I recently came across an article written by a well-meaning CPA and holder of an MBA. Yet their critical perspective of barter’s use was a bit upsetting. So I wanted to share it with you, here’s their message…

“When anyone starts a business, one of the main concerns is cost control. Even with the smallest of businesses, cash is valuable and you want to spend it carefully. But there are certain things which you shouldn’t do without, and that’s the help of qualified professionals.

“I’ve often heard of new small business owners who have found an attorney or accountant who will help them “for free” or who is willing to barter for services. I’m a believer that you get what you pay for. If you are paying nothing for your legal advice, there’s probably little real value that you’re receiving from the lawyer. (My thought: Any “free consulting” is limited and more of a way to garner a new client, I would think. And since the barter payment isn’t addressed, the implication is that’s it’s free…rather than another form of payment.)

“Let’s face it, the good accountants and attorneys get paid for their work because they’re worth it. Those who aren’t getting paid (in cash, she implies) probably aren’t giving advice that’s worth much. In the areas of law and taxes, you shouldn’t skimp and try to save a buck. It’s not worth it in the long run. Find a good professional and pay for their services. It’s worth the money!”

It would be interesting to get the writer’s perspective regarding high-powered Judith Regan’s barter deal with her highly-regarded attorney in her lawsuit against billionaire Rupert Murdoch and his company News Corp. And most personal injury attorneys often work on a barter-type contingency basis too. So, in short, even well-meaning, educated people sell barter short, nor do they fully understand its flexibility and profitability. And that’s too bad.

To learn about barter’s flexibility and profitability see: FastStart

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 at 10:34 am and is filed under From The Street. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.