Editor's Choice Business & Finance

As a company that strives to save your business cash, we are also a company that wants to give back to the community. We wanted to let you know that there are ways you can give back, both as a business and in your personal life, when your financial resources are limited.

Many things slowed down during the years of the pandemic but one thing that did not slow down was the entrepreneurial spirit. It is true that many if not all businesses felt the pressure created during the quarantine years. Now is the time to hit the ground running again and find new ways to increase cash flow.

Our most successful members are innovators who apply the barter principle in situations where few of us would even pause to consider it. While the nature of their businesses varies widely, these seasoned traders share the same attitudes and barter strategies. For you who are new to barter, here are ten barter tips...

2022 has certainly presented business owners with a whole new set of challenges. In the wake of current events; the ongoing pandemic and the unrest in Russia and Europe, consumers and small business owners alike are scrambling to figure out how to thrive in spite of soaring inflation rates.

The recent local chamber of commerce email had an article that talked about a CEO advocating for his employees during a merger with another company. This phrase caught my attention…serving as your advocate.

At IMS, we are often asked what advertising avenues are available? We’re going to turn the tables to you this time….   Please send us a list of advertisers you want to use!

Radio advertising is a relevant AND effective tool for reaching consumers and gaining sales. Here are a few key points as to why you should consider investing in radio advertising now...

Thankfully, the new year is fast approaching and it's the perfect time to reflect on the past year - both highs and lows. To make 2022 the best business year for you, we decided to help by giving you some business resolutions to consider as you review your 2021.

Business owners join the IMS network for one of three reasons; save cash, attract new customers, or increase sales. Once these business owners are a part of the network for a while, they may notice that not all business owners play fair. This is true in the cash world as well, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that it happens within the network of IMS as well. However, we know that the value of the IMS dollar is strong, so let’s just review a few of the best practices when buying and selling through IMS.

There were many unexpected occurrences during the height of the Coronavirus Pandemic. One of which may or may not have been expected was the decline of cash payments and coincidentally a coin shortage due to gears of increased transmission risk. Because of this, many people, including businesses, turned to credit cards to get by. Many businesses are still relying heavily on said credit cards.

IMS Helps you make the most stimulating of Investments… An investment in your Own Business Today’s savvy business owners and entrepreneurs are busily planning their moves in the expanding barter marketplace - it’s the arena where they can use their “Private Capital” (product/service) rather than cash … and every time they do, their “yield” is considerably greater than what is normally obtained in the stock market as a passive investor.

Last week IMS was tagged by BestStartup.com as one of the 21 top business development startups and companies in Wisconsin 2021. Of course IMS is not a startup, having been in business since 1985. However, I would call IMS a startup business development company!

How do you keep the talent within your company, what type of jobs are applicants looking for, and what can/should we offer them? The common answer: enticing benefits. But what if you are a small business and don’t necessarily have the monetary power to offer benefits that applicants can’t walk away from? IMS provides the solution.

During these uncertain times, you may be faced with hard decisions like relocating your business or even how you are going to afford your rental office space. But even now, there are opportunities and options available to you thanks to IMS.

The latest Government economic stimulus package is on its way to US bank accounts. For some small business owners, this stimulus money could help their business to stay open and functioning. However, instead of spending that money, we say SAVE IT!

As small business owners, you are looking for ways to keep your business going and thriving in the current state of the world. You’ve probably considered every option except for one that seems a little “unconventional.” That would be a modern commercial barter exchange.

It’s been about a year since the Covid precautions and regulations began, and most business owners are still struggling to cope with the “new normal”. According to health and economic professionals, it’s going to be a long road to get back to full capacity.

​“The world is in a constant state of flux.” - Heracleitus, 540-480 B.C. Little did the Greek philosopher know how well his observation would apply to today’s business world. With all the creative minds in the world, innovations are following one another in rapid succession, changing the way we think of our companies, markets, competitors - and ourselves!

It’s 2021 and most of us are thankful and completely ready for a fresh start and to forget 2020. But as business owners, we can’t forget. So what should a business focus on in the year to come? Here is what IMS suggests to add to your business resolutions for 2021

Business owners today have seen their fair share of ups and down in the economy over the past decade but there’s still an opportunity to capitalize on. A 4th Financial dimension, barter, provides every business owner with an opportunity to harness their “private capital” and use it to achieve their business goals in the coming year.

Most companies are cognizant of the need to attract and keep good, quality personnel. One way to do so is to provide them with a generous employee benefits program. As a member of IMS, you can sidestep the usual sizable cash investment when creating the benefits package because you have an option - barter.

It often takes a while for new clients of a barter exchange to fully comprehend the economic benefits of this unique relationship. Some business people are even reluctant to become involved with an organized trading company because they don’t really understand the nature of barter transactions.

According to the US Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, in 2019 there were 30.7 million small businesses in the United States with Chron estimating that over 627,000 new businesses started each year.

Most people realize that barter has become an important aspect of international commerce. But barter activities can also be very profitable for small business owners, for professional people, and for those working in the various building trades.

Do you know all of the ways a business can benefit from trading hard goods or services? Read on to see if you do!

