Barter Exchange as a Business Opportunity

By Barry Cohen

Many people are losing their jobs these days. Some will go through the help wanted section every day looking for that perfect new job. Or any job for that matter. Others will take matters into their own hands. They have the entrepreneurial spirit and want to start their own business.

Does that sound like you? Sure, you’ve been approached by every MLM out there.  You can sell these lotions, or that telephone, or those vitamins. And for the ladies, you can sell jewelry.  But is that really owning your own company, or is that just a glorified door-to-door salesman?

So what would be a good business to start? That all depends on your skills, talents, and drive. If you are a tradesman, maybe you want to start a company doing what you know best. Perhaps you are in IT. You can start a computer consulting or maintenance firm. But if you like to meet people, are intrigued by other businesses, are somewhat organized (please don’t judge me by the mess on my desk), and don’t mind selling a service you can believe in, then a barter exchange is for you.

There are 2 options for owning your own barter exchange:

1. Sign on with a franchise.  You own your business, but the franchise will typically own your customers and make the rules. They take care of all the billing and can charge you anywhere from 25% to 40% of your earnings for that privilege.
2. Open your own independent barter exchange. You are responsible only to yourself and your members. Aside from your regular business expenses, you keep what you earn.

Can you guess which one I would recommend? Of course being independent is the way to go.  And there are many options for software that will help you run your company. Signing on with a network of independent exchanges gives you the same national exposure as a franchise at a fraction of the cost (as long as you’ve chosen the right network).

I invite you to look at Barter21 (http://www.bclsoft.com) as your choice for both the software to run your barter exchange, and the network in which you can interact with other independent barter exchanges. Barter21 is the next generation of barter exchange management software that the industry has been waiting for. Some of the features offered include:

• Simple batch processing of all fees collected via credit card and EFT (e-Check)
• Transactions are posted on a single, easy to follow screen
• Real time account information
• True backups off all your data whenever you want it
• Online Trading Floor for instant purchases
• Broker-Managed accounts
• Commissions calculated for brokers and sales people
• Community driven development
• New features added weekly

BCL Soft is committed to serving the barter industry with the most advanced software available today. For more information, go to http://www.bclsoft.com.