Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South African businesses might be missing out on the benefits of commercial barter trading, which has seen considerable adoption in other parts of the world. Commercial barter is the non-monetary exchange of products and services between organisations specifically from the small to medium business sector. The research aim was to unpack and understand the level of awareness, engagement and perceptions of commercial barter in order to assess the viability, scope and scale of commercial barter as a trade instrument across small to medium businesses in South Africa. The research took on a quantitative approach surveying representatives of 68 firms primarily situated in Cape Town, South Africa. The research results suggested that commercial barter is a viable method of trade for small to medium businesses. Although viable, the scale to which it will propagate is dependent on the growth of awareness as well as the growth of knowledge on barter practices amongst firms that form part of the small to medium business sector. The study further found that commercial barter is favourable to organisations that offer either goods or services, more so to firms that are part of business services, information technology, hospitality and personal services industries. With commercial barter displaying viability, a Barter Exchange Network is suggested for mass introduction to South Africa. The generic business model was described using the Business Model Canvas by Alexander Osterwalder.