​According to Dun and Bradstreet, the typical small business owner has the following concerns: Shortage of skilled labor Increased competition Cash-Flow difficulties Controlling costs. IMS can help with these.

What are you doing to advertise or marketing your way out of the recession? Are you using your trade exchange members’ services at every opportunity? Here are a few inexpensive ideas to keep your name in front of the public. The services and products suggested can be obtained on barter in most cases.

Recently, at an event discussing the power of using the IMS payment system to save cash, one attendee asked an important question: “What happens when a company acquires too many IMS dollars?”

Every business owner knows cash is king. Your vendors expect to be paid on time and regularly, and when you fall short, you’re finished. This is why it’s so important to learn alternate ways to increase your cash flow.

Personnel costs are usually at the top of a company’s monthly expenses. And rightly so, because the key to building a solid organization is having reliable, talented and intelligent people.

How to determine the cash equivalent of your IMS dollars When making a purchase with your IMS dollars, you often pay prices slightly higher than a competitor’s cash discount price. It is important to be able to determine the real cash equivalent of your IMS dollars to be able to “weigh” the buying decision.

We really can do all the things we told you a barter organization can do. We find it sad that some of our IMS members don’t ever really get into the mode of trading. Joining our organization was a good decision then… and it still is.

Since 1985, IMS has helped clients survive recessions, financial panics, wars, credit and liquidity issues, hurricanes, numerous global challenges, and now a pandemic. We have helped our clients weather these storms by leveraging their most immediate yet untapped financial resource, unsold inventory.

IMS has solutions to the problems most growing companies face today. IMS can help you to better control today’s challenges of reaching new customers, improving cash flow, increasing profits, and retaining quality employees.

We have all heard the saying "Don't put all of your eggs in one basket." This saying is especially true if you are a small business owner. If you have only one service, or just one product to sell, your potential customer base is exponentially smaller than if you had two products, or two services.

As a business owner during this COVID-19 pandemic, everything feels like it has become unstable and unsure. You are fighting to keep your business open, and to do that, you are fighting to keep your employees. It’s a seemingly impossible task right now as revenue and income streams dry up.

Running a business takes incredible hard work and grit. Plus talent, experience, salesmanship, an instinct for what the market wants, as well as some luck and “capital!”

Added sales, by making every day count, is certainly one important path to follow. But let’s face it, it’s not going to be a “piece of cake” during this current falling economy. Just like you, your competitors have become very efficient and more determined than ever to retain their own market share.

During this global pandemic, we at IMS want to give you up to date and important information to keep your business going. Last week, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic fall.

IMS is open for business and brokers are ready to take your calls, respond to your emails, and bring you trade opportunities that save your cash reserves.

Cash flow can become tight in any business. A wise business owner will look for ways to increase cash flow, whether business is plentiful or lacking. Here are 10 MORE ideas to help you survive the cash-flow crunch and make the best use of IMS Barter.

We know cash-flow is tight right now. Here are 10 ideas to help you survive the cash-flow crunch and make the best use of the IMS barter system.

I have an exciting job – I literally own my own day. Setting up deals, authorizing payments, purchasing and selling inventory, designing media campaigns, shipping goods, serving as a mediator between clients, and welcoming new clients to IMS are all part of a typical day.

According to a recent article in The Business Journals, there are 7 common drains on a company’s resources. They said “A company’s resources can include time management, production, and even staffing.” IMS Barter has many solutions to turn your excess inventory or time into resource-saving, cost-saving alternatives!

The US Small Business Administration recommends spending 7 to 8 percent of your gross revenue for marketing and advertising if you’re doing less than $5 million a year in sales.

What are the most common New Years Resolutions for Businesses? How can IMS help business owners keep their resolutions for the New Year? After some research, we discovered five ways IMS can help your business resolutions.

If you are a small business, you are always looking for a new way to save cash, attract new customers, and boost your revenue streams. One of the most over looked ways to achieve these three items is BARTER.

Ever since 2008, there has been a push for a cashless way to attain vital business necessities. The answer was the rebirth of Barter and the invention of cryptocurrencies. however most believe that Barter = Bitcoin. That is not true, and we will tell you why.

Most know New York City for being a city full of attractions and entertainment, a city that never sleeps. But what you might not consider in the lump-label of entertainment was New York City had a thriving Video Game Arcade Culture. One such arcade is IMS Member, Chinatown Fair.

It is sometimes difficult for businesses to set themselves apart from the competition, but Precision Garage Doors of Cincinnati truly does! Continue reading to learn why.

Studies show that over 30% of businesses engage in some form of barter…this for that…in direct trade. Most business owners aren’t familiar with the concept of business trading. Here are a few examples of Direct and Indirect Bartering.

One aspect most businesses, even some residential places, forget about is the importance of responsible and smart recycling and junk removal. Luckily, one IMS member specializes in this. Junk King Cincinnati and Dayton joined IMS’ ranks in 2016 but the company itself has been operating since 2005.

For any pet owner, traveling or even looking into weekly care can be stressful. One of our IMS members, Citizen Canine, can ease all your stress and worry about boarding your furry companion.

Use the services available through IMS for these necessary legal expenses.