Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Using Barter Can Boost Your Profits & Cut Costs in Kelowna



Companies of every size and description, from the entrepreneurial startups to multi-national giants, are now acquiring needed goods and services through barter, corporate barter and countertrade. Here's how companies of any size can start to save money by looking for bartering opportunities with their suppliers...

Barter Rule #1:

Virtually anything your company pays cash for is a prime candidate for utilizing barter. Start by evaluating every product or service your company buys from the point of view of a barter opportunity.
Could you consider exchanging your company's product or service as payment, or partial payment, to a supplier/vendor? This is direct barter, and involves an agreement between a buyer and seller that all or part of a bill will be paid through trade-in-kind rather than cash.
If you cannot come up with a good fit for direct barter, then explore indirect barter. It's done through an entity called a trade exchange or barter company, where different businesses (usually locally) who are members of the barter company, will buy and sell to one another using a trade dollar. One way to determine what goods and services are available is to look a trade exchange's directory.
Barter Rule #2:
Be sure you fully understand the economics of your own business, and that of suppliers who are potential barter candidates. Unless you do, you could wind up negotiating barter deals that waste company assets. Or, you might turn down a barter endeavor that could be valuable in the mistaken belief that the terms are unfair.
Understanding a supplier's cost breakdown can also help in negotiating a direct partial barter deal. For example, a print shop buys paper and ink for cash, but rarely operates at 100% capacity. This down-time makes no contribution to the printer's fixed costs. Therefore, a new customer could negotiate to cover the fixed cost of paper and ink with a cash payment, while the rest of the job would be payable in barter.
Barter Rule #3:
Negotiate only with the company owner or sales manager. A supplier's salesperson is not the person to talk to when desiring a barter arrangement, for two reasons. First, they are not able to make the decision, and second, it would be counterproductive cutting into his/her commission. However, the firm's owner or sales manager can understand the value of conserving cash and establishing a long-term relationship based on using barter in the mix.
Then if it makes economic sense, offer a supplier preferred status for agreeing to take partial payment in trade. The strategy for success is to undertake a small transaction first, thus allowing participants to become familiar with how barter can work for them. And then build on that success.
Barter Rule #4:
Keep exact records of barter arrangements on your company books. Make sure at least one person in the accounting department understands exactly how these agreements are to be accounted for, and give that person responsibility—and the necessary tool—for booking them properly.
When you follow these 4 rules you will find that barter can boost your profits and cut costs.
About the Author:

Barter expert Bob Meyer is the author of the easy-to-understand 24-page valuable report, The World's Best-Kept Secret. To learn how you can benefit from this free in-depth report go to http://www.barternews.com/faststartnew.htm
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Using Barter Can Boost Your Profits & Cut Costs
Posted by:
David Melse
Trade Exchange Canada,
748 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna BC V1Y 6P5
Office: (250) 717-0026 Mobile: (250) 864-0529
Website: http://www.tectrade.ca/

Frequently Asked Questions about Bartering and Trade Exchange in Kelowna

Are there any tax advantages to bartering? Barter income is treated the same as cash income. There are no tax advantages or disadvantages to bartering. Trading should be considered a marketing tool, not a tax tool. Cash purchases that are normally tax deductible as business expenses are also tax deductible when purchased on trade.

How will my business profit from barter? Barter produces new business - allowing you to expand your market and maintain your cash-paying customers. Barter conserves cash. For example, if you owned a motel that had ten vacant rooms at $100/night and you need a new copy machine priced at $1,000. Barter provides a way in which you can buy your copier, fill your rooms (at your cost on the rooms) and maintain your cash. The same is true for filling empty tables for a restaurant, moving inventory for retailers and manufacturers or increasing billable hours for service business. Barter provides a competitive edge. Barter clients are new clients that bypass competing businesses to do business at your establishment while you are maintaining your existing cash clients.

How does Barter work with a trade exchange? A trade exchange eliminates the restrictions of one-on-one trading where each business must want what the other has to offer. A Trade Consultant works with you to bring your company new sales, increased market share and to minimize cash outlay for everyday business expenses. Clients of an exchange use trade dollars, instead of cash, to handle their transactions.
An exchange acts as a third party record keeper, providing monthly statements to clients, which reflects all trade purchases, sales, and a current trade dollar balance.

What companies are involved in barter? Globally, over 470,000 businesses are involved in Barter. It is estimated that 65% of Fortune 500 companies engage in barter to one degree or another.

What does it cost to get started? There is a one-time membership investment to establish your business account. Transaction and modest monthly fees cover accounting, marketing, promotions and member services.

What if everyone wants my products and services and I can't find enough to buy?
Every member business is assigned a Trade Consultant in our office. They do a complete spending analysis with you on your current purchasing as well as projections for your business in the future. You can spend your trade in many of the same ways you spend your cash. If your products or services are in high demand, we are happy to call you first and tell you who is looking to purchase from you and what their needs are. This way you can decide if you can handle more business and know ahead of time what the job entails.

What if I need to make a purchase before I've earned trade dollars in the system?
Just like a bank or a credit union, we encourage businesses to apply for a barter line of credit. If you qualify, you can begin purchasing immediately.

How should I price my products and services? Prices quoted to barter clients are the same as prices quoted to cash paying customers. Business owners are educated shoppers. Barter is simply a mode of payment - just like a credit card or cash.


David Melse
Trade Exchange Canada,

748 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna BC V1Y 6P5
Office: (250) 717-0026 Mobile: (250) 864-0529
Website: www.tectrade.ca

Top Reasons To Work With David Melse of Trade Exchange Canada

Benefits of Trade Exchange Canada
1. Partnering with Trade Exchange Canada gives you access to our extensive membership based business network,
2. You will enjoy an exceptional edge over your competitors by taking advantage of Trade Exchange Canada's experience and knowledge of trade,
3. Our professional and dedicated sales force will increase your sales by promoting your product or service,
4. Trade Exchange Canada introduces you to new customers and opportunities as you watch your client base grow,
5. We give you the ability to source out products while our staff acts as purchasing agents on your behalf,
6. Trade Exchange Canada allows you to facilitate the exchange of goods and services between your company and other member companies,
7. Trade Exchange Canada's monthly newsletters allow you to advertise your product or service to other members,
8. Trade Exchange Canada can help you reduce your borrowing costs with our interest free loans,
9. Your profits and potential growth increases with Trade Exchange Canada's access to international markets,
10. Trade Exchange Canada allows you to defray your employee compensation expense with our Employee Accounts.

David Melse
Trade Exchange Canada,

748 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna BC V1Y 6P5
Office: (250) 717-0026 Mobile: (250) 864-0529
Website: www.tectrade.ca