free classified listing services. Buy, Sell and
trade: auto, computers, household items, real
estate, pets and much more. For global and
localized classifieds, please visit http://www.buysellcommunity.com
- Free Buy & Sell Classifieds
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