bartering

[eagle lawn services]

Does anyone ever barter their services? I just picked up an account where I exchange lawn work (easy lawn, mostly mower work) for unlimited access to limo service. The guy owns a company that both rents and sells limos. The limos are something nice, I'll take my wife out on some hot dates with it, but the real reason I went for it was because he is the first house inside a very exclusive neighborhood that I would like to break into. The owner has agreed to let me put two small signs in his yard, one next to the door and the other by the street where everyone can see it as they enter the neighborhood. He is next to the main entrance and there are only two entrances to the neighborhood. I hope the homeowners assoc. doesn't get a stick up their butt about the sign though or I may lose my gamble.<br>chris

[cjcland]

your truck will also make a good sign that they cant say anything about, ask him if you can put magnetic signs on the limo when you are using it:)<p>----------<br>CJC Landscape Management<br>Winter Haven, Florida

[yardsmith]

I try to barter when I can; this year my neighbor & I are swapping services. I'm putting in his landscaping, & he's revamping the roof over our breakfast room. This seems to be something that'll get bigger & more common as time goes on. I'd rather swap than fork over cash anyday.<p>----------<br>Smitty ô¿ô<br>

[eagle lawn services]

cjcland,<br>that's what my father-in-law said, but if I did nobody would hire me, they'd think I already had enough money. <br> One other reason I picked up the account that I didn't mention before was that the owner really seems like a smart and friendly businessman. I talked to him for about an hour when I went to bid it. Luckily it was after work so I didn't lose work time. I want to pick his brain a little.

[Lanelle]

Bartering is an area where caution is needed. The IRS frowns on it so either don't or be very careful.<p>----------<br>Lanelle<br>

[lawrence stone]

Lanelle wrote:<p>&gt;Bartering is an area where caution is needed. The IRS frowns on it so either don't or be very careful.<p>And excatly how does the IRS know that your are bartering? Do the have a secret staff of<br>remote viewers?<p>You have nothing to worry about if you don't<br>have any real estate or any cash in US banks.<br>If fact the IRS does not even procecute any<br>cases where the tax liability is under 10K and now they actually have to prove your tax<br>liability not make up a number to serve thier<br>own needs.<p>The IRS is just like and other govt. agency<br>they are completely inept at what they do.

[1stclasslawns]

Bartering works for me.<br>I have my dentist and we swap services out and the BBQ joint next to him does the same thing. Also last week swaped out with my closest hardware store a new mtd (i know what you all are going to say) 21&quot; push mower with a 5.5 honda on it, I needed a new trim mower and I thought Id give this a shot, It mulches and discharges and only weighs about 45 pounds or so. 8 hours work over a months time the place is next to another weekly account Ill be right there I cant go wrong. Plus Ill have it all sumer! Jim

[AB Lawn Care]

I have a great bartering job.I works for a guy who owns a auto wrecking busines and I cut the lawn in front of the yard and also his home which is a big county job.I cut the lawn and in exchange I get work on my truck car as well as parts and so on.Just think of all the times you have had to pay big bucks for brake jobs!It works out awsome!!!!!!!<p>from:Adam<p>AB Lawn Care

[Charles]

A recent report on the IRS. Says that they go after those that can least afford to defend themselves. I dont know what the money limit on that is. I dont barter. Not for that reason though. After I get through with a job. I like to see that check or the cash. Makes me feel so good.

[crabber]

IRS (Illegal Revenue Stealers)<br>Show them no love.

[gene gls]

I maintain an eldery ladys property in exchange for dumping privilege in an old gravel pit of all my leaves,sticks and grass. It's a low maintance property.

[geogunn]

<p><br>mister stone--thanks for your insight into the operation of the IRS. have you ever been audited?<p>I'm not interested in the legality of your operation, merely your knack for record keeping/reporting in the face of a bureaucracy run amuck.<p>many thanks for your kind and honest response.<p>GEO

[GrassMaster]

Hello:<p>Bartering is OK, but if you run your business like you should & keep proper books. They will find where you were bartering & bartering is still taxable income.<p>Been there done that & learned the hard way.<p>Every once in a while irs (no capitals) they target people in certain lines of work, a few years back in 1995 they went after people in the lawn service, landscaping & outdoor power equipment business where I live. They racked up pretty nicely.<p>If you going to play games with them make sure you got the money when needed. I think it would be very nice if we went to a flat tax, everybody pay their fair share, some of those irs people get self employed, they learn how hard it is to make a living & they have to pay through the nose for all those wonderful extra benifits that we once providing them. <p>They take it for granted all those benifits, that I don't feel they are entitled too, that we pay for by the sweat of our brow & the straining of our backs.<p>If we went to a flat tax we would be paying less than we are paying now if you are truly legit.<p>Hey, that's all I know!<br>----------<br>GrassMaster - Home: www.lawnservicing.com<br>My Start Up Page www.lawnservicing.com/startup/<br>

