Rule 2: Never Barter With A Used Car Salesman

Now, I’ve done design work for all sorts of things, and have had some success from it.  But, every once in a while, I’ll get some completely crazy person come to me and offer something with ZERO value.  That’s what we have below.

I am looking for an experienced designer to design my website and also carry that design through to my business cards. I am a personal life coach and in exchange for your work, I’m offering 3 months of free coaching. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement as we can refer each other to our respective networks for work well done.

Please email me if interested (and include your phone #) so that we can discuss the details. Also let me know where I can view samples of your work.

Thank you for your interest!

I mean, come on! It’s almost too easy.  I REALLY want to send this person an email and ask for samples of their work…you think it would just be photos of people smiling?

So, how do you know if you are bartering with someone and it’s an even deal?  Well, the first thing you want to do is put a price tag on your work, BEFORE you ask for a price on there’s.  ALWAYS be the second one to name a price.  The reason, you have the leverage.

Next, you still want to have a clear cut contract with them. If you don’t, there can be a lot of gray area on when the project is over, and what is expected of you.

For example, if you REALLY REALLY needed a life coach, and this was something you wanted to do, then the contract would have your responsibilities detailed and what you expect for it.  So make sure and do that on the front end.

Make sure that you go over hard costs. If I’m doing something where I’m bartering, I want to know what costs I might incur prior to moving forward.  Let’s just say I’m getting my bathroom retiled and in return, I’d get this person set up with a new identity. I would first make sure that we both are covering our ends. So if the tiler (is that what you call them) is going to cover the tile costs, and anything else that goes into it, I’ll be covering the print costs.  Put your numbers together just like you would for a client. If you get a discount from a printer, don’t include that in the price. Because chances are, they get the same professional liberties with whoever they deal with.

Just as you would set up a payment schedule with a client, set up a work schedule with your “barteree” (I think I just made this work up). Have them preform 1/3 of the work at the same time you are doing your first 1/3 of the work. You don’t want to do all your work, and them have nothing, it makes it too easy for them to walk on the deal.

Bartering can be a GREAT thing, and if you do it correctly, you can get some cool things. Just make sure you know what you’re getting into prior to starting work.

So what’s the best thing you’ve ever bartered for?