Barter Articles

When I prepared to publish my book last year, I wondered how I could finance the project without draining my bank account. I knew I would need editing services, a graphic designer, promotional materials and a new Web site. But instead of reaching for my checkbook, I turned to a barter exchange to help me get my project off the ground. Through this exchange, I secured an editor for my 280-page manuscript and a printer to create new letterhead and business cards.

Every year, companies transact billions of dollars worth of business without money ever being transferred from one account to another. There’s no cooking of the books going on here.

Companies big and small are using barter to sell and purchase goods and services. When someone first told me that barter was big business, I flashed on a vision of storehouses piled high with pukka shells and trading beads. The reality couldn’t be further from that image.