[thelawnguy]

I did a big job once for the local Firestone in exchange for service on my truck. <p>For the past couple years I have been doing the lawn of my childrens daycare provider in exchange for her services.<p>Bill

[EDL]

I barter with my best friend, he is a mechanic in all areas, but likes to mow his own grass so i will just drop off a spare mower in need of something and he repairs it and mows his own lawn. Works out pretty well i also take care of fertilizing and mulch for his house

[lawrence stone]

geogunn wrote:<p>&gt;have you ever been audited<p>Never. I am small potatoes to the feds.<br>I report all my 1099's. It just does not<br>&quot;pay&quot; for them to spend the time to harass<br>a solo operator when there are million dollar<br>corps. that can be squeezed.

[goose]

We swap out with an express oil change and a auto detail shop.5 vehicals stay clean and maintained

[bdemir]

Mr. Stone how do you have 1099's if you supply the equipment to your workers. Do they bring their own or are you reffering to your own 1099.

[GrassMaster]

Hello Everybody:<p>The Feds make more money off the little guys, any day of the week than the big guys, Go Figure?<p>How many lawyers & C.P.A.'s can you throw at the feds to protect you, compaired to the big boys.<p>Did me in less than 6 hours & found $33,800, in the past 5 years, in errors. Day before the irs furlough in 95 I think, gave him $5,500 & he took off, wiped the slate clean,LOL!<p>Just figure if every irs agent made $1,000 or even $500 per hour min. up to $5,000 a hour max. for their boss!<p>Small to Medium Sized Potatoes Feed a Lot of Countries!<p>Do you know how you get caught most of the time? Being a ediot & paying cash for stuff that can easily be traced, such as weekly stuff, groceries, gas, video's, beer, not writing checks for cash & etc... Pay cash for clothes & not get caught, nada. If they ask for proof it's left up to you to prove that you did purchase it & show reciepts. <p>If you can't provide reciepts they just income average & in most cases you will get the shaft every time!<p>They have estimated averages on all kinds of expenses. Yes even toys for the kids & even how much money you spend a year on cloths, based on your income & members in your household.<p>Never let them come to your home or business if you can help it! In a lot of cases you have a choice. They can tell a lot by seeing the way you live & it's impossible to hide it from trained blood suckers.<p>If your real tuff & think you can handle the pressure, just take your yearleys in seperate boxes & make sure they are mixed up properly, don't make it easy for them or you to find the info they request, just act like you wan't to help.<p>LOL, they like everybody else, just don't have the time to waste looking for stuff.<p>How many of you never write checks to pay yourself cash, if you don't where does the cash come from?<p>Also if you have a sudden change in income either way + or - from one year to the next, they audit.<p>Remember they have their Duck$ in a row long before they check you out, that's why they show up.<p>If you are going to play games with them, make sure you can pay up!<p>----------<br>GrassMaster - Home: www.lawnservicing.com<br>My Start Up Page www.lawnservicing.com/startup/

[geogunn]

mister stone--thank you for your kind and professional response to my inquiry. grassmaster just posted his experience and it is a very familiar sounding one.<p>respectfully, I must disagree with you concerning the size of potato you are to the IRS. instead of being a &quot;new&quot; potato (approximately one inch diameter, very tasty when steamed with fresh green beans), to the IRS you are actually a big hunkin idaho baking SPUD, delicious when served with a big fat rib eye!<p>no offense meant, we are all easy game for an auditor that has an agenda. and they all have agendas. their employee performance is rated on percent of cases resulting in recovery, NOT, amount of recovery. you will never be audited without paying something regardless your honesty in figureing your return.<p>&quot;how?&quot; do you ask, it's alot like grassmaster said in his post.<p>here's another example: you report your mileage on your service truck lets say 10000 business miles over the tax year, which is accurate according to your mileage log book. you fill out the logbook everyday and keep over the sun visor. your auditor will mark off 30% of your business miles reported for personal use. when you provide the mileage log to him/her in the audit and they do the quick calculation to verify the miles reported are correct, they agree with you but then say they are taking 10% anyway! even if they find nothing else, get out your checkbook and start writing. or you may appeal before you write the check, but you are going to write the check.<p>and then there is the personality thing. if you clash with your auditor I hear they can be pretty vengeful.<p>mister stone, of course, none of this is directed at you, you simply catalyzed my response with your post. good luck in tax year 1999. thanks again.<p>GEO