Trading with others is loads of fun and an easy way to save your cash; from one-to-one barters to offering your goods to thousands in a barter exchange. It’s true that once you get the hang of it, you can become a bartering machine! But hey … not so fast, Speedy Gonzalez, you might overload yourself if you’re not careful. The goal is to create smart barters with balance. Here are some simple tips, so you don’t bite of more than you can chew!

Many people barter their services, from consulting, coaching, hairstyling, contracting, plumbing, you name it. We know that time is definitely valuable.

So, before you say yes to a barter, ask yourself the following…

1. How much extra time can I REALISTICALLY offer each week or month without over-extending myself or cutting into my paying client’s time?

2. What’s my return looking like and when will it be delivered? You want to make sure this is clear. What if you spend five hours a week on a project and they don’t fulfill your barter until two months from your date. Get it in writing first!

3. Is the service something that can be delegated to another team member, intern, or volunteer to save me time?

Dig Up Some Products and Perks

Don’t have the time? Search for some more buried treasures to offer up.

1. Do you have access to tickets, events, restaurant discounts etc, that your barter client might need instead?

2. Instead of getting you in the flesh, have you duplicated yourself in the form of a book, e-book, CD, DVD, or podcast? Informational products work wonders. You produce it one time and can reach thousands!

3. Do you have extra inventory on a product that you can offer up?

I remember when I first started bartering years ago, I was saying YES to a lot of things, because I wanted what they had. I also remember I went through a period of over-extending myself to the point of working overtime to fulfill the needs of cash-paying and barter paying clients. Remaining a person of my word means a lot to me.

Your reputation as a person who comes from a place of integrity can go a long way and also be a predictor for how long you’ll be in business. Needless to say, I kept my word after learning that STRESSFUL lesson of over-doing it. If you learn anything from my mistake, only barter when you absolutely know you have to resources and time to fulfill that order. Bartering should be fun, not a chore!

Keep Livin’ Good,

Simone