I recently visited the website of one of my favorite restaurants and discovered their blog hadn’t been updated in over three months. Quickly, I began thinking of possible blog posts I could write in exchange for free food at this great restaurant. I approached the owner and received positive feedback, so that got me thinking: what else could I trade for my writing skills?
This economic climate seems ideal for trading. Cash doesn’t seem to be flowing as quickly as in years past, but that doesn’t mean businesses and home owners and consumers aren’t in need of products and services. Here are some questions to consider when trading your services.
Who will you trade with? What do you need? Landscaping help? New insulation? A meal at a nice restaurant? There are lots of things you could try trading for, but remember, the IRS requires you to declare anything bartered as income as well.
How do you know if a company is willing to trade? Some companies are open with their willingness to trade. Others may not be. So why not just ask?
Do you have time to barter? If your business is booming, bartering may not be for you. But if you have some downtime and are willing to work for goods and services rather than money, it may be a good option.
Will the deal be fair? Be honest in your negotiations. What would you normally charge for your service or goods? You should expect similar compensation in return even when it’s translated into a product.