According to the National Small Business Administration, 57% of small businesses in the U.S.  would NOT export, even if their concerns about trade were addressed. What are they thinking? I’m not aware of anyone whose business is growing so fast in this economy that they can afford to ignore 95% of the world’s consumers! The New York Times reported recently that less than 1% of American companies export, despite the incredible opportunities for growth that exist beyond our borders. The crazy thing is, growing your business through international trade is not that difficult, and I can prove it!

My name is Jim Beach and I’m the head of theentrepreneurschool.com and former professor at Georgia State University. I, along with Chris Hanks, director of the entrepreneurship program at the University of Georgia, are going to conduct a new series of UPS-sponsored seminars around the country that are designed to help small businesses, or even those who want to start a new business, increase their sales by importing and exporting.

Between us, Chris and I have started 14 businesses in seven countries, including Argentina, Pakistan and Vietnam. We also have taught at the MBA level for 10 years each. Our “Growth through Global Trade” seminars are designed to teach you everything you need to know to successfully start and cultivate an international business. We will bring our strategy of low-risk entrepreneurship to these events, showing you how to find new opportunities for growth without risking your home or your health insurance. We also will be meeting with local business owners and budding entrepreneurs the evening before each seminar for free consulting and brainstorming sessions.

Chris and I are very excited to work with UPS to bring these seminars to Atlanta, San Jose, Providence, Dallas, Chicago, and Cleveland over the next several months.  Each seminar will cover the basics, such as: how to select an export market, how to choose the right products to sell, how to find safe and reputable foreign partners in your industry, and how to maximize your global sales. The central tenet of the seminars is that international trade may seem difficult, but it’s actually quite easy –  and, it can be immensely profitable! In fact, anyone can do it. The seminars will also cover international Web marketing and how to get listed number one on Google and other search engines.

The seminars will be four hours in length and they are absolutely free! Prestigious partners such as the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, the University of Texas at Dallas, Bryant University in Rhode Island, the San Jose-Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and the Cleveland Council of Smaller Enterprises will host the events. The Entrepreneur School and UPS greatly appreciate the help, sponsorship and commitment of these outstanding institutions to promote international trade.

To register for one of our seminars, please visit www.ups.com/seminar. And, if you’re interested in meeting with Chris and me for a free consultation before your chosen seminar, please drop me a line at James.beach@att.net.

Please watch this blog for future updates and tips on how to get your business ready for explosive growth through international trade!