A new business

[FreeSwap]

Hi - I posted this in another area but thought it would be more approproate here; Cut and paste job

Hey

1st timer so do be nice to me

I am working alongside a colleague to launch a new business. I can't see where this has been done before, so I wanted to see if you guys had any views on it?

It is a business to business 'trading' or more to the point, 'bartering' site.

Many years ago, before currency as we know it, business / people would trade their business skills or products/ services and collaborate

This website has been created with that idea in mind.

Mr Cameron's 'Big Society' idea, like it or not, is a prevailing theme currently and I think this kind of website certainly has a place within that idea. A toll for sharing and swapping skills /products and ideas. I think it is great for small businesses needing to get of the ground in particular.

No charges, no membership fees, no costs to post ads, etc and the currency is collaboration between businesses.

There is a mention of it in the FT recently

'If you're starting up, or a owner operator, a freelancer or small business, you invariably may not be on 100 mph and you may need to keep costs down. Freeswap is a solid robust solution.(c.f Luke Johnson, 21 July 2010 Financial Times)'

I don't want this post to be 'spam' - I would like genuine advice/ feedback, see what you think

Please feel free to ask any further question, here on email

Thanks a lot, any advice is massively appreciated.

Its an online business called freeswap

 

[NuBlue]

I have seen a number of these ideas before, the idea of either using a fake currency (token style system) or trading goods instead of using real money. My main issue with this as a business model is that businesses need to make money.

We pay the rent - with money
We pay the bills - with money
We pay the wages - with money
and so on

So swapping a website design service for say some legal advice is fine but come the end of the month I still need to pay the rent and because I did not sell the website design service I can't!

The other problem as I see it is how you quantify what something is worth. How much would you swap a website for.....? So for me this isnot something I would consider, I would much prefer to find a good supplier, get a quote and pay for the service I need and then concentrate on selling our services to pay for it.

Not saying it is a bad idea, but I think to do this well it would be a lot of work. Out of interest how would you make any money out of this as a business?

 

[k3nji]

hey!!
im new in this forum also,,and im from malaysia..
im not to eager about the website..but ive quite some idea..
im thinking about business networking to other country..for example,,you are from manchester can be agent for selling things from malaysia,,and in contrast..currently,,people are buying a lot from china,,and sell in our places..but,,what if we buy things from other country that nearer to our country,,and sell it by being an agent..wouldnt it be good and can have side income?what ur opinion?

 

[CraigieDD]

Hi there,

I know of a number of examples of where this works well. If you run a company where your time is what you get paid for then out of ours work can be offset against purchases you make through the system.

I've used systems like this to get radio advertising, press advertising etc at a fraction of the cost of rack rates. Actually, "advertising" isn't really what I got, I ran competitions, which work a treat.

http://www.tbex.com/ is one we're active in right now.

If you want to develop a similar website let me know, we can develop a solution for you.

 

[FulfilmentAdvisors]

I have come across bartercard.com site a number of times, I have not used it myself but know its a multi-million pound turnover company so must be doing something right.

I dont know if this is exactly what you are looking to do, but suggest its worth you looking at.