The World is Your Market: An export guide for small businesses

PREFACE The picture is clear: if American small businesses intend to grow and prosper, they will need to seriously consider doing business in foreign markets. Information is the key. Small business owners themselves cite the lack of information available on exporting as their single, greatest obstacle to entering the world trade arena. In an effort to fill that information need, the U.S. Department of Commerce, AT&T and UPS have joined forces and prepared The World Is Your Market for the new-to-export small businesses, as well as firms already exporting. This guide was written specifically for small business executives who are prepared to take their products and services beyond the boundaries of the United States. In addition to providing hundreds of "next-step" resources, the publication explains the basics of exporting, from letters of credit to business taboos in different cultures. While this guide cannot guarantee success, it can provide direction to American companies that are willing to make the commitment to doing business in foreign countries. The World Is Your Market draws heavily on the personal experience of other small firms that have already crossed the export threshold. Some cases are success stories, while others offer valuable lessons for the small business exporter. We invite you to tell us about your own export experiences, so that we can share them with other small businesses.