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Our mission

Making skills easier to find, share, and put to use

Our mission is to become the leading online knowledge directory for skills, helping people discover, connect, and exchange value through special projects, mentorship, employment, and barter opportunities.

What we are

A modern reimagining of the phone book

Instead of listing only names and phone numbers, Free Market Skills organizes people by the skills, knowledge, and experience they are willing to sell, share, mentor, or barter.

FMS isn't limited to one category such as professional services or home improvement. It's an all-inclusive skills and barter directory for individuals and businesses, centered on trade, personal growth, and small business opportunity. A member's visibility and search ranking come from the skills they list and their activity on the platform.

3,067
Skills in the catalog
7,475
Titles in the catalog
226
Industries
5
Skill families: home, professional, recreational, traditional, trade
“At its core, FMS reflects a world of skills—blessed by God and grounded in basic trade. It recognizes that people succeed through ambition, service, and the willingness to build value with others.”
Eric Bruggeman, Founder · from Defining the Free Market Skills model
Why FMS

Affordable because it isn't built on gatekeepers

FMS is not founded on SEO placement, heavy marketing costs, a gatekeeper's transaction fee, or an excessive membership price. It's grounded in an internal search for knowledge and skills.

Open access to skills

Every level, including Free, can search the directory without limits, connect with members, and find mentoring.

No lead or service fees

FMS does not profit from a member's opportunities, contracts, or sales. The platform is supported by membership.

True Market Value

A value listing built on community collaboration and Barter Coin activity, not on SEO or paid placement.

Barter & collaboration

Barter Coin rewards collaboration and referrals, and ALICE matches members' wish lists to offerings.

Investment prospecting

Special listings let members present business ventures and partnership opportunities to the network.

Link your work

Connect work examples, websites, and social profiles so members can see the quality of what you do.

Who we serve

A site for everyone with a skill to share

Home, professional, recreational, traditional, and trade skills represent a person's practical value to the community and create opportunities for connection, service, learning, and exchange.

Retirees Apprentices Experts Faith-based groups Recreational communities Sports organizations Businesses Sales professionals Recruiters Career educators Mentor navigators

Every membership, including Free

  • Create and maintain a personal skills profile
  • Search the directory without limits
  • Connect and communicate with other members
  • Access mentoring opportunities
  • Earn Barter Coin through activity and referrals
Compare all membership levels
How we show up

Our 15 Community Values

These aren't aspirations. They're the standards every FMS member agrees to uphold.

Integrity
We do what we say, say what we mean, and own our outcomes.
Honesty
Transparent communication builds the trust our community runs on.
Kindness
We lead with generosity and assume good intent in every interaction.
Respect
Every member deserves to be heard, valued, and treated with dignity.
Accountability
We take responsibility for our commitments and our mistakes.
Transparency
Open, honest communication in all dealings, with no hidden agendas.
Generosity
We give first, share freely, and trust that value returns.
Professionalism
High standards in every exchange, every message, every delivery.
Innovation
We welcome new ideas and better ways of doing things.
Collaboration
Together we achieve what none of us can alone.
Excellence
We hold ourselves to the highest standard in everything we do.
Trustworthiness
We are reliable, consistent, and worthy of the trust placed in us.
Empathy
We listen to understand, not just to respond.
Reliability
Commitments kept. Deadlines honored. Members who can be counted on.
Community
We are stronger together. Every member's success is our success.

Every skill has value. Make yours searchable.

Create your free profile today and start connecting with skilled members in your community.