Is Barter For You?

Bartering makes good sense for more than 70% of all businesses that exist.
Take the following quick test to help decide if barter is something you should
be considering for your company.

Part I:
Questions About You As A Business Owner:

1. I am always looking for new and interesting ways to find new business
   1. Constantly
   2. Most of the time
   3. Sometimes
   4. Almost never
2. I like to network with other business owners
   1. Constantly
   2. Most of the time
   3. Sometimes
   4. Almost never
3. I have a 'fire in the belly' entrepreneurial attitude
   1. Constantly
   2. Most of the time
   3. Sometimes
   4. Almost never
4. I like to try new methods and concepts of doing business
   1. Constantly
   2. Most of the time
   3. Sometimes
   4. Almost never

Give your self 5 points for each “A” answered
Give yourself 4 points for each “B” answered
Give yourself 3 points for each “C” answered
Give yourself 0 points for each “D” answered

Part II:
Your Specific Product or Service:
(Pick the one industry that is most like yours and answer that question)

Retail Sales and General Services:
What is the average margin on your product or service?

40% or greater (10 points)
30-39% (8 points)
20-29% (5 points)
10-19% (3 points)
9% or less (0 points)

Professional Services:
How much is your staff utilized?

79% or less of the time (10 points)
80-84% of the time (8 points)
85-89% of the time (5 points)
90-94% of the time (3 points)
95%+ of the time (0 points)

Manufacturer or Wholesaler:
Answer Both Questions:

1. How much of your total inventory is excess products?
   15% (10 points)
   10–14% (8 points)
   5–9% (5 points)
   2–4% (3 points)
   Less than 2% ( 0 points)
   
2. How much excess product or inventory is listed on your financial books?
   More than $ 1M (10 points)
   $500,000 – $1M (8 points)
   $100,000 – $499,000 (5 points)
   $25,000 – $99,999 (3 points)
   And less than $ 25,000 (0 points)
   

Media Services:
How much of your media space is unsold?

15% + (10 points)
10%–14% (8 points)
5–9% (5 points)
2–3% (3 points)
less than 2% (0 points)

Hotels, Resorts, Meeting Rooms:
What is your property’s current occupancy rate?

59% or less (10 points)
60–69% (8 points)
70–79% (5 points)
80–89% (3 points)
90%+ (0 points)

Restaurant:
What is your current capacity?

59% or less (10 points)
60–69% (8 points)
70–79% (5 points)
80–89% (3 points)
90%+ (0 points)

SCORE FOR PART I =
SCORE FOR PART II =

TOTAL POINT SCORE =

If your total point score is:

26+ points – You are ideally suited to consider barter for your business.
18-25 points – It’s a pretty good bet that barter would work well for your business.
10-17 points – Investigate barter and look at your business again in six months to
see if you would answer any of the questions above differently.
10 or less points – Barter is probably not for you at this time.