This book concentrates on the things that new and established business owners need to know to make their enterprises competitive and profitable. Poteet has compiled into one volume the work of more than 50 national business leaders, commissioned specifically by the Small Business Administration to produce a series of management aids for the growing entrepreneurial community. A wide range of issues are covered, including purchasing for retail store owners and small manufacturers, credit and collections, market research techniques, overseas marketing, consignment and mail order selling, and advertising budgets. Other topics range from productivity improvement, quality control, and inventory management to strategies for finding and paying employees and managing employee benefit programs.