No Cash, No Worries

Are you running low on your liquid capital but you still need to update your business? Have you considering Bartering? "Even in modern times, bartering remains a practical choice for small businesses. It's a cash preservation tool, something that's especially useful in a tough economy. It can also help move unsold inventory or put idled staff to work. Done right, bartering can even drive new cash business." stats Justin Martin from CNN Money.

For starter register with the International Reciprocal Trade Association (IRTA) and become one of the 250,000 small business who formally exchange their goods and services.

So the next time you need to fix equipment for your small business, instead of calling a service that will require cash, why not think of someone who is will to fix it in exchange for something you already have.

Small Business Contracts

Every year 23% of all Federal contracts are suppose to be awarded to "small businesses". But according to Eagle Eye, a Virginia research firm that tracks federal spending, "at least 16 companies with more than $1 billion in annual revenues were among the top 100 small business contractors in 2008".Recently Republican Hank Johnson has introduced The Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act of 2009, "which prohibits publicly traded and foreign-owned companies (or their subsidiaries) from being classified as U.S. small businesses for government contracting purposes."

With the large companies out of the running for the federal contracts, start contacting your local, county, state, and federal agencies to see what type of contracts they have coming up and most importantly find out how you can qualify to bid for the contract.