There are many obstacles to overcome when starting a small business. Taking our concepts and strategies from our brain to reality can be overwhelming at times. Aside from the often times extensive groundwork to be laid (e.g., company formation, product sourcing, location, etc.) there is always the capital question to be answered, that is “Where can I find the money to pay for these start up costs?”.
Starting a small business can be a very expensive venture. We have previously discussed how we can use our barter credit line as a type of interest free small business loan, now let’s consider more specifically how we can use barter to reduce our cash expenses when starting a small business.
Here is a small list of goods and services that can be bartered for in an organized barter exchange .
- Attorney Services (use for company formation)
- Advertising (get the word out about your business without spending precious cash)
- Signage (Does your location need a sign? This can be expensive, use barter to save cash.)
- Printing (Business Cards, Letterhead, Envelopes, Flyers, Brochures, etc.)
- Construction (From remodeling to complete build out many contracting services can be barterd for.)
If you can aquire on or more of these by barter you can greatly reduce your cash costs when starting a small business. Even obtaining a portion of the total cost via barter is an excellent way to save cash when starting a small business. This will free up cash for many of your other business expenses.
Are you starting a small business? You have many questions to anwer. Look to barter to help answer the capital question.
August 14, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Interesting article. I want to run a business, so this will come in handy. I’d prefer to buy a business instead of starting one from scratch, but I haven’t even been find something that’s remotely interesting. Any suggestions? Thanks
August 15, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Claire – Have you checked out your any local small business groups yet? They should be able to help and direct you.
I also highly recommend BizTrader.com, which is an online global marketplace where you can invest in, buy, and sell a business. You can also find a lender through the site should you need one. There’s a wide selection of business, so you should find what you’re looking for. Check it out and good luck!