Use barter to keep cash and grow businessUse barter to keep cash and grow business

By Bob Bagga


In today’s economy, restaurants are doing just about anything to fill tables. But there’s a way to drive traffic and strengthen your business without turning to deep discounts — organized barter. 


The economic downturn has led many restaurants to discover barter as a way to fill tables, move perishable inventory and access business-building tools and services, while still having customers pay full price. Barter exchanges help companies join “small economies” comprised of member businesses eager to trade goods and services. Yet unlike direct barter, where two businesses must have what is called a mutual coincidence of needs — each party has to have what the other wants at the same time, and whatever is being bartered must be ...