94. Stretch your budget with barter. Swapping one product or service for another is a good way to avoid cash outlays-and unload slow-moving inventory. If you'd rather not bargain with other businesses directly, hire a commissioned barter broker (listed in the Yellow Pages under "Barter"), or join a commercial barter club or exchange. The National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE) is a clearinghouse for member exchanges across the country, allowing business owners to swap just about anything with anyone. Participants typically receive "trade dollars" for their goods or services, which are brokered across cities nationwide with the help of NATE.
95. Barter for better compensation. Barter can also be an innovative way to supplement your employees' compensation. For example, you could offer your sign-making services to a barter exchange pool and, in return, receive the services of a local dentist. Then, instead of paying for dental insurance for employees, you could provide them this valuable perk-without paying any cash.
Guen Sublette is a writer who avidly recycles used envelopes and paper clips to keep costs down in her Redondo Beach, Califonia, business.
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This article was originally published in the February 1997 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Savings Plan.
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