10 Things to Do Online This Month

1. Celebrate Small Business

National Small Business Week events start on May 23. SBA Administrator Karen Mills (seen below with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and President Obama) will deliver an address on the state of small business, in the light of health care reform. Plus, PR alert: Small Businesses of the Year in each state will be announced.

2. Come to Terms With Your Business Partner

Never underestimate how hard it is to sustain a partnership. Here's how to set up an arrangement that is equitable, efficient, and mutually rewarding.

3. Collect on Overdue Payments

Are you getting paid promptly and in full by your customers? If not, here are some simple ways to upgrade your billing system.

4. Uncover Fraud

It's a big problem for small businesses. This guide will help you prevent theft from outside and from within.

5. Check Your Business Horoscope

Running a small business takes a gift for anticipation, if not clairvoyance. So we have decided to consult the stars.

6. Discover Why Women Love Business Trips

A recent survey found that women enjoy business travel more than men. Find out why.

7. Reduce Your Cost of Sales

Tinkering with the compensation for your sales force is hugely risky. Here are some steps you can take to lower your cost of sales without killing morale.

8. Develop a Growth Strategy

Some businesses grow through geographic expansion, some through acquisition, and some through franchising. Here is a guide to selecting the right approach for your business.

9. Structure an Earn-Out

Many entrepreneurs stay on after they sell their businesses in exchange for an earn-out. Here's how to put together the deal so that both you and your buyer are happy with the outcome.

10. Learn How to Be a Good Critic

Inc. 500 CEO Stephen D. Marsh shares his advice for creating a culture of candor and constant feedback.

Are you running a fast-growing company?

If so, consider applying for the Inc. 500|5000 -- "the most prestigious business accolade for aspiring entrepreneurs," according to Lexy Funk, CEO of Brooklyn Industries, a clothing retailer that has made the list four years in a row. To learn more about the criteria, go to www.inc.com/inc5000apply.

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