Offering product to customers in other countries

The easiest, quickest and least expensive way to export is on the Internet. Build a Web site with a catalog of products and e-commerce component and start marketing.

If you want to go the traditional export route,start by visiting www.export.gov, which the Commerce Department created for small exporters. Then check with the U.S. Commercial Services offices near you, which is a division of the Department of Commerce.

Another excellent resource is the World Trade Center organization operating across the U.S. and around the world. You can find the WTC nearest you at www.wtca.org.

And here's one more: the U.S. Trade Representative web site at www.ustr.gov. The USTR is focusing more and more of its resources on helping small businesses.

An excellent trade organization is the Small Business Exporters Association at www.sbea.org.

Small business is a very important part of exporting in all countries. Not only is it good business, it's good for the world. Remember what the 19th century French economist, Frederick Bastiat said, "When goods cross borders, armies don't."