How a shared interest can help your business bloom

Feel you can’t afford a website? Do you know somebody who could create one for you if you give them something in return? Barter, trade, bootstrap.

When you start your business define exactly what you need. Contact your friends and business associates and ask for help. They may not be able to help you directly, but it’s common they know just the right person who can.

Then bring those people together. Find out what they need from you in return (it may often not be the same for everybody, so be flexible). Set everybody up with a plan—when they need to deliver what. Even though it’s a freebie, setting clear expectations is as important as ever.

And if you get this right you will see your business take off. With ‘a little help from your friends.’ Because you now have a team of people who depend on you having